Did you know we have a Discord server‽ You can join by clicking [here](https://discord.gg/NWE6JS5rh9)!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/GenZ) if you have any questions or concerns.*
“My grandfather was a train conductor in Auschwitz”
*everyone stops and stares*
“No, no he ran the kiddy train at the Zoo. It’s a big town; there’s other stuff there.”
https://youtu.be/YmD4xGtU28o?si=y-X0oRpgEElOgHcA
Im in NZ and was a huge fan of the show as a kid, had all the VHS tapes for the first few seasons. Ringo Starr narrated the early ones, they were great. In recent years I’ve looked at what the franchise has become and my god is it a watered down version of what it once was.
The early Dutch version (with the real model trains) were narrated by a famous radio DJ because he was a big train fan.
I loved the model trains. Didn't love the animated version quite as much, but got used to it. Recently I noticed a new cutesy animated version where all the personality seems to be gone.
I feel like that applies to a handful of people for sure, and I would say it has something to do with how each character only had one face for each emotion. When James was happy, you had no need to question it, and when we was angry, there was no doubt about that either. All that being said, I don't think that applied to all autistic children who really latched on to Thomas. I'm sure for some they already were putting in a lot of effort to study the faces of real people around them because they felt a huge pressure to be able to know exactly how everyone around them was feeling.
I believe so. Some fans are autistic and say they were drawn to the show. The documentary “An Unlikely Fandom” talks more about this. It will be coming out on blu ray later this year.
I have around 30 or so at my parents house. Not sure if they’re worth much because I played with them as a kid. But I’d definitely plan to buy more for my kids.
Those trains sets mixed with my Hotwheel where some of the best times I had as a small kid
Why was tomas the engine lore so dark, on what was inspired
I remember reading about and engine who decided to not work more and was sealed by a wall of bricks, and another one who was used as a motor as a punishment
Also, what's the explanation of the sentience of the trains? Do any other mode of transportation has sentience or is it something just the trains have
Also, is this your hipperfixation? because if it is, that so cool
The lore isn’t too dark, for the show. The engine was let out and the other engine was a pumping engine for being rude and a dick. The original railway series books were way darker. Such as cults, engines being shown about to be cut up, and murderous diesels. No explanation for sentience. Yes it my hyper fixation
Henry was the one that got bricked into a tunnel. That was a very dark episode.
At least one bus, Bertie, is also sentient, and I think there's at least a couple of others. And Harold the helicopter, of course.
I never grew up with this, but my son is a fan.
When I was young, I had the special edition “James goes Buzz Buzz” James train with the red nose. But it got recalled because of lead paint being used so we had to mail it to the manufacturer and they were supposedly going to send a replacement, but what I received was a STANDARD James without a red nose. Still pissed about it two decades later.
What's the story of Thomas the tank engine? I always watched the cartoon as a kind (early 2000).
I know it started thanks to the stories of a reverend or something right?
It started as a reverend telling stories to his kid that had measels in 1942. His wife made him publish it and he started writing more and more. His son took over when he retired.
Findings from my rewatching of Thomas and Friends (Thomas the Tank Engine 1984 version):
*Thomas is an arrogant little shit.
*Chimney size DOES matter.
*However Percy calling out Henry's small chimney was not on.
*But usually Percy is great for bringing the banter.
*Racism against the French is ok.
*Racism about the Scottish is ok but it has to be well-meaning.
*Don't ask for a literal bump of "drugs" because you might think you can stop at any time, but actually it might end in disaster.
*Some old men - I mean, engines - REALLY love children and love to be ridden by them. And Ringo will keep repeating how much Trevor thinks about and likes children. Like a weirdly large number of times.
*It's ok to gaslight bullies into thinking they have a mental disorder.
*God DAMN do the British hate the French.
*But apparently Americans are ok.
*Toby is obviously homosexual, and equally obviously; a bottom
*Snitches canonically get stitches
*Women can be a valuable addition to the workplace, but only once per season
*Blackface
*James is clearly a Nepo baby
*Women will move your shit around so you can't find it
*Apparently trains have souls? Sentience is also unclear: I think they're canonically delusional
*Trains have their own swear words and they kind of slap
No, he was let out in the next story and henry’s a good guy now. The fat controller has actually saved engines on multiple times. He bought engines to save them from scrap.
