List of Shining Time Station characters

The following is a list of characters that appear throughout the Shining Time Station franchise (the main series itself, the Family Specials, Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales, and Thomas and the Magic Railroad). Main and minor characters are included.

Main characters

Stacy Jones

Stacy Jones is the friendly, bubbly and energetic Station Master at Shining Time Station. She is played by actress Didi Conn.

Her family has been living in Indian Valley since the early pioneering days, with her grandmother Gracie becoming the station's first Station Master. Stacy has two married brothers and a single sister named Tracy. She's the proud aunt of Matt and Dan Jones, and has fond childhood memories of her "granny" and growing up in the Indian Valley.

Before becoming Shining Time's full-time Station Master, Stacy was very involved in the theatre as an actress. She left the theatre out of the sense of responsibility to take over the family tradition of running the station. Kind and considerate, Stacy solves problems in her own inventive fashion, and accepts the magic of Shining Time Station as a quirky fact of life. Stacy is one of the handful of adults who knows about and is trusted by Mr. Conductor.

In Thomas and the Magic Railroad, she finds Lily at Shining Time and delivers her to her Grandpa Stone. But even before Mr. Conductor makes his way to the Island of Sodor, she senses that there is some danger afoot, and that all isn't going to be well when he goes, considering his diminishing supply of gold dust.

Horace Schemer

"He's a doer, he's a dreamer, he's absolutely Schemer and he's me!"

-Schemer

Horace Schemer, known as Schemer by his friends, is the owner and operator of the arcade at Shining Time Station. He is played by actor Brian O'Connor.

He lives up to his surname by coming up with outlandish a eccentric schemes which always seems to backfire on him. His roguish ways and mannerisms ofter irritate his very forgiving friends at Shining Time Station. In addition to his interesting wardrobe tastes, Schemer loves to collect nickels, especially from passengers who deposit them into his arcade machines. Other interests include a sizable comb collection. Schemer lives at home with his mother, and is known to at least have one other sibling who lives out of town who is the parent of his nephew Schemee.

Horace Schemer is the splitting image of his grandfather, Jebediah Schemer, and is fiercely proud of prominent trait of the Schemer bloodline, the telltale curl on the side of his head. A follower of his own "Schemer's System of Success", which often if not always lands him into trouble, Schemer does occasionally reveal a caring of his personality to his friends. Schemer's clumsiness sometimes sends him tumbling to land flat on his face, though he manages to do so without any serious injury to himself. Schemer steadfastly believes Shining Time Station to be haunted, although his fears are largely due to the occasional unseen antics of Mr. Conductor and the Jukebox Band members.

Schemer's collection of checkered sports-jackets is in large part thanks to actor Brian O'Connor making use of his father's old clothes!

Henry "Harry" Cupper

Henry "Harry" Cupper is the locomotive engineer and master mechanic at Shining Time Station, and reowned to be the best one on the Indian Valley Railroad. He is portrayed by actor Leonard Jackson.

He is a serious, hard worker who will always get the job done, and realizes that his priorities are keeping the line in tip-top shape! He has two granddaughters: Tanya Cupper and Kara Cupper. Harry is a longtime employee of the Indian Valley Railroad, and a experienced railroader who loves to share his stories of his early days on the line. His pride and joy is his workshop which he keeps organized in his own fashion. Harry is also an inventor and is quite able to improvise repairs.

Despite his initial reluctance to accept his new post, Harry quickly grew fond of the station's homeliness and old-fashioned setting, thinking there was "just something" about Shining Time Station. Though coming across as a gruff, humorless and grumpy man to those who don't know him, Harry has a heart of gold, and never holds a grudge - even against Schemer when he tried to take over his workshop. When he yells at someone, it is only his intention to keep them safe. After working at Shining Time Station for just over a year, he was transferred to Twiddly Junction in November 1990. Shortly thereafter in the new year, he retired to Fort Farley, and his post at Shining Time Station was filled by Billy Twofeathers. Harry visited Shining Time Station a few years later on the occasion of his granddaughter Kara's go-kart race.

Billy Twofeathers

Billy Twofeathers is a wise American-Indian resident railroad engineer who is driver of the Rainbow Sun on the Indian Valley Railroad, and handyman at Shining Time Station, who like his predecessor Harry Cupper, has a knack for repairing just about everything. He is played by Canadian actor and musician Tom Jackson in the television series, and Russell Means in Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

Billy is a reliable, outspoken, and well-grounded individual who is proud of his Lakota heritage and culture. He is a talented artist, singer, and guitar/flute player. His grandfather, William Twofeathers, also worked at Shining Time Station during its early years. Billy is the uncle of Kit Twofeathers, whose now-deceased father was Billy's brother. Billy is also known to have three uncles.

