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'{{refimprove|date=August 2013}} {{lead section|date=January 2016}} '''Thomas & Friends''' was created by the [[Wilbert Awdry|Rev. W Awdry]]. ==Origins of Thomas & Friends== {{Main|The Railway Series}} ==Television Series== {{Main|Thomas & Friends}} ==Direct-to-video specials== {| class="wikitable" !Name !Year !Note |- | ''[[Thomas and the Magic Railroad]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2000 | Theatrically-released feature film |- | ''[[Calling All Engines!]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2005 | Feature-length direct-to-video special |- | ''[[ Jack and the Sodor Construction Company ]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2006 | 13-episode direct-to-video miniseries |- | ''[[The Great Discovery]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2008 | rowspan="4"| Feature-length special. Limited theatrical release |- | ''[[Hero of the Rails]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2010 |- | ''[[Misty Island Rescue]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2010 |- | ''[[Day of the Diesels]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2011 |- | ''[[Blue Mountain Mystery]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2012 | Feature-length special. Limited theatrical release<ref>[http://www.myvue.com/latest-movies/info/film/thomas-friends-blue-mountain-mystery Thomas & Friends: Blue Mountain Mystery : Vue Cinemas]</ref> |- | ''[[King of the Railway]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=King of the Railway (Thomas and Friends)|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/king-of-the-railway-rev-w-awdry/1113742629|publisher=Barnes & Noble|accessdate=16 December 2012}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 2013 | rowspan="2"| Feature-length special. Limited theatrical release |- | ''[[Tale of the Brave]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas & Friends - Tale of the Brave |url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/thomas-friends-tale-brave-2014 |website=www.bbfc.co.uk |accessdate=18 July 2016}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"| 2014 |- | ''[[Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins|The Adventure Begins]]'' | rowspan="2"| 2015 | 45-minute special. |- | ''[[Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure]]'' | rowspan="2"| Feature-length special. Limited theatrical release |- | ''[[Thomas & Friends: The Great Race|The Great Race]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2016 |} ==Films== {{Main|Thomas and the Magic Railroad}} The series has been seen in one feature film released in 2000, while another has been planned. ===New film=== {{Update|section|inaccurate=y|date=May 2013}} HIT also revealed that its theatrical division would be piloted by a "''Thomas''" film. Originally targeted for late-2010 release,<ref name=hitfilmdiv>{{Cite news| url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000782.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | work=Variety | title=Hit Entertainment gets into movie biz | first=Dade | last=Hayes | date=3 March 2009}}</ref> in September 2009 this was revised to "Spring 2011".<ref name=hitfilmdiv2>{{cite web|title=Hit Entertainment's Hit Movies Division Begins Development Of First Feature Film Based on the Adventures of Thomas and Friends|url=http://www.hitnewsonline.com/releases/detail/hit_entertainments_hit_movies_division_begins_development_of_first_feature/thomas_friends|publisher=HIT Entertainment|accessdate=14 August 2010|date=30 September 2009}}</ref> As of January 2011, the release date had been pushed back further to 2012 and the name of the production had still not been announced. The initial draft of the script was written by Josh Klausner (screenwriter for ''[[Shrek Forever After]]''), who has also said that the film will be set around the times of World War II, [[Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi]] also helped write the script.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas Theatrical Film Pushed Back AGAIN!|url=http://sodor-island.net/thomasnews.html|work=(Thomas news)|publisher=Sodor Island|accessdate=28 January 2011|date=5 January 2011}}</ref> On 8 June 2011, [[Deadline.com|Deadline]] announced that [[9 (2009 animated film)|9]] director [[Shane Acker]] will direct the live-action adaptation of ''Thomas the Tank Engine'', with [[Weta Digital]] designing the film's visual effects.