When I was little, I always believed the island of Sodor was real and you could go there if you got to the isle of man.

19:12 "His *FIRE* box was on *FIRE* " Buzz Lightyear: Hmm yes, this floor seems to be made of floor...

CGI Thomas: appears Narrator: Then, there was trouble.

“Diesel 10 is too scary for kids'' *Laughs in season 5*

"too scary for children" Boi Diesel 10 still gave me nightmares either way.

The end touched my heart alot because I've been through alot, and this little blue tank engine has gotten me through ups and downs

6:49 “Thomas is quite simply the most famous locomotive there is.” Flying Scotsman: And I took that personally.

"Too Scary For kids" *Yeah just have a square diesel train with a nightmare fueled claw wouldn't scare them either*

"Many fans believed HiT entertainment's purchase of the franchise was the nail in the coffin for it." Big World Adventures: *bonjour*

'Diesel 10 was "too scary" for kids' **Laughs in Thomas and The Magic Railroad**

7:35 is was time for Thomas to leave, he had seen everything.

*"HIS FIREBOX WAS ON FIRE!"* Only way this makes sense is if his firebox overheated beyond safe levels.

As someone who has been a Thomas The Tank Engine fan ever since I was a little kid, thank you for making this. I could go an entire day talking about how much the series means to me. It really did shape me into the person I am today.

I always loved the actual trains and the imagination they created. Once it went to all CG it became both unrealistic and too literal at the same time. The CG took the magic and imagination away. There was one I saw that still had the real trains but with CG faces and that wasn't too bad. Also, nobody beat Ringo as a narrator. Thanks for the informative history, I always wondered what happened.

"His firebox was on fire!" *Every 60 seconds in Africa, a minute passes*

Thomas the Tank Engine was my whole world when I was little. I had everything Thomas from clothes, toys, vhs tapes, bedding, shoes, books etc.... I'm 26 now & still watch all the classic episodes from time to time.

The tunes in the background were the sounds of my childhood and they still are

So little Cristopher Named the Train Thomas . . . . THANK U CRISTOPHER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember being a kid, and thinking the trains where real, (because of detailed models)

Michael Brandon who narrated the last live-action episodes of Thomas and Friends was a great describer. Since Alec Baldwin did a handsome English and Australian accent for Oliver the Great Western Engine and Stepney the Bluebell Engine, the late George Carlin and Michael Brandon did a wonderful Dutch and Scottish accent for Duncan the Golden Beige Narrow-Gauge Engine and Donald and Douglas the Scottish Twin Engines.

I feel it lost it's charm when it became CG

I'm 17 and these still make me smile!

Timestamps 0:00 Fork in the Road Logo 0:08 Disclaimer 0:16 The Railway Series Intro 0:38 Thomas & Friends Intro 1:13 Title 1:23 Early Life of Reverend Wilbert Awdry 2:43 The Three Railway Engines 3:08 Thomas the Tank Engine 3:43 Publication of The Railway Series 4:15 William Middleton 4:31Thomas's Stories 4:51 Reginald Payne 5:22 C. Reginald Dalby 6:03 The Island of Sodor 6:20 Retirement of Reverend Wilbert Awdry 6:44 TV Report 7:08 The Popularity of Thomas & Friends 7:46 Thomas & Friends is not the First Adaptation of The Railway Series 7:58 The Sad Story of Henry (June 14, 1953) 8:27 A Visible Hand during the Broadcast 8:42 Awdry's Complaints of The Sad Story of Henry 8:55 Cancellation of The Sad Story of Henry 9:04 No Existing Recordings of The Sad Story of Henry 9:12 Legacy of The Sad Story of Henry 9:30 Britt Allcroft 10:05 Production of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends 10:15 David Mitton 10:40 Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell 10:59 Ringo Starr 11:19 Unaired Pilot and Series 1 11:38 Shining Time Station 12:04 The Start of Non-Awdry Elements in Series 5 12:31 More Crash Sequences in Series 5 13:35 Darker-Toned Stories in Series 5 14:08 Thomas and the Magic Railroad 15:22 Thomas and the Magic Railroad (Director's Cut) 16:53 Reception of Thomas and the Magic Railroad 17:13 The Hunt for the Director's Cut 17:23 restorethemagic.org/ 17:37 Departure of Britt Allcroft 17:46 HiT Entertainment 17:58 Greed and Simplicity in the Next 12 Years 19:16 The Worst Era of Thomas & Friends 19:34 Sharon Miller Era 19:57 Thomas & Friends Brand 20:13 Andrew Brenner 20:43 Andrew Brenner's Pre-Series 17 Stories 22:44 Reception of the Andrew Brenner Era 22:59 Journey Beyond Sodor 23:07 Legacy of Andrew Brenner Era 23:15 Back on the Right Track 23:32 Britt Allcroft Interview 24:13 Outro 24:19 Business People who Forgot the Message of Thomas & Friends 24:28 Original Remakes by Fans 24:41 What Thomas Meant from Awdry 25:25 Awdry Interview 25:59 Credits 26:18 Last Message Big World! Big Adventures All Engines Go!

