Thomas & Friends series 5

Thomas & Friends
Season 5
DVD cover art
No. of episodes	26
Release
Original network	Cartoon Network
Original release	1 September (1998-09-01) – 30 October 1998 (1998-10-30)
Series chronology

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry.

This article lists and details episodes from the fifth series of the show, which was first broadcast in 1998. This series is narrated by Michael Angelis for the U.K. audiences, while Alec Baldwin narrated the episodes for the U.S. audiences.

In the United States, this season was aired in 1999 on Fox Family. This is the first season of the series that was not aired on PBS.

This is the first season which uses digital filming, and the last produced by Britt Alcroft Productions and Brittwood Productions.

Production

Stories

The show's staff had decided since Series 3 that most of the best stories of The Railway Series had been adapted, the rest involving too many new characters or closely resembling previous stories. With Series 5, the decision was made to write a full series of original, staff-written stories. One reason for this was producer Britt Allcroft's desire to create a theatrical Thomas the Tank Engine movie, and requested that director David Mitton show off his modelling skills. Series 5 aired in 1998, and the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad was released 2 years later.

Some inspiration for the stories came from a former LMR manager named David Maidment. In 1997, Maidment met with Steven Wright about the possibility of supporting the Railway Children charity, and while Wright told him the series' staff commonly received such requests, they would consider. During their meeting, Maidment relayed stories about his railway experiences working in South Wales and as the manager at Crewe station. Days later, Maidment received a call asking if he would allow some of his stories to be used as material – the stories from The Railway Series were frequently based on true events, and Allcroft and Mitton preferred this. Maidment agreed, and was also asked to review each story to make sure that the railway in the show operated realistically. As a result, Maidment received writing credit alongside Allcroft and Mitton. 10,000 pounds ($14,406 in U.S. money) was donated to the Railway Children for his work.

These stories are amongst those adapted:

• "Baa!" – a ram invades a railway station and attacks some vandals; additionally, the idea of a "Best Kept Station" competition.
• "James and the Trouble with Trees" – rain erodes an embankment, causing a tree to slide down and stand upright on the tracks.
• "Double Teething Troubles" – a British Rail Class 17 diesel stalls while banking a train.
• "Gordon and the Gremlin" – bathwater in a luxury coach splashes around the compartment.

The design for each new character would be chosen by David Eves, and given to David Mitton for approval.

Filming

Mitton shot 2,700 slates for Series 5, the most of any of the series he shot for Thomas. Stock Footage Theme Music From Season 3 and 4.

Broadcast

Previously Thomas had only appeared in the US as a segment on the TV show Shining Time Station, but Series 5 aired in the US as part of the half-hour Storytime with Thomas program. Each episode would include a new Series 5 episode, an episode of Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie, and a Series 4 episode narrated by George Carlin, with music videos and footage of Day out with Thomas in between.

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	UK title (top) Main title (middle) US title (bottom)	Directed by	Source	Original air date
105	1	"Cranky Bugs"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	14 September 1998 (1998-09-14)
106	2	"A Horrid Lorry"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	15 September 1998 (1998-09-15)
107	3	"A Better View for Gordon"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	16 September 1998 (1998-09-16)
108	4	"Lady Hatt's Birthday Party"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	17 September 1998 (1998-09-17)
109	5	"James & the Trouble With Trees"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	18 September 1998 (1998-09-18)
110	6	"Gordon & the Gremlin"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	21 September 1998 (1998-09-21)
111	7	"Bye George!"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	22 September 1998 (1998-09-22)
112	8	"Baa!"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	23 September 1998 (1998-09-23)
113	9	"Put-Upon Percy"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	24 September 1998 (1998-09-24)
114	10	"Toby & the Flood"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	25 September 1998 (1998-09-25)
115	11	"Haunted Henry"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	28 September 1998 (1998-09-28)
116	12	"Double Teething Troubles"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	29 September 1998 (1998-09-29)
117	13	"Stepney Gets Lost"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	30 September 1998 (1998-09-30)
118	14	"Toby's Discovery"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	1 October 1998 (1998-10-01)
119	15	"Something in the Air"	David Mitton	Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends magazine story by Andrew Brenner	2 October 1998 (1998-10-02)
120	16	"Thomas, Percy & Old Slow-Coach"	David Mitton	Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends magazine story by Andrew Brenner	5 October 1998 (1998-10-05)
121	17	""Thomas & the Rumours" "Thomas & the Rumors""	David Mitton	Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends magazine story by Andrew Brenner	6 October 1998 (1998-10-06)
122	18	"Oliver's Find"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	7 October 1998 (1998-10-07)
123	19	"Happy Ever After"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	8 October 1998 (1998-10-08)
124	20	"Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	9 October 1998 (1998-10-09)
125	21	""A Surprise for Percy" "A Big Surprise for Percy""	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	12 October 1998 (1998-10-12)
126	22	"Make Someone Happy"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	13 October 1998 (1998-10-13)
127	23	"Busy Going Backwards"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	14 October 1998 (1998-10-14)
128	24	"Duncan Gets Spooked"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft, David Mitton, and David Maidment	15 October 1998 (1998-10-15)
129	25	"Rusty & the Boulder"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	16 October 1998 (1998-10-16)
130	26	"Snow"	David Mitton	Original by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton	19 October 1998 (1998-10-19)

Characters

Introduced

• Cranky the Crane ("Cranky Bugs")
• Horrid Lorries ("Horrid Lorry")
• Butch the Breakdown Vehicle ("Cranky Bugs" (cameo) / "Horrid Lorry" (faceless; does not speak))
• Old Bailey ("Haunted Henry")
• Derek ("Double Teething Troubles" (not named))
• 'Arry and Bert ("Stepney Gets Lost" ('Arry not named; Bert does not speak))
• Bertram the Old Warrior ("Toby's Discovery" (does not speak))
• Old Slow Coach ("Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach")
• Tiger Moth ("Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday")
• Thumper ("Rusty and the Boulder" (does not speak))
• Dowager Hatt ("Gordon and the Gremlin" (not named))

Recurring character cast

• Thomas
• Edward
• Henry
• Gordon
• James
• Percy
• Toby
• Duck
• Bill and Ben
• Donald
• BoCo
• Mavis
• Oliver
• Stepney
• Skarloey
• Rheneas
• Peter Sam
• Rusty
• Duncan
• Annie and Clarabel
• Henrietta
• Toad
• Bertie
• Terence
• Trevor
• Harold
• George the Steam Roller
• Caroline
• The Fat Controller
• Lady Hatt
• Stephen Hatt
• Bridget Hatt
• Mrs. Kyndley
• Jem Cole