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/9-helmer-shane-acker-boards-feature-based-on-the-thomas-the-tank-engine-toys/ |title='9' Helmer Shane Acker Boards Feature Based on the Thomas The Tank Engine Toys|publisher=Deadline.com |accessdate=1 October 2011}}</ref> However, since 2011, no further information has been released about the film. ==Commercialisation== ===Day out with Thomas=== [[File:Thomas, Henry, Duck and troublesome trucks at Kidderminster.jpg|thumb|right|Thomas, Henry and Duck look-<br />alikes on the [[Severn Valley Railway]]]] {{Main|Day out with Thomas}} "Day out with Thomas", is a marketing name used by [[HiT Entertainment]] for special events held at [[heritage railways]] in the UK. The characteristic features of these events include locomotives wearing 'faces' to resemble 'Thomas' characters, and a "[[The Fat Controller|Fat Controller]]" character, usually performed by one of the railway's volunteers. The general idea is that the public have the chance to ride in a train pulled by 'Thomas' or one of his friends. In the US the name also refers to "Come Ride the Rails with Thomas"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comeridetherails.com/map.asp |title=Map for Come Ride the Rails with Thomas |publisher=Comeridetherails.com |accessdate=1 October 2011}}</ref> which is a US tour by real trains modelled after Thomas the Tank Engine. The Thomas engine visits various historic railroads across the United States allowing visitors to play games, meet Sir Topham Hatt and to ride on a passenger car pulled by the engine. HIT Entertainment sponsors the event to promote the ''Thomas and Friends'' brand. In the Netherlands is also a "Day out with Thomas", ''Een dag uit met Thomas'', and is held at the South Limburg Railway Compagny a [[heritage railway]] in [[Simpelveld]] in the South of the Netherlands in the [[Limburg (Netherlands)|province of Limburg]]. The ''Thomas'' locomotive is shipped from the UK. The South Limburg Railway Compagny has its own ''Diesel'' locomotive. ===Amusement parks=== In 2007, [[Drusillas Zoo Park|Drusilla's Park]] near Alfriston, Sussex, England opened a railway ride featuring Thomas, Annie and Clarabel. The track runs through the Zoo Park and also features James, Diesel, Cranky and the Fat Controller. Since 2007, several [[Six Flags]] amusement parks in the US have included Thomas and Friends -themed attractions: [[Six Flags Discovery Kingdom]], [[Six Flags New England]], [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]], [[Six Flags Over Georgia]] and [[Six Flags America]]. Several of these attractions have since been renamed and re-themed.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Brady|title=Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers|url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-six-flags-retheme-20101122,0,3267615.story|accessdate=27 November 2010|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=25 November 2010}}</ref> On 15 March 2008, [[Drayton Manor Theme Park|Drayton Manor]] in the UK opened their own [[Thomas Land (Drayton Manor)|Thomas Land]] just like Japan's Amusement Park which attracts 1.7 million fans every year. [[Thomas Land (Drayton Manor)|Thomas Land]] at [[Drayton Manor Theme Park|Drayton Manor]] is on the site of what was formerly [[Robinsons (drink)|Robinsons]] Land. For the 2008 & 2009 Season, [[Dutch Wonderland]] in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], USA, featured a 'Thomas and Friends Live' production. ===Merchandise=== {{Main|Thomas and Friends merchandise}} A wide range of [[merchandise]] has been manufactured to cash in on the success of the series. The most popular and wide-ranging items of merchandise are the models of the characters, which have been produced in many different ranges, some including accompanying railway systems. Other popular products include videos, books and magazines, and computer games. ''Thomas'' merchandise has also included such items as [[audiobooks]], [[Annual publication|annuals]], colouring and activity books, [[jigsaw puzzle|jigsaws]], board games, [[stationery]], photo notebooks, clothing, cutlery, household items such as curtains, duvet covers and lampshades, and even soft drinks and spaghetti shapes. ==Toys== [[File:Red box train thomas.jpg|thumb|right|Thomas as a 'promo gadget' for the single ''Train'' (1990) of the British band [[Red Box (band)|Red Box]].]] {{Main|Thomas and Friends merchandise}} With the popularity of the ''[[Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends]]'' TV series among children, Thomas-based merchandise has proven very lucrative. At least