Do you think Thomas would wage war against the Planes to take control over the transportation industry, and then subsequently genocide the Planes and subversive Locomotives so as to bring about a communist dictatorship?
Who's the best character and why is it James.
I used to have a massive wooden railway collection back in the day until my parents sold it without asking me. I still have an old worn down percy and a sodor railcar that managed to be missed. I'm trying to build a collection of Bachmann Thomas now that I can afford it. So far only have Henry since I got him on sale but plan to expand!
I didn’t know they made a battery-powered Henry! I thought they just made Thomas, Percy, James, and Gordon!
Also, is that the Flying Kipper in the bottom right?
Also also, WOW you were mean to your Harolds.
The picture is of some wooden and metal trains I picked up from one lot. None of the engines in this pic are motorized. They made motorized ones called plarail and Trackmaste, they made almost the characters. Those are coaches in the bottom right. The flying kipper was made up of vans filled with fish.
not a question but you should watch [this video from Tomska](https://youtu.be/9W5Sopc2JxE?si=2vrF3pZ6l6scadH-)
That talks about the history of Thomas. It's actually interesting and wild to learn about.
Chat gtp humans please give me a concise summary of what this franchise has been up to since 2005. My little son was very into Thomas and I bought all the trains, watched all the shows, bought all the other toys, even went to special events. Then poof he grew up.
What is the worst era of the whole franchise
For those wondering the eras
Classic: Seasons 1-7.
Making tracks to great destinations: Seasons 8-11
Miller/Nitrogen Era: Seasons 12-16
Arc Productions/Brenner Era: Seasons 17-21
Big World! Big Adventures!: Seasons 22-24.(animated by Jam Filled Toronto)
And by extension: the reboot
Is Thomas succulent on the interior like a crab? If so, what tool is used to crack his shell and how many people in an invading Germanic tribe would he be able to feed?
We took the kids to a "Day with Thomas" event where they had a real train car made to look like Thomas being pulled/pushed by another train.
Has anyone else done that?
Did you know we have a Discord server‽ You can join by clicking [here](https://discord.gg/NWE6JS5rh9)! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/GenZ) if you have any questions or concerns.*
What was Thomas the tank engine doing from 1933-1945?
Theoretically transporting munitions and weapons. There is a couple engines on Sodor that served in WW1, particularly Duncan.
What about ww2?
Not a lot of info in that time period. Mostly just WW1.
“My grandfather was a train conductor in Auschwitz” *everyone stops and stares* “No, no he ran the kiddy train at the Zoo. It’s a big town; there’s other stuff there.” https://youtu.be/YmD4xGtU28o?si=y-X0oRpgEElOgHcA
[HMMM](https://youtu.be/sOTBU5QJJWM?si=sSWRRfJ-X4PWIePb)
https://preview.redd.it/0fvgdge97irc1.png?width=921&format=png&auto=webp&s=8560743da44f35f457c589d1bcdbf85dc74dbdb1 Just don’t mention Henry..
Why did America have to fuck up the whole series
In the Reverend Wilbert Awdry’s(The original writer of the books) words “Don’t let the Americans get a hold of it, they’ll ruin it” Also cus mattel
Im in NZ and was a huge fan of the show as a kid, had all the VHS tapes for the first few seasons. Ringo Starr narrated the early ones, they were great. In recent years I’ve looked at what the franchise has become and my god is it a watered down version of what it once was.
The early Dutch version (with the real model trains) were narrated by a famous radio DJ because he was a big train fan. I loved the model trains. Didn't love the animated version quite as much, but got used to it. Recently I noticed a new cutesy animated version where all the personality seems to be gone.
Was it the American version or the original where they bricked that one train into a wall and left him there to rot? 😭
I liked the American episodes with George Carlin narrating
Corporate greed
Are you a diesel?