He knows a lot about railroading and the sense and respect for the magic that surrounds Indian Valley and Shining Time.

Matthew "Matt" Jones

Matthew "Matt" Jones is the beloved nephew of Stacy Jones, and the older cousin of Dan Jones. He is played by actor Jason Woliner.

Matt is a regular visitor at Shining Time Station where he sometimes lends his aunt a helping hand keeping everything in order. Matt is the friend of Tanya Cupper, and the two enjoy the company of their grown-up friends, especially Mr. Conductor, who regales them with stories and anecdotes from his visits to the Island of Sodor.

Tanya Cupper

Tanya Cupper is the grand-daughter of Harry Cupper, and is the friend of Matt Jones. She played by Nicole Rochelle (credited as Nicole Leach).

Practical, kind, and good-natured, Tanya is a familiar face at Shining Time Station where she and Matt have adventures and taking delight listening to Mr. Conductor's tales about the engines on the Island of Sodor.

Dan Jones

Dan Jones is the nephew of Stacy Jones. He became a regular at Shining Time Station since his cousin Matt Jones moved away after Season 1. He is played by Canadian-born actor Ari Magder.

Soft-spoken and kind, Dan likes to play the harmonica, has an Indian Valley Railroad ticket collection, and has an interest in dancing. His best friends at Shining Time Station are Kara Cupper and Becky.

Kara Cupper

Kara Cupper is the grand-daughter of Harry Cupper and the cousin of Tanya. She is played by Erica Luttrell.

She frequents Shining Time Station with her friends Becky and Dan. Kara is outspoken at times, and has a pressed leaf collection as a hobby. Much to her grandfather's delight, Kara had ambitions early on of being a railroad engineer. As Kara matured, her interests in railroad was replaced by music.

Becky

Becky, whose last name was never revealed, is Kara and Dan's best friend at Shining Time Station. She is played by Danielle Marcot.

A kind and considerate young lady, we know that Becky has a father, and that she collects pin-on buttons. Her well-groomed appearance and dress suggest that she is from an upper middle-class family (Becky has pretty dresses and she's able to host a large house party as seen in the episode Oh What a Tangled Web).

Becky is one of the few friends at Shining Time Station who has had more direct experience with the effects of Mr. Conductor's magical wishing stars. She's indirectly responsible for the harmless chaos that ensued in Becky Makes a Wish, and for bringing the cowboy from the distant past featured on the station's wall mural to life (Once Upon a Time).

Supporting characters

J.B. King

J.B. King, Esq. is the superintendent and owner of the Indian Valley Railroad (IVRR). He is played by veteran character actor Mart Hulswit.

His grandfather B.J. King was an engineer on the line, and has a nephew named "Buster". J.B. King runs the IVRR with efficiency from the line's main office. A stern and demanding man, J.B. King nonetheless is fair even as a few of the shenanigans taking place at Shining Time Station (especially by Schemer) try his patience on occasion.

J.B. King is the only adult in the valley who believes in Mr. Conductor's existence, but has yet to see him. His conviction that Mr. Conductor is real stems from a childhood memory where, as a lonely boy waiting for his train to arrive at Shining Time Station, was whispered some comforting words by one of the Conductor family. J.B. King searches for signs of Mr. Conductor on occasion while visiting Shining Time Station, once finding his miniature Conductor's cap on the arcade floor. It is probably his belief that Mr. Conductor makes Shining Time Station a special place that prevents him from permanently closing the station.

Osgood "Bob" Flopdinger

Osgood "Bob" Flopdinger is the mayor of East Shemp, and later Shining Time, according to the residents of Indian Valley. He is played by actor Jerome Dempsey.

Ever the consummate politician, Mayor Flopdinger sees everyone he meets as a potential voter and vote for him. He is always at the ready to make a proclamation or speech to anyone who cares to listen, but he sometimes gets tongue-tied in the delivery and appears distracted. The mayor's arrival and departures at Shining Time Station are always announced by the squealing of tires and the screeching of brakes. The mayor is devoted to his wife, Twilene, and has a morbid fear of offending the Friends of the Flowering Cactus Ladies Auxiliary.

Midge Smoot

Midge Smoot is the town gosip who knows who's who and what's going on in the Indian Valley. She is played by veteran Broadway, film and TV actress Bobo Lewis.

More than likely, she'll find people first. For her small stature, Midge is a busybody with an ear happy to receive, and a tongue happy to share gossip. A kind woman strong in her convictions, Midge is also President of the Friends of the Flowering Cactus Ladies Auxiliary. She is known to have a sister in Cliggyville (S2.20 All's Fair).