five different categories of trains and tracks exist: "Take Along Thomas" with grey tracks; Trackmaster battery-operated engines with brown tracks (previously Tomy with blue track); Brio-type wooden engines with wooden rails and roads (by [[Early Learning Centre|ELC]] and others); electric model railway (produced in [[OO gauge]] by [[Hornby Railways|Hornby]] and [[Bachmann Industries|Bachmann]], N gauge by [[Tomix]], O gauge by [[Lionel, LLC|Lionel]], and (from 2010) G-scale from Bachmann); and [[Lego]] engines and tracks. Merit Toys also produced some larger scale battery-powered engines with carriages and wagons in the 1980s, which ran on red tracks. Complementary videos, DVDs, books, games, puzzles, stationery, clothing and household items have also been produced. In January 1987 A number of Thomas toys were recalled after test found lead content in the paint was up to 90 times the legally permitted level. The Toys were imported by ERTL (UK) From China.<ref>Thomas the Tank toy firm is fined £4,000. The Times, Thursday, 22 January 1987; pg. 3</ref> ==Heritage railways== {{Main|Day out with Thomas}} [[HiT Entertainment]], which acquired [[Gullane Entertainment]], formerly the Britt Allcroft Company, licenses "[[Day out with Thomas]]" events all over the world, at which visitors to [[heritage railway]]s can meet and ride on a train hauled by a replica "Thomas". As none of the E2 Class survived, various other classes have been adapted to resemble Thomas. Replicas are based on alternative 0-6-0 format engines such as [[Hunslet Engine Company|Hunslet]] [[Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST|Austerity 0-6-0ST]] number 3781, which was converted from a saddle-tank to a side-tank design<ref name=Butcher>Mid-Hants Railway in colour. Alan C Butcher. 1996. ISBN 0-7110-2465-0</ref> by fabricators of the [[Watercress Line|Mid-Hants Railway]] to create No. 1 "Thomas" in 1994. The [[Strasburg Rail Road]] in [[Lancaster, PA]] (USA) built and featured their No. 1 "Thomas" since 1999 in the US and announced their introduction of "Percy, the Small Engine" at the "Day Out With Thomas" event on 13 September 2014.<ref name=Percy>{{cite news|title=Thomas the Tank Engine bringing Percy to Strasburg tour stop|url=http://lancasteronline.com/entertainment/thomas-the-tank-engine-bringing-percy-to-strasburg-tour-stop/article_ad1bf72e-350f-11e4-aa6e-001a4bcf6878.html|accessdate=10 September 2014|work=Lancaster Online|date=10 September 2014}}</ref> Due to the increasing licensing fees and many other restrictions imposed by HiT Entertainment, including the need for "Sir Topham Hatts" to have auditions and the requirement for intensive [[Disclosure and Barring Service|Criminal Records Bureau]] checking, many heritage railways in the UK and overseas have reluctantly decided to withdraw from running "Thomas" days, thus reducing the income stream to these organisations.<ref name="Heritage railway 106/26">R. Jones: ''Major lines pull out of Thomas''. Heritage Railway magazine, Issue 106, Dec. 2007, page 26</ref><ref>[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1112374_thomas_the_tank_engine_derailed Manchester Evening News -- "Thomas The Tank Engine Derailed"](accessed 2009-09-08)</ref> An international tour featuring Thomas and his driver was completed in 2005 in honour of the 60th anniversary of the original stories. Former US President [[George H.W. Bush]] dedicated the Presidential Train during a ceremony in 2005.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} A "real" Thomas was used in a special play, ''[[The Queen's Handbag]]'', staged to celebrate the 80th birthday of [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], starring well-loved characters from children's [[literature]]. In the play the near life-sized Thomas carried [[Sophie Dahl]] to the stage to meet [[Sir Topham Hatt]] ([[Jonathan Ross]]) at the beginning of the show. <gallery> Image:NSWGR Locomotive 1077 b.jpg|Thomas the Tank Engine at [[Central railway station, Sydney]] Image:Thomas 47327 at Rushcliffe Country Park.jpg| Thomas [[LMS Fowler Class 3F|(47327)]] at [[Rushcliffe Country Park]] Nottingham Image:Thomastrain.jpg| Thomas the Tank Engine at [[Ropley]] station on the [[Watercress Line]] Image:2015-10-30 13 47 02 A life-size replica of Thomas the Tank Engine on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in Virginia City, Nevada.jpg| Thomas the Tank Engine on the [[Virginia and Truckee Railroad]] in [[Virginia City, Nevada|Virginia City]], [[Nevada]] </gallery> ==Reception== {{incomplete|section|date=August 