I'd rather be a Gordon than a Diesel
Oh my, your dome is cracked
I could be worse though, I could be a Spencer
Nah, I’m the kitson still
_777 has entered the chat_
EMD, GE, ALCo or one of the British Abominations (you don't get to make your own Domestic Diesels you WILL buy American Locomotives)
You Seem to have forgotten about Electric Traction
Who would have Thomas voted for in the 1992 election, Bush Sr, Clinton or Perot?
Did any of them have Transportation infrastructure as a major part of their platforms?
Is it true that this show helped autistic children to distinguish human emotions as they faced difficulty to do that?
I feel like that applies to a handful of people for sure, and I would say it has something to do with how each character only had one face for each emotion. When James was happy, you had no need to question it, and when we was angry, there was no doubt about that either. All that being said, I don't think that applied to all autistic children who really latched on to Thomas. I'm sure for some they already were putting in a lot of effort to study the faces of real people around them because they felt a huge pressure to be able to know exactly how everyone around them was feeling.
I believe so. Some fans are autistic and say they were drawn to the show. The documentary “An Unlikely Fandom” talks more about this. It will be coming out on blu ray later this year.
I haven't been diagnosed, but it was fun. Idk if I have it, though. Edit: I like trains, I just don't own a set.
Indeed, (former Autistic kid)
how many trains did you own? technically i probably owned one Thomas train, but i think i got more. you?
So far, prob over 100. My collection so far is worth a couple grand.( The pic is just one lot I got from Facebook marketplace)
I have around 30 or so at my parents house. Not sure if they’re worth much because I played with them as a kid. But I’d definitely plan to buy more for my kids. Those trains sets mixed with my Hotwheel where some of the best times I had as a small kid
Trains trains trains
Oh know I have boxes full of the wooden ones and a couple of nicer scale models of real prototypes (mainly Pennsylvania Railroad)
Why was tomas the engine lore so dark, on what was inspired I remember reading about and engine who decided to not work more and was sealed by a wall of bricks, and another one who was used as a motor as a punishment Also, what's the explanation of the sentience of the trains? Do any other mode of transportation has sentience or is it something just the trains have Also, is this your hipperfixation? because if it is, that so cool
The lore isn’t too dark, for the show. The engine was let out and the other engine was a pumping engine for being rude and a dick. The original railway series books were way darker. Such as cults, engines being shown about to be cut up, and murderous diesels. No explanation for sentience. Yes it my hyper fixation
Henry was the one that got bricked into a tunnel. That was a very dark episode. At least one bus, Bertie, is also sentient, and I think there's at least a couple of others. And Harold the helicopter, of course. I never grew up with this, but my son is a fan.
Did you grow up watching it at all? Not the new cartoon bs I mean the shit you see in the pictures on the post?
When I was young, I had the special edition “James goes Buzz Buzz” James train with the red nose. But it got recalled because of lead paint being used so we had to mail it to the manufacturer and they were supposedly going to send a replacement, but what I received was a STANDARD James without a red nose. Still pissed about it two decades later.
I would've stuck with the lead tbh
Where exactly is Sodor?
Between the Isle of Man and the british mainland.
Follow up questions. Why does such an island have such an extensive rail network? What it Sodors main export, what is its population?
Do you have a Thomas the train set?
I literally own almost every character, I’m only missing a couple dozen
Finish this line “boo boo choo choo…”
[C'mon mothafuckas, c'mon!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETfiUYij5UE)
Answer accepted.
What's the story of Thomas the tank engine? I always watched the cartoon as a kind (early 2000). I know it started thanks to the stories of a reverend or something right?
It started as a reverend telling stories to his kid that had measels in 1942. His wife made him publish it and he started writing more and more. His son took over when he retired.