This video brought back so many good memories for me when i was 5 i broke my leg on a trampoline and couldn’t walk or do much because of the full leg cast so my mother went to the attic and pulled out my older brother’s thomas and friends vhs tapes dvds and toys which i still keep close to my heart to this day thomas was my first friend as a child and i still love him to this day as a full grown adult

This made me cry! From a drawing to realistic models and CGI Animation! Wow!

not only was it made for a child, it was made with love, passion and happiness

To be fair to the Miller era movies, HOTR is a good movie and especially BMM, which is on the same level as SLOTLT

Bro that ending made me tear up and I never cry to movies or books

1:13 that intro is giving me flashbacks to the good old days

i cried finally a documentary that was made for my favorite character growing up my heart was very touched i will never forget about those good times because of you

"Alec Baldwin" "Baldwin Locomotive Works" hmmmmmm

"It's definitely back on the right track." [Rimshot]

I honestly think it’s crazy that so Many people love this as much as they do, it means the world to me that i could make something that so many people enjoyed, i hope in the future when i can, that i can make more content that you will all enjoy. Btw i don’t want to make a false impression that this is primarily a thomas and friends channel, this is just something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time that means alot to me.

Holy damn, Diesel 10's original voice... I LOVE IT! SCREW YOU TEST AUDIENCES >:(

75 years ago, our favorite tank engine appeared in his own book

I think a lot of people really don’t appreciate how beautiful this video is.

1945:In the future will be a Thomas show.. 2014:The new show *CHUGGINTON*

People talk shit about magic railroad Me: You’re walking on thin ice mate...

13:26 I love how those two workers on the right don't even care.

I was 5 when Thomas and the magic railroad came out. Honestly I don’t even know how many times I watched it. I loved it.

7:08 Finally that familiar song that summed up why I have a love of trains from my childhood.

Its interesting to see, Henry, Gordon , and Edward were the originals. Imagine if Mr.Awdry made a Gordon model. Would Thomas not exist who would it be Edward Henry or Gordon the engine. Maybe thats why Gordon and Thomas have a rivalry.

When I was younger, my parents bought a DVD of Thomas and the magic railroad. I used to love it.

I always felt Thomas was best during the model era and I still look back onto them fondly as I watched them a lot when I was a kid Very nice documentary mate :)

*hIS FIrEbOx wAS oN FIrE!!!!*

When I retire as a firefighter I want to remake original Thomas episodes and find someone who sounds like ringo Starr

I really like Journey Beyond Sodor! In my opinion, the plot is new and action-packed, the songs are amazing, and the new characters are there for a reason! Frankie and Hurricane are some of the co-protagonists and the experimental engines help Thomas save James from The Steelworks. In my opinion, it is the BEST Thomas and Friends movie!

Gotta admit, Donald & Douglas’ theme is a tune I hum to myself when I’m pushing busses around when they breakdown or when they need a push around the yard when they can’t start (something I like to refer to as ‘shunting’)

Seasons 8-11 (2004-2007) of "Thomas & Friends" were the episodes that I grew up watching.

the ending was so beautiful I could almost cry

Thomas and Friends were FIRE .🔥 So much better than CGI and mostly everything else.

I mostly love the part where you talked about Wilbert Awdry and his books, I think it's nice that Wilbert created the talking engines to cheer up his son while he was ill with measles, he was a very good father and Christian.

To be honest as a child I absolutely loved the magic railroad and I’m from the UK and didn’t find it confusing as a four year old!

Season 1-2: Awdry Era Season 3-4: Post Awdry Era Season 5-7: Britt Allcroft Era Season 8-16: HIT Era (First Dark Age) Season 17-20: Renaissance Era Season 21-24: Post Renaissance Era Season 25-27: All Engines Go Era (Second Dark Age)

"his fire box was on fire!" ah yes, and this floor is made out of floor

The crashing sequence in most of the show's episodes just like the books really did carry on for lesson learning on the characters so they would learn better at a future momentum but we don't like it when the trains crash; it's too dangerous. That's also why I want the show redone without the characters crashing, having an accident or featuring drivers and firemen.

16:37 when I was a child, I would've loved that voice for thomas

"His fire box was on fire!" Yeah I'd hope so, if you want the engine to run.

As a young kid in Arkansas, I LOVED Thomas. Tatmr was my favorite movie, and even though now I know it's not great, it will always have a special spot in my heart.

It’s beautiful how fans are keeping the series alive Whilst Mattel is making a terrible reboot

Very nicely done. I grew up loving the classic Thomas The Tank Engine show, and it still holds a special place in my heart. Even The Magic Railroad is special to me because I loved it so much as a kid, even if it does have problems. This documentary was cool because it had some information that I didn't even know about, and now I'm interested in learning more. I haven't really watched the show that much the last few years because of the things you discussed, but if the show has been improving somewhat, maybe I'll have to take another look at it.

FREAKING THE MODELS ARE SO MUCH BETTER

The old series was the best. I don't like the CGI but I like the fact that they have made it more appealing for today's children. I do think they are running out of ideas.