2013}} ===Popularity with autistic audience=== In June and July 2001, the [[National Autistic Society]] conducted a survey of 81 parents of children with [[autism]] and [[Asperger syndrome]] to investigate their putative 'special relationship' with Thomas the Tank Engine. The survey confirmed the organisation's assumption from anecdotal evidence that children with autism spectrum disorders associate far more strongly with Thomas the Tank Engine than with other children's characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/our-publications/reports/our-policy-and-research-reports/children-with-autism-and-thomas-the-tank-engine.aspx |title=Children with autism and Thomas the Tank Engine |publisher=autism.org.uk |date=1 November 2011 |accessdate=17 November 2012}}</ref> In the National Autistic Society's April 2007 survey, conducted with 748 UK parents of children under 10 with autism, 58% of parents reported Thomas was the first children's character their children enjoyed, with about one-third of parents reporting their children were able to learn basic facial expressions from the characters, as all of Thomas's friends have easy-to-read expressions. 54% of parents reported that the stories contributed to their child's sense of security.<ref>{{cite news|author=CBC Arts |url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2007/07/27/thomas-tank.html |title=Autism group probes why children love Thomas the Tank Engine |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=27 July 2007 |accessdate=1 October 2011}}</ref> ''Thomas and Friends''{{'}} autistic audience is referenced in a 2012 article in the satirical newspaper ''[[The Onion]]'', "Thomas The Tank Engine A Little Uneasy With His Broad Autistic Following."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theonion.com/articles/thomas-the-tank-engine-a-little-uneasy-with-his-br,28298/ | title= Thomas The Tank Engine A Little Uneasy With His Broad Autistic Following | date=25 May 2012 | accessdate=25 May 2012 | work= [[The Onion]]}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends|Thomas and Friends}} {{Wikiquote|Thomas and Friends}} ===Official websites=== * {{official website|1=http://www.thomasandfriends.com/}} * [http://www.awdry.family.name/index.htm Awdry Family Site] ===Other sites=== * {{tv.com show|thomas-the-tank-engine-and-friends|Thomas and Friends}} * {{IMDb title|0086815|Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends}}  {{Thomas}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas And Friends}} [[Category:Thomas & Friends| ]] [[Category:Rail transport in fiction]]'

New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext)

'{{refimprove|date=August 2013}} {{lead section|date=January 2016}} '''Thomas & Friends''' was created by the [[Wilbert Awdry|Rev. W Awdry]]. ==Origins of Thomas & Friends== {{Main|The Railway Series}} ==Television Series== {{Main|Thomas & Friends}} ==Direct-to-video specials== {| class="wikitable" !Name !Year !Note |- | ''[[Thomas and the Magic Railroad]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2000 | Theatrically-released feature film |- | ''[[Calling All Engines!]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2005 | Feature-length direct-to-video special |- | ''[[ Jack and the Sodor Construction Company ]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2006 | 13-episode direct-to-video miniseries |- | ''[[The Great Discovery]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2008 | rowspan="7"| Feature-length special. Limited theatrical release |- | ''[[Hero of the Rails]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2010 |- | ''[[Misty Island Rescue]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2010 |- | ''[[Day of the Diesels]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2011 |- | ''[[Blue Mountain Mystery]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2012 |- | ''[[King of the Railway]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2013 |- | ''[[Tale of the Brave]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2014 |- | ''[[Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins|The Adventure Begins]]'' | rowspan="2"| 2015 | 45-minute special. |- | ''[[Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure]]'' | rowspan="3"| Feature-length special. Limited theatrical release |- | ''[[Thomas & Friends: The Great Race|The Great Race]]'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2016 |- |''Journey Beyond Sodor'' | style="text-align:center;"| 2017 |} ==Films== {{Main|Thomas and the Magic Railroad}} The series has been seen in one feature film released in 2000, while another has been planned. ===New film=== {{Update|section|inaccurate=y|date=May 2013}} HIT also revealed that its theatrical division would be piloted by a "''Thomas''" film. Originally targeted for late-2010 release,<ref name=hitfilmdiv>{{Cite news| url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118000782.