Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends annuals
Encyclopedia : T : TH : THO : Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends annuals
- 1 About the Annuals
- 2 New characters
- 3 1985 Annual
- 4 1986 Annual
- 5 1987 Annual
- 6 1988 Annual
- 7 1989 Annual
- 8 1990 Annual
- 9 1991 Annual
- 10 1992 Annual
- 11 1993 Annual
- 12 1994 Annual
- 13 1995 Annual
- 14 1996 Annual
- 15 1997 Annual
- 16 1998 Annual
- 17 1999 Annual
- 18 2000 Annual
- 19 2001 Annual
- 20 2002 Annual
- 21 2003 Annual
- 22 2004 Annual
- 23 2005 Annual
- 24 2006 Annual
- 25 2007 Annual
About the Annuals
After the Railway Series was published, many Thomas Annuals were printed and sold. They are still being made in print to this day. The Annuals have contained many activities, stories, and information about Thomas and his friends. The annuals are usually in hardcover format, with colour pictures and photos abundant throughout the book. The annuals also introduced a few exclusive characters, such as Algy the Blue Bus, Mr and Mrs. Flowers, Cocky the Guard's Parrot, Ted (Henry's Driver), Mr. Bjork, and Farmer Finney. Here is a webpage outlining the contents of the many Thomas annuals: http://melgarvewarrior.tripod.com/sodorisland/annualsguide.html, a brief episode guide synopsis of each annual from 1979 to 1997.New characters
Algy the Blue Bus
A bus who is stationed on the Island of Sodor. When he first arrived, he teased Bertie, another bus, but soon became friends with him after breaking down. Algy now helps Bertie take passengers around the island to where they want to go.He slightly resembles Bertie in design; however he is a different colour and has a larger front. Algy is only one of three named buses in the Thomas stories, the other two being Bertie and Bulgy.
Algy has been featured only in the Thomas Annuals, in three stories.
1985 Annual
Percy To The Rescue Thomas has the job of taking the children to the school Christmas Party. The Vicar has promised to dress up as Father Christmas, but hurrying for his train makes him leave his costume behind at Ffarquhar Station! Percy has to bring the costume to the party or the children will be disappointed.
- This story was redone as Percy And The Vicar’s Prizes for 1992 Annual.
Thomas And The Important Visitor An important visitor has to attend a meeting with Mrs Kyndley. The roads and railway lines are blocked in heavy snowdrifts. Thomas goes to see Terence for help to clear the line. The Fat Controller is pleased with Thomas and Terence for helping out.
- This story was redone as Thomas And The Snow Block for 1993 Annual.
Donald’s Duck Dilly the duck lives at Haultraugh Station on the Little Western branch line. Duck and Oliver are worried when Dilly goes missing and no-one can find her. Dilly gives everyone a nice surprise when she returns unexpectedly.
- The same title as the Railway Series episode from Oliver The Western Engine and the TV series episode from season 3, but a new and different story.
The Twins’ Passing Problem One part of Edward’s branch line has a single track with a passing loop halfway along. The trains are usually short enough to pass each other. This is not the case when Donald and Douglas arrive at opposite directions, each with a long goods train full of china clay. They amaze the signalman when they think of a clever solution to get their trains through.
- This story was redone as A Problem For The Twins for 1992 Annual.
- Donald and Douglas seem to be doing Bill and Ben’s job.
- This may be what inspired Christopher to write 'Toby’s Mega Train' for the book Thomas Comes Home in 1992.
- This story was redone for 1994 Annual.
- This story was redone as Bertie To The Rescue for 1992 Annual.
- No railways are featured in this story!
Unhappy Landing Thomas thinks parachutists are silly for jumping out of aeroplanes. He still goes to the rescue when one lands in the river.
1986 Annual
Percy And The Christmas Tree On Christmas Eve, the lorry delivering the Christmas trees to Tidmouth Market has broken down. Percy has to collect the Christmas trees from Hackenbeck in order to get them to market on time.
Old Groaner James complains about getting old, but the other engines just ignore him. An inspector tells him people living nearby are complaining about a groaning noise keeping them awake at night. It turns out James’ brake blocks have been rubbing together from shunting. James is pleased to get a rest, but not when he is nicknamed Old Groaner!