Ginny Johnson

Ginny Johnson is a farmer and owner of an apple orchard living up the Indian Valley in the community of Farmer's Dell. She is played by well-know Canadian actress Barbara Hamilton.

She is a colorful good-natured woman matched only by her wardrobe, Ginny always greets her friends at Shining Time Station with a jovial "Hey, Hey, Hey, what do we say?" and often drops hilarious one-liners during conversations such as "Is that a bump on your head, or did you get hit by a lucky horseshoe?".

In her younger years, Ginny was a dance instructor and ran Ginny's Studio of Dance and Manners (Dance Crazy!). She's also the proud owner of a White Western Highland Terrier named Grainger (A Dog's Life), though she often resorts to giving him a new name whenever he causes mischief - from "Rex the Wonder Dog" to "Mister Filthy" (Billy's Party). Ginny drives a 1942-47 model Ford Pickup truck which was seen in Queen for a Day. Ginny is also known to have a married nephew (Billy's Party).

Felix Perez

Felix Perez is the jovial owner and operator of the Perez Pronto Bus Company which ferries passengers around all points of Indian Valley. He is played by Aurelio Padron.

Felix is very involved in the local theatre as an accomplished actor, artist, writer, and director, and has a passion for dancing.

Barton Winslow

Barton Winslow is the owner and operator of the Shining Time General Store, located on Butternut & Main in the town of Shining Time. He is played by Irish-Canadian actor Gerard Parkes.

A kind and practical man, Barton owns a motorcycle and is noted for a noteworthy quirk - whenever he puts on his leather jacket, his manner of speech immediately switches to "Hip talk" slang from 1950s America. Barton at one point acquired a robotic assitant (Schemer's Robot), and also has an assistant named Mel (Mr. Conductor Gets Left Out).

Schemee

Schemee is the mischievous young nephew of Schemer. He is played by Jonathan Shapiro.

Although he lives in another town, he sometimes comes to visit for a short stay with his uncle, where he always manages to get himself into some manner of trouble. He's adored by his uncle for taking after him in personality, wardrobe, and for constantly conjuring up schemes.

Kit Twofeathers

Kit Twofeathers is Billy's young nephew who came to stay at Shining Time shortly after Dan Jones left. He is a regular cast member of the Shining Time Station Family Specials. He is played by Canadian actor Bucky Hill.

Kit harboured a lot of resentment and often got into trouble after the death of his father (Billy's brother). Initially rejecting his uncle Billy's nurturing and counsel, Kit slowly realized that people really cared for him and to warm up and be accepting of others' friendship.

Jake Scoop

Jake Scoop is a newspaper reporter with the Indian Valley Gazette. He is played by Canadian actor Albert Schultz.

A confident newsman always on the hunt for a big story, Jake sometimes comes across as being cocky.

Ted Typo

Ted Typo is an ace reporter with the Indian Valley Gazette who appears to have replaced Jake Scoop after Shining Time Station Season 2. He was played by English-Canadian actor David Hewlett.

Mr. Conductor

Mr. Conductor is a character that makes the Indian Valley Railroad's Shining Time Station a very special place because it is his home, aptly named because of his smart attire, a railroad conductor's uniform. Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr played Mr. Conductor during Season 1 (1989 - 'Tis a Gift). From Season 2 to the series' end, he is played by comedian and social commentator George Carlin.

The Jukebox Puppet Band

Main performers

Tito Swing

Tito Swing is the de-facto leader of the Jukebox Band, and is known to be a master of all keyboard instruments, a composer and conductor. He is voiced by Flexitoon's cast member Jonathan Freeman.

Special Episode characters

'Tis a Gift

Claire

Claire is Vickie's mother. She is played by Judy Marshak.

Tucker Cooper

Tucker Cooper is a cousin of Harry Cupper and a relative of Tanya. He is played by Ardon Bess.

Episode guests

Buster

Buster is the nephew of J.B. King. He is played by Ira Glasner.

Gracie Jones

Gracie Jones is Stacy Jones' grandmother (granny). She is played by Didi Conn.

William Twofeathers

William Twofeathers is Billy Twofeathers' grandfather. He is played by Tom Jackson.

Jebediah Schemer

Jebediah Schemer is Horace Schemer's grandfather. He is played by Brian O'Connor.

B.J. King

B.J. King is an engineer on the Indian Valley Railroad. He is played by Mart Hulswit.

Emmett

Emmett is a painter. He is played by Larry Reynolds in his elder self, and Colin O'Meara in his younger self.