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 | work=Variety | title=Hit Entertainment gets into movie biz | first=Dade | last=Hayes | date=3 March 2009}}</ref> in September 2009 this was revised to "Spring 2011".<ref name=hitfilmdiv2>{{cite web|title=Hit Entertainment's Hit Movies Division Begins Development Of First Feature Film Based on the Adventures of Thomas and Friends|url=http://www.hitnewsonline.com/releases/detail/hit_entertainments_hit_movies_division_begins_development_of_first_feature/thomas_friends|publisher=HIT Entertainment|accessdate=14 August 2010|date=30 September 2009}}</ref> As of January 2011, the release date had been pushed back further to 2012 and the name of the production had still not been announced. The initial draft of the script was written by Josh Klausner (screenwriter for ''[[Shrek Forever After]]''), who has also said that the film will be set around the times of World War II, [[Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi]] also helped write the script.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas Theatrical Film Pushed Back AGAIN!|url=http://sodor-island.net/thomasnews.html|work=(Thomas news)|publisher=Sodor Island|accessdate=28 January 2011|date=5 January 2011}}</ref> On 8 June 2011, [[Deadline.com|Deadline]] announced that [[9 (2009 animated film)|9]] director [[Shane Acker]] will direct the live-action adaptation of ''Thomas the Tank Engine'', with [[Weta Digital]] designing the film's visual effects.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/9-helmer-shane-acker-boards-feature-based-on-the-thomas-the-tank-engine-toys/ |title='9' Helmer Shane Acker Boards Feature Based on the Thomas The Tank Engine Toys|publisher=Deadline.com |accessdate=1 October 2011}}</ref> However, since 2011, no further information has been released about the film. ==Commercialisation== ===Day out with Thomas=== [[File:Thomas, Henry, Duck and troublesome trucks at Kidderminster.jpg|thumb|right|Thomas, Henry and Duck look-<br />alikes on the [[Severn Valley Railway]]]] {{Main|Day out with Thomas}} "Day out with Thomas", is a marketing name used by [[HiT Entertainment]] for special events held at [[heritage railways]] in the UK. The characteristic features of these events include locomotives wearing 'faces' to resemble 'Thomas' characters, and a "[[The Fat Controller|Fat Controller]]" character, usually performed by one of the railway's volunteers. The general idea is that the public have the chance to ride in a train pulled by 'Thomas' or one of his friends. In the US the name also refers to "Come Ride the Rails with Thomas"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comeridetherails.com/map.asp |title=Map for Come Ride the Rails with Thomas |publisher=Comeridetherails.com |accessdate=1 October 2011}}</ref> which is a US tour by real trains modelled after Thomas the Tank Engine. The Thomas engine visits various historic railroads across the United States allowing visitors to play games, meet Sir Topham Hatt and to ride on a passenger car pulled by the engine. HIT Entertainment sponsors the event to promote the ''Thomas and Friends'' brand. In the Netherlands is also a "Day out with Thomas", ''Een dag uit met Thomas'', and is held at the South Limburg Railway Compagny a [[heritage railway]] in [[Simpelveld]] in the South of the Netherlands in the [[Limburg (Netherlands)|province of Limburg]]. The ''Thomas'' locomotive is shipped from the UK. The South Limburg Railway Compagny has its own ''Diesel'' locomotive. ===Amusement parks=== In 2007, [[Drusillas Zoo Park|Drusilla's Park]] near Alfriston, Sussex, England opened a railway ride featuring Thomas, Annie and Clarabel. The track runs through the Zoo Park and also features James, Diesel, Cranky and the Fat Controller. Since 2007, several [[Six Flags]] amusement parks in the US have included Thomas and Friends -themed attractions: [[Six Flags Discovery Kingdom]], [[Six Flags New England]], [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]], [[Six Flags Over Georgia]] and [[Six Flags America]]. Several of these attractions have since been renamed and re-themed.