Terence Takes A Bath Terence has to remove a branch blocking the stream at Hackenbeck Halt. Terence slips on the damp earth. The riverbank slips and Terence falls into the water! Thomas comes to his rescue with the breakdown train. Thomas and Terence think they are both quits after Terence rescued Thomas from the snowdrift.
Funnel Trouble Oliver feels stuffed up in his smokebox, but the inspector can’t work out what the problem is. Duck has to take the ballast instead of Oliver. Duck gives the trucks a bump and makes his water gauge run low! It turns out he loosened a plate and made his tank leak. Algy comes to take the passengers away. Oliver comes to help Duck home. Something shoots out of Oliver’s funnel! Oliver is well enough to take his ballast after all.
Golden Oldies One of the Ffarquhar Schoolteachers falls in whilst on a Sunday School outing. It would take too long for an ambulance to travel all the way to Ffarquhar. Bertie is there to help out. He takes the Sunday School all the way to Wellsworth Hospital. Edward is there to take the children home.
Gordon’s Stowaway Gordon makes fun of Oliver’s friend Dilly the duck because animals don’t help run railways. Gordon has to make a visit to the mainland when he feels a scrambling under his tender. It turns out to be a cat and it surprisingly becomes a new friend.
You Never Know Toby tells Thomas and Percy another story about his old tramway. Toby and Henrietta were not happy about the buses taking all their passengers. They got their passengers back when one bus crashed into some roadworks!
- The unnamed green bus looks identical to Bertie.
1987 Annual
Donald And The Lost Tarpaulin There is no turntable at the end of Duck’s branch line. This means Donald and Douglas have to run backwards in one direction. Donald is cross about this, especially when the rain falls into his cab. His crew put a tarpaulin over to keep the rain out. They keep it the back of the tender when it stops raining. The tarpaulin goes missing, but Donald’s crew know where it is when his injector fails.
Signal Failure James wishes there would be no signals since he was having trouble with them. His wish comes true when a hurricane damages a signal.
Timber! The old elm tree on Wellsworth Orchard has to come down because it is too dangerous. Trevor and Jem have to help out when the tree-cutting machine breaks down. They work hard cutting it into small pieces to be taken away.
- No railways are featured in this story!
Percy’s Passengers Percy is sorry for his guard having no passengers travelling in his brake van. The guard has to let some foreign visitors on board because they have missed their stop.
1988 Annual
Percy And The Brake Van Percy thinks he has no need for brake vans at the end of his goods trains. Percy sets off with his goods train without realising his brake van has not been coupled. A weak coupling breaks and the trucks run downhill! The guard quickly jumps in to put his brakes on and jumps straight out! He manages to halt the trucks and the brake van stays on the rails. Percy realises brake vans are useful after all.
Responsibilities Percy has to spend the night at Tidmouth Sheds. Gordon tells him about the responsibilities he has of pulling the express in order to keep the railway running efficiently. Gordon has to push Percy to the water column the next day. Gordon finds his valve gears jammed when he tries to go for his drink. Percy has to push him back to the sheds and thinks it is better to say nothing at all.
Thomas And Trevor Edward takes Trevor to the junction to meet Thomas. Trevor has to take some steel pilings for the construction of Knapford Harbour. Thomas isn’t sure about Trevor being different to railway engines. Trevor gets to work and clears the mess at the harbour. Thomas brings some children for him to give some rides to. Trevor is sad when Thomas has to take him home again, but soon happy again when Thomas makes him realise the Vicar look after him and keep him busy. Trevor may even be needed at the harbour again one day.
- This is the only annual story to be televised
- This story appers again in the 2003 annual
Terence Turns Pot HunterSome archaeologists are busily digging for some old stuff for Tidmouth Museum, but are not able to find anything. Terence is busily ploughing in the opposite field. His plough comes across some old pottery! The Tidmouth Museum curator comes to investigate into Terence’s discovery. The archaeologists were digging on the wrong side of the railway because their map was too old.