Narrator: "But it's definitely on the right track to entertain for years to come" Me: Sees season 25 trailer

For me personally the classic era (seasons 1-7) will always be the best in my book and while I still enjoy Thomas and the RWS books for nostalgic reasons, I'm not involved with the fandom community because the majority of them are either immature or just down right anti-social. The problem is they take it far too seriously there's a lot more to steam and railways than just a children show such as the documentaries by legendary steeplejack and steam enthusiast Fred Dibnah, never keep your eggs in one basket as the old saying goes.

There should really be a movie about the creation of the series similar to the first 30 minutes of "Christopher Robin" in a way.

Man, it's so weird to see how the Thomas sections in the Shining Time Station really stuck with me. George Carlin told a great story without "baby talking" the plot. The modeling and special effects inspired me to start the modeling hobby as a kid, but never had the luxury of doing it or knowing how. I return again to it in the form of Warhammer, terrain building, and 3D printing... and it feels almost like it did when I watching the show as kid. But I wondered why I remember Thomas being something I held dear, but never knew the origin or what became of it when Shining Time Station was taken off PBS. Thank you for making this video!

19:10 His FIREBOX was on FIRE

Anybody think a movie about the rev. W awdry and the creation of the railway series? Im surprised it hasn't been done

Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends will always be a part of my childhood Forever and honestly once in a blue-moon I watch an episode to bring back all of the memories of the smiles and laughs that I had and still have today. R.I.P Rev. W. Awdry & George Carlin.

I love documentary films as well as our real world's history.

Something unfortunate is the switch to computerized methods in modernized animation. All of the heart has drained from it now.

7:42 Thomas sure does have a vision

When I was 4 years old in London in the 1960s, I had almost all of the small hand size Thomas The Tank Engine books with the great artwork by Reginald Payn. Although I could not yet read, I would spend hours and hours looking at the beautiful pictures. God Bless the Reverand W. Awdry for creating this iconic method of moral storytelling! The model Train version was of course after my time, but i would have loved it! The CGI Sucks!

This show has make me joyfull and hopefull.this show will remain in my heart forever

The history of this show is a good story of what happens if you let gold fall into the wrong hands

Now we're in the Chuggington era of bouncing engines, Tumblr the Tank Engine, unrealistic situations, and no character development.

I absolutely loved and still feel fond of Thomas and the Magic Railroad. There's something special about Lady, I really love her design and I still find it sad she's not been used more.

I used to love this series when I was a little kid , But I always wondered the backstory behind it. This feels like closure to me

19:12 "HiS FiRebOx wAs On fIrE!!!11" Also the great discovery is NOT a bad movie! Its just not! (edit)i dont think he said that, nvm

This video was bueatyful

I hated when I was younger and they started to animate the show. I was always a fan of the real toy model engines. And I loved their first movie, I feel like the animated version ruined the show.

if this was made when the 2021 reboot was coming out, i wonder what he would say about it

“Diesel 10 was too scary for kids” No s__t. I used to refuse to watch Calling All Engines! because the scene where Thomas asks Diesel 10 for help near Gordon’s Hill scared me.

19:13 I died at that part.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

In my opinion, everything past 2005 kimda sucked. I liked the old Thomas with the models. HIT entertainment has ruined a lodt of shows I like to watched. Bob the builder no longer has his football, but instead has a more realistic shaped head. What the hell HIT

Ever since I was born I loved Thomas and friends. To this day I still like Thomas but don’t remember most of it. After I watch this it made feel emotional 😭 I Actually like the Magic Railway

The old series of Thomas and friends really has a special spot in my heart. It’s just a great era of the franchise and it feels so good even at my older age right now just to watch an older episode because of the beauty in the story’s told and just how great they tell them

The UK really nails kid shows

Its great to see that u appreciate it unlike others seeing it as a kids show.

13:53 well the Thomas stories where supposed to be based on real train events that’s how wilbert awdry wanted it to be

My first time being introduced to Thomas was the episode Edward's Day Out. Sometimes I look back on the early days of Thomas and feel amazed at how his stories was told.

Excellent documentary. Excellent. It just popped up as a suggestion and because Thomas & Friends was a huge part of my childhood, I immediately clicked. I shall be showing this to the next generation of Thomas lovers in our family....my little nephews. It’ll be great for them to see where it all started. Thank you

I cried at the last part

I loved Ringo Starr in the 1st seasons of the t.v. series, but secretly what if Rev.W.Awdry himself was chosen as the narrator instead?

I remember watching this back around late 2019 and not to long after I remember getting back into Thomas thanks to this. All I wanted to say was thank you man :) happy 2023.

Great funny and emotional This is one of the best thing I've seen From drawings to CGI what you had done is amazing my friend

that ending, that will hit you right in the gut. Especially with the choice of music

“Tank Engine Thomas Again” We’re really working overtime on these titles.

Funny enough there was actually ANOTHER attempt at making The Railway series into an animated show by Andrew Lloyd Webber. While the project never got off the ground it was instrumental in the creation of his musical, Starlight Express.