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Brady|title=Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers|url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-six-flags-retheme-20101122,0,3267615.story|accessdate=27 November 2010|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=25 November 2010}}</ref> On 15 March 2008, [[Drayton Manor Theme Park|Drayton Manor]] in the UK opened their own [[Thomas Land (Drayton Manor)|Thomas Land]] just like Japan's Amusement Park which attracts 1.7 million fans every year. [[Thomas Land (Drayton Manor)|Thomas Land]] at [[Drayton Manor Theme Park|Drayton Manor]] is on the site of what was formerly [[Robinsons (drink)|Robinsons]] Land. For the 2008 & 2009 Season, [[Dutch Wonderland]] in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], USA, featured a 'Thomas and Friends Live' production. ===Merchandise=== {{Main|Thomas and Friends merchandise}} A wide range of [[merchandise]] has been manufactured to cash in on the success of the series. The most popular and wide-ranging items of merchandise are the models of the characters, which have been produced in many different ranges, some including accompanying railway systems. Other popular products include videos, books and magazines, and computer games. ''Thomas'' merchandise has also included such items as [[audiobooks]], [[Annual publication|annuals]], colouring and activity books, [[jigsaw puzzle|jigsaws]], board games, [[stationery]], photo notebooks, clothing, cutlery, household items such as curtains, duvet covers and lampshades, and even soft drinks and spaghetti shapes. ==Toys== [[File:Red box train thomas.jpg|thumb|right|Thomas as a 'promo gadget' for the single ''Train'' (1990) of the British band [[Red Box (band)|Red Box]].]] {{Main|Thomas and Friends merchandise}} With the popularity of the ''[[Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends]]'' TV series among children, Thomas-based merchandise has proven very lucrative. At least five different categories of trains and tracks exist: "Take Along Thomas" with grey tracks; Trackmaster battery-operated engines with brown tracks (previously Tomy with blue track); Brio-type wooden engines with wooden rails and roads (by [[Early Learning Centre|ELC]] and others); electric model railway (produced in [[OO gauge]] by [[Hornby Railways|Hornby]] and [[Bachmann Industries|Bachmann]], N gauge by [[Tomix]], O gauge by [[Lionel, LLC|Lionel]], and (from 2010) G-scale from Bachmann); and [[Lego]] engines and tracks. Merit Toys also produced some larger scale battery-powered engines with carriages and wagons in the 1980s, which ran on red tracks. Complementary videos, DVDs, books, games, puzzles, stationery, clothing and household items have also been produced. In January 1987 A number of Thomas toys were recalled after test found lead content in the paint was up to 90 times the legally permitted level. The Toys were imported by ERTL (UK) From China.<ref>Thomas the Tank toy firm is fined £4,000. The Times, Thursday, 22 January 1987; pg. 3</ref> ==Heritage railways== {{Main|Day out with Thomas}} [[HiT Entertainment]], which acquired [[Gullane Entertainment]], formerly the Britt Allcroft Company, licenses "[[Day out with Thomas]]" events all over the world, at which visitors to [[heritage railway]]s can meet and ride on a train hauled by a replica "Thomas". As none of the E2 Class survived, various other classes have been adapted to resemble Thomas. Replicas are based on alternative 0-6-0 format engines such as [[Hunslet Engine Company|Hunslet]] [[Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST|Austerity 0-6-0ST]] number 3781, which was converted from a saddle-tank to a side-tank design<ref name=Butcher>Mid-Hants Railway in colour. Alan C Butcher. 1996. ISBN 0-7110-2465-0</ref> by fabricators of the [[Watercress Line|Mid-Hants Railway]] to create No. 1 "Thomas" in 1994. The [[Strasburg Rail Road]] in [[Lancaster, PA]] (USA) built and featured their No. 1 "Thomas" since 1999 in the US and announced their introduction of "Percy, the Small Engine" at the "Day Out With Thomas" event on 13 September 2014.<ref name=Percy>{{cite news|title=Thomas the Tank Engine bringing Percy to Strasburg tour stop|url=http://lancasteronline.com/entertainment/thomas-the-tank-engine-bringing-percy-to-strasburg-tour-stop/article_ad1bf72e-350f-11e4-aa6e-001a4bcf6878.html|accessdate=10 September 2014|work=Lancaster Online|date=10 September 2014}}</ref> Due to the increasing licensing fees and many other restrictions imposed by HiT Entertainment, including the need for "Sir Topham Hatts" to have auditions and the requirement for intensive [[Disclosure and Barring Service|Criminal Records Bureau]] checking, many heritage railways in the UK and overseas have reluctantly decided to withdraw from running "Thomas" days, thus reducing the income stream to these organisations.