On Your Guard Bill and Ben have been warned to be on their guard, but don’t understand what it means. Ben hears some noises overnight and sees a dark shadow. It turns out to be some thieves! They are shocked when Bill and Ben think they are seeing the same engine over and over again. They make a run for it instead. Bill and Ben tell their drivers about it the next day. They think the thieves were trying to play hide and seek with them!
Jack-In-The-Box A mysterious crate gets loaded into James’ brake coach. The guard tries to find out what is inside it. James sets off in a hurry after this delays him. There is no sign of the guard when James makes his next stop. His crew look around and find the guard locked inside the crate! He was trying to look inside the empty crate. He fell inside when James set off and it locked itself!
1989 Annual
Trapped By Trees Gordon boasts to Henry and James about how he crossed the viaduct in a heavy wind. He got across with some difficulty. He had to stop at Wellsworth Station when a fallen tree blocked the line. Gordon was trapped when another tree blocked the line. Trevor has to come to his rescue, but Henry has already came by to see Gordon!
The Trouble With Sheep A stray dog is chasing sheep in the valley. Thomas has to make an emergency stop when he comes across the dog. He finds himself unable to move when he tries to set off again. He is able to set off again when his driver repairs his brakes, but Thomas ends up leaving his guard behind again!
- The same incident as what happened in 'Thomas And The Guard' happens again.
Harold And The Landslide Heavy rain has caused a landslide on the Little Western branch line. Harold has to go to the rescue when a hiker has a broken arm from falling over some cliffs. Harold flies him safely all the way to Wellsworth Hospital to recover. Duck is not happy about having to stay at Arlesdale for a week whilst his branch line is under repairs.
Quick Thinking Donald has to take some china clay trucks along Edward’s branch line. The trucks push him downhill towards the passing loop. Boco is coming the other way with some empty trucks! His driver does some quick thinking just in time to prevent Donald from crashing!
1990 Annual
Thomas And The Cricketers There is a strong cold wind as Thomas sets off for work. A tree falls onto the line by Elsbridge Cricket Field. The cricketers prevent Thomas from crashing into it!
- The cricketers appear again (They're the ones to own Caroline)
- This is probably what was happening to Toby whilst Percy went away to Knapford Harbour to meet Bulstrode.
- This is probably what was happening to Henry whilst Diesel was speaking to the trucks about Duck in Dirty Work.
Donald And The BreakawaysDonald brings some loaded trucks back from the mainland. The empty ones behave well, but the loaded ones get up to trouble because they are just visiting the Island of Sodor. One truck develops a hot axle and another truck keeps slipping its brakes on. Donald gets cross about the delays. A coupling snaps on top of Gordon’s Hill and the trucks chase Donald down the other side!
- Couplings snapping between trucks on Gordon’s Hill is like James in 'Troublesome Trucks' and Oliver in 'Busy Going Backwards'.
1991 Annual
Near Miss Henry complains about the trap points outside Tidmouth Sheds. They derail runaways to prevent collisions with main line trains. A careless firelight meddles with Henry’s controls the next day. Henry runs out of the sheds and into the yard without a driver! He derails just in time to prevent crashing into Gordon’s express!Trucks For Scrap The scrap train is made up of the oldest, rudest and noisiest trucks from the mainland. None of the engines like taking it. Boco has a bad time when he has to pull this train. One of the older trucks collapses and has to be scrapped, but it teaches the other to behave.
Thomas And The Sunday School Outing Thomas has to take the Vicar’s Sunday School on their outing into the mountains when Bertie breaks down. He nearly misses his path home when the Sunday school is late returning to Ffarquhar Station.
In The Drink Trevor loves to be given unusual jobs. Trevor and Jem have to uproot some old cherry trees. Trevor has to refill his tank at a stream. He nearly falls into the water when the mudbank slips!
- No railways are featured in this story!
- This is probably what Diesel did before he spoke to the trucks in Dirty Work.
- Edward’s chase after James in 'Old Iron' is referred to.
1992 Annual
Percy And The Vicar’s Prizes The same story as Percy To The Rescue from 1985 Annual, only it is a suitcase full of prizes instead of the Father Christmas costume.
A Problem For The Twins The same story as 'The Twins’ Passing Problem' from 1985 Annual.