<ref name="Heritage railway 106/26">R. Jones: ''Major lines pull out of Thomas''. Heritage Railway magazine, Issue 106, Dec. 2007, page 26</ref><ref>[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1112374_thomas_the_tank_engine_derailed Manchester Evening News -- "Thomas The Tank Engine Derailed"](accessed 2009-09-08)</ref> An international tour featuring Thomas and his driver was completed in 2005 in honour of the 60th anniversary of the original stories. Former US President [[George H.W. Bush]] dedicated the Presidential Train during a ceremony in 2005.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} A "real" Thomas was used in a special play, ''[[The Queen's Handbag]]'', staged to celebrate the 80th birthday of [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], starring well-loved characters from children's [[literature]]. In the play the near life-sized Thomas carried [[Sophie Dahl]] to the stage to meet [[Sir Topham Hatt]] ([[Jonathan Ross]]) at the beginning of the show. <gallery> Image:NSWGR Locomotive 1077 b.jpg|Thomas the Tank Engine at [[Central railway station, Sydney]] Image:Thomas 47327 at Rushcliffe Country Park.jpg| Thomas [[LMS Fowler Class 3F|(47327)]] at [[Rushcliffe Country Park]] Nottingham Image:Thomastrain.jpg| Thomas the Tank Engine at [[Ropley]] station on the [[Watercress Line]] Image:2015-10-30 13 47 02 A life-size replica of Thomas the Tank Engine on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in Virginia City, Nevada.jpg| Thomas the Tank Engine on the [[Virginia and Truckee Railroad]] in [[Virginia City, Nevada|Virginia City]], [[Nevada]] </gallery> ==Reception== {{incomplete|section|date=August 2013}} ===Popularity with autistic audience=== In June and July 2001, the [[National Autistic Society]] conducted a survey of 81 parents of children with [[autism]] and [[Asperger syndrome]] to investigate their putative 'special relationship' with Thomas the Tank Engine. The survey confirmed the organisation's assumption from anecdotal evidence that children with autism spectrum disorders associate far more strongly with Thomas the Tank Engine than with other children's characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/our-publications/reports/our-policy-and-research-reports/children-with-autism-and-thomas-the-tank-engine.aspx |title=Children with autism and Thomas the Tank Engine |publisher=autism.org.uk |date=1 November 2011 |accessdate=17 November 2012}}</ref> In the National Autistic Society's April 2007 survey, conducted with 748 UK parents of children under 10 with autism, 58% of parents reported Thomas was the first children's character their children enjoyed, with about one-third of parents reporting their children were able to learn basic facial expressions from the characters, as all of Thomas's friends have easy-to-read expressions. 54% of parents reported that the stories contributed to their child's sense of security.<ref>{{cite news|author=CBC Arts |url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2007/07/27/thomas-tank.html |title=Autism group probes why children love Thomas the Tank Engine |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=27 July 2007 |accessdate=1 October 2011}}</ref> ''Thomas and Friends''{{'}} autistic audience is referenced in a 2012 article in the satirical newspaper ''[[The Onion]]'', "Thomas The Tank Engine A Little Uneasy With His Broad Autistic Following."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theonion.com/articles/thomas-the-tank-engine-a-little-uneasy-with-his-br,28298/ | title= Thomas The Tank Engine A Little Uneasy With His Broad Autistic Following | date=25 May 2012 | accessdate=25 May 2012 | work= [[The Onion]]}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends|Thomas and Friends}} {{Wikiquote|Thomas and Friends}} ===Official websites=== * {{official website|1=http://www.thomasandfriends.com/}} * [http://www.awdry.family.name/index.htm Awdry Family Site] ===Other sites=== * {{tv.com show|thomas-the-tank-engine-and-friends|Thomas and Friends}} * {{IMDb title|0086815|Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends}}  {{Thomas}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas And Friends}} [[Category:Thomas & Friends| ]] [[Category:Rail transport in fiction]]'