Thomas And The Swans Percy gets a scare when a pheasant flies out and hits him. Thomas teases him about it and thinks it wouldn’t bother him. He changes his mind when he comes across a swan with a broken wing.
Bertie To The Rescue The same story as 'Bertie Saves The Day' from 1985 Annual.
Galloping Sausage Duck has to spend the night in a siding when Henry and James are cross about thinking he has told Diesel’s nicknames to the trucks. Diesel has another talk with the trucks and seeing Gordon having problems with a water tower! This gives Diesel the idea to nickname him as Galloping Sausage. The Fat Controller has to send Duck to work with Edward whilst he tries to find out the truth. He finds out it was really Diesel’s fault and sends him packing! Duck returns home and becomes friends with Henry, Gordon and James again.
- Diesel discovers his last name to call the big engines, during 'Dirty Work'
1993 Annual
James’ Traffic Jam James has to take some foreign visitors on a journey. They get confused and pull the emergency cord. This makes James grind to a halt. He tries to set off again, but his brakes have locked. He is stopped on a level crossing and causes trouble for the road traffic!
Thomas And The Snow Block The same story as Thomas And The Important Visitor from 1985 Annual.
Oliver Gets The Bird The same story from 1985 Annual.
The Hut That Walked By Itself Heavy winds keep the engines awake all night. Gordon sets off the next day and has a near miss with a workmen’s hut. The hut walks along the platform by itself with help from the wind!
1994 Annual
The Merry-Go-Round That Wouldn’t Percy and Trevor are excited about a funfair setting up. Trevor thinks he would like to help out with it. His wish comes true when the merry-go-round breaks down. He has to give the children a ride.
- The Season 7 story "Harold & the Flying Horse" seems similar to this, except with a horse and a slightly different plot.
Better Safe Than Sorry Harold tells Thomas all about safety by the sea. Thomas sees two children stuck out at sea on a lilo! He whistles to Harold to warn him. Harold flies straight to their rescue.
James’ Rest Cure The same story from 1985 Annual.
Bertie The Snow Bus Bertie gets stuck in the snow on his way home. His driver goes off for help. Bertie gets covered in more snow and becomes a snow bus! Terence comes to his rescue and tows him somewhere the snow is less deep. Bertie is pleased to be in his warm bus station at Wellsworth.
1995 Annual
Easter Egg Special James is pleased to be taking the children on an Easter egg hunt on Easter Saturday. They end up searching the Bluebird café, a farmer’s barn and Knapford Station. The children get a nice surprise when they find all the eggs inside James’ cab!
The Picnic Express Thomas is upset when the Fat Controller gives the job of pulling the special picnic train to Gordon instead of him. Gordon isn’t pleased about having to do this job either because he thinks he is too important. He pulls the train too fast. The passengers are cross about not getting to take in all the scenery. They make a complaint to the Fat Controller. Thomas, Annie and Clarabel get to do the job after all. They take the passengers at a more leisurely pace.
Oliver’s Sparkler Oliver wants to know why 5 November is a special day of the year. He finds out when he gets to tale some passengers to a bonfire party. It is of course the date when Guy Fawkes’ Night is celebrated!
Thank You, Thomas And Toby The Fat Controller has arranged for Thomas and Toby to run extra passenger services whilst the main roads are under repairs. The passengers want to throw a party for the railway staff to thank them for helping them. Thomas and Toby are sad to not be able to go into the church hall, but the passengers give them a nice surprise too!
First Prize Jem gets ready to enter Trevor in a Best Kept Engine in a Wellsworth Agricultural Show. Edward brings the farmer’s donkeys to give rides to the children. Trevor has to collect the donkeys when Edward breaks down. Trevor gets dirty and doesn’t win a rally prize, but still gets to give the children some rides. Trevor gets a surprise the next day when the Vicar rewards him with a special rosette!
1996 Annual
James Gets Cracking James is very puzzled when he is ordered to collect a load from Farmer Finney’s battery farm. He didn’t think batteries came from farms! Some hens run across the line and the emergency stop causes his truck to derail. James now discovers what he’s really carrying – eggs! Farmer Finney arrives with Terence and, while the mess is sorted out, cooks a delicious pancake with the eggs for James’ driver the workmen.
Rings A Bell! Mavis has trouble with the trucks at the quarry when Toby has mysteriously disappeared. The sound of Toby’s bell is heard, but no-one can find him. The Fat Controller finds out it was really a cow’s bell! Toby is stuck in his shed with a broken wheel!
All Pull Together A heavy storm blows the post out of Percy’s overnight train. Thunder and lightning also causes a power cut and puts everywhere into darkness! The Fat Controller is pleased when all his engines, Bertie and Harold work hard to keep the railway running.
The Wrong Shirt Gordon is stuffed up and blows soot onto a football shirt made by Mrs Kyndley. The shirt gets muddled up with a workman’s overall. Everyone including the Fat Controller gets a laugh when a workman is seen wearing a boy’s football shirt!
Pantomime Pranks The engines see some unusual things all day on Christmas Eve. This includes a talking horse, a flaming black pudding and a guard in woman’s clothing. There is a big surprise in Tidmouth Sheds. Everyone is happy to see the railway staff performing a Christmas pantomime.
1997 Annual
- The narrow-gauge engines seem to be the same size as the standard-gauge engines in this annual! How could Sir Handel travel to Tidmouth? How could Rusty tow James?
Ice MagicMr Bjork, an engineer from Lapland, comes to visit the Island of Sodor. Thomas has to take him round to repair the signal boxes. Mr Bjork makes an ice sculpture of Thomas and gives him it as a present. Thomas is sad when it melts inside his warm cab and makes the other engines laugh. He gets a surprise the next day when he sees some huge ice sculptures of Thomas, Percy, Duck, Oliver and the Fat Controller!
Percy In Print A famous author comes to visit the Island of Sodor to finish his famous steam engines book. He has to take his manuscript to the printers. A heavy storm blows in and gives Percy a hard journey along the coastal route to the other side of the Island of Sodor. The author takes Percy’s photograph and makes him appear on the front page of the book!
Skarloey Gets A Scare Skarloey’s driver leaves his tea mug, his sandwiches and his torch behind at the sheds. This makes Skarloey hear some loud rustling noises overnight. A policeman comes to investigate the next day, but can’t find anything. Skarloey hears the noises again the next night. All the mysteries are solved the next day. The tea mug is inside a tool box, the torch beside the telephone and the sandwiches eaten by a family of hedgehogs!
Edward Saves The Day Sir Handel is cross about having to take some equipment for the Tidmouth Gymkhana. He goes to the harbour instead and has to take lots of plant pots. Edward comes along to take the equipment to the gymkhana.
Rusty’s Revenge James and Rusty have to help out at the harbour. James doesn’t think the Rusting old diesel could be any useful. He has to take some empty trucks to the windmill to be loaded with flour. James sets off back to the harbour. The trucks bump James off the rails on a bendy line! Rusty comes to pull James the rest of the way home. Rusty calls him Dusty and the other engines have a laugh at him!
Pipe Dreams It is nearly Burns’ Night. This is when Donald, Douglas and Duncan love talking about all things Scottish. Peter Sam is scared when Donald tells him about the Loch Ness Monster. Peter Sam hears an eerie noise as he pulls his train by the lake. It turns out to be the wind whistling through the bagpipes on one of his trucks. Donald, Douglas and Duncan are happy when a party is held at the sheds on Burns’ Night!
We Wish You A Merry Christmas Henry’s driver Ted enjoys practising his carol singing for the Christmas Eve carol service. The engines want to sing too. They just whistle along because they can’t sing. Ted allows them to toot their whistles to help him practice. There is a problem when the church organ breaks down, but the engine orchestra turns out to be a big success. The Fat Controller is pleased with them for saving the day!
1998 Annual
Engines to the Rescue One stormy night on Sodor the engine heard about a tanker ship that crashed on the rocks and leaked oil in the sea and the seagulls got cover in oil. They had to be taken to the animal rescue centre as soon as possibe. Gordon had to take the express and Edward and Percy where too busy with trucks. Henry could go and so could James and Thomas. the tree engines whent to the beach to take birds the cleaning centre and Bertie helped to. Soon their special job was over and the birds where better and when they where released Thomas, James and Henry came to see them off and peep goodbye.Henry Scores a Goal One day Henry was taking the Flying Kipper when he stop at a signal by a field where some boys where playing football. One boy kicked the ball so hard that up in the air and landed in Henry's funnel. His driver didn't know until Henry was getting suffed up then he shot the ball out of his funnel the ball landed in the goal post the boys where pleased to have their ball back so they kept playing. Henry was pleased to.
Percy Plays a Joke Percy can't resist play jokes one he played a trick on Gordon and told him that the Fat Controller wanted to see him. But the Fat Controller didn't expect to see him. Gordon thougt Percy needs to be taught a lesson so Gordon decied to play a trick on Percy. That night Gordon moved Percy's trucks around the Yard. when Percy got to the yard he got a surprise the trucks where all in a muddle. Gordon played a trick on Percy now but Percy learned a lesson.
- This story is similar to Percy and the Signal.
The Star of the Show
Toby and the Mail Train
1999 Annual
Blooming Railways Thomas finds out there is a 'Blooming Railways' Competition on the island. He is excited, but continues his regular work. He ends uo helping Mr. and Mrs. Flowers out, when their truck breaks down on the way to a carnival parade. Mr. Flowers repays him with flower seeds, and so the railway wins the competition.
- First (and only) appearance of Bob Flowers and his wife, Mrs. Flowers
- The joke they play is similar to the one they played on BoCo in 'The Diseasel'
- Terence has a grey plough rather than the orange one he has in the TV Series.
- First (and only) appearance of the new bus and new bus driver.
2000 Annual
Coming soon.
2001 Annual
- Very Special Engines
- Thomas the Famous Engine
- The Good Old Days
- Edward Saves the Day
- Best Friend
- Donald and Douglas
2002 Annual
Coming soon.
2003 Annual
- Based on Season 1-3
- The Ghost Train
- Thomas, Percy and the Post Train
- Thomas and the Trucks
- The Woolly Bear
- Thomas and Trevor
- Thomas, Percy and the Coal
- Thomas, Percy and the Dragon
- Percy, s Promise
2004 Annual
- Based on Season 6.
- Faulty Whistles
- Edward the very useful engine
- James and the Red Balloon
- Rusty Saves the Day
- No Sleep for Cranky
- Toby Had a Little Lamb
- Percy's Chocolate Crunch
- Trouble for Thomas (It's Only Snow)
2005 Annual
- The 60th Anniversary annual for Thomas & Friends. Based on Season 7.
- Realated to Thomas and Bertie.
- Pegases is a characther from the Greek legend of Hercules.
Edward, Gordon and Henry Edward and Gordon often went through the tunnel where Henry was shut up. One day, Gordon breaks his safety value outside the tunnel. Then Edward tries to push the coaches. But then, Henry comes out again, and pulls the train. As the train rushed, Sir Topham's top hat is blown away. Everyone is pleased with the two engines. Then Henry is given a new coat of paint. He and Edward helped Gordon back to Tidmouth Sheds.
- Based from Book 1: The Three Railway Engines.
Toby's Windmill Toby the Tram Engine is fond of windmills, but one very stomy night, a lighting bolt strikes it. Next morning Toby finds out it is broken.
Trusty Rusty Rusty sees the wooden narrow gauge bridge is broken, and tells Sir Topham Hatt that it needs to be closed until it is repaired. Dunacn ignores the little diesel and decides to go on the bridge, until it begins to collapse. Rusty rescues Duncan just in time...
- Last appearance of the Narrow Gauge engines until Annual 2007.
2006 Annual
- Based on Season 8.
Don't Tell Thomas The engines are hiding a present from their little blue tank engine friend, but what can it be?
Edward the Great Edward is to race Spencer to the Duke and Duchessess' summer home. Edward takes the furniture, and Spencer takes his coach. Whewn Edward is almost there, Spencer wakes up.
- Similar to The Tortise & the Hare.
Percy and the Magic Carpet It's time for the 48th Annual Sodor Flower Show, and Percy is chosen to take a red carpet to be taken to Matihwate Station before Alicia Botti, the world's famous opera singer, arrives.
2007 Annual
- Based On Season 9
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