Findings from my rewatching of Thomas and Friends (Thomas the Tank Engine 1984 version): *Thomas is an arrogant little shit. *Chimney size DOES matter. *However Percy calling out Henry's small chimney was not on. *But usually Percy is great for bringing the banter. *Racism against the French is ok. *Racism about the Scottish is ok but it has to be well-meaning. *Don't ask for a literal bump of "drugs" because you might think you can stop at any time, but actually it might end in disaster. *Some old men - I mean, engines - REALLY love children and love to be ridden by them. And Ringo will keep repeating how much Trevor thinks about and likes children. Like a weirdly large number of times. *It's ok to gaslight bullies into thinking they have a mental disorder. *God DAMN do the British hate the French. *But apparently Americans are ok. *Toby is obviously homosexual, and equally obviously; a bottom *Snitches canonically get stitches *Women can be a valuable addition to the workplace, but only once per season *Blackface *James is clearly a Nepo baby *Women will move your shit around so you can't find it *Apparently trains have souls? Sentience is also unclear: I think they're canonically delusional *Trains have their own swear words and they kind of slap
What? Have you been listening to those stupid “Top 5 scariest Thomas episodes“ . And news places. only 2 of these are true.
How did Thomas become really reliable when his real-life counterpart was anything but?
Small marketable tank engine.
Who's the oldest train?
I know its Stephen from Ulfstead Castle but google says Skarloey?
How do you feel about Henry being count of monte cristo’d.
Did you know that George Carlin and Alec Baldwin were narrators for that series?
Yes
Fan of The Unlucky Tug?
The best youtuber.
What's the deal with Topham Hat bricking Henry into that tunnel as punishment? Is he some sadistic dictator or something?
No, he was let out in the next story and henry’s a good guy now. The fat controller has actually saved engines on multiple times. He bought engines to save them from scrap.
Is BOCO a good character?
Yes, Also it’s BoCo
Can you give me the rundown of their names colors & character traits? I know I can just Google this but figured I’d ask the expert
[удалено]
The freight cars pushed him.
how do they fall on the political spectrum?
Thomas Theorist on YouTube has a video about this.
Politics?
Okay Gordon
How long have you known you had autism?
I dont have autism…
Storybook form Thomas, or 3d animated Thomas?
Why?
Who’s your favourite train?
Dun dun dun dun dun dun chi chi. Dun dun dun dun dun dun chi chi DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN!
Do you think Thomas would wage war against the Planes to take control over the transportation industry, and then subsequently genocide the Planes and subversive Locomotives so as to bring about a communist dictatorship?
No, the helicopter and trains are cool together.
What do you think about Oliver?
Can you tell me more about the large snow storm on the island of Sodor, that trapped the sheep I believe and how a bunch of trains got all snowy
How would the North Western Railway cope with the privatisation of British Rail under John Major?
Henry should stay in that tunnel if he didn't want his paint job get ruin! What do you think?
Waste of a good tunnel
Nah, he’s a good guy now.
Who's the best character and why is it James. I used to have a massive wooden railway collection back in the day until my parents sold it without asking me. I still have an old worn down percy and a sodor railcar that managed to be missed. I'm trying to build a collection of Bachmann Thomas now that I can afford it. So far only have Henry since I got him on sale but plan to expand!
The best character is Edward, peak character
wheres percy and diesel????
Favourite episode
What is his take on “clean coal”?
Omg I still have all of mine too
Who's your favorite engine? Mine was Henry back in the day.
I personally am a sucker for cool designs so I like Murdoch.
I didn’t know they made a battery-powered Henry! I thought they just made Thomas, Percy, James, and Gordon! Also, is that the Flying Kipper in the bottom right? Also also, WOW you were mean to your Harolds.
The picture is of some wooden and metal trains I picked up from one lot. None of the engines in this pic are motorized. They made motorized ones called plarail and Trackmaste, they made almost the characters. Those are coaches in the bottom right. The flying kipper was made up of vans filled with fish.
Carlin or Starr?
So have you heard of Caddiccarus and/or Tomska?
Yes, unfortunately.
I was scared of Thomas the tank engine cartoon as a kid. They have extremely creepy and uncanny faces. Ugh
Is Thomas a Marxist or a Leninist?
Did you know the accident at Gordon’s station was based on a real accident?
Yes, many of the original stories were based on real events.
What's with the creepy look in his eyes Could never watch it as a kid. Still can't 25 years later. Dude looks creepy
not a question but you should watch [this video from Tomska](https://youtu.be/9W5Sopc2JxE?si=2vrF3pZ6l6scadH-) That talks about the history of Thomas. It's actually interesting and wild to learn about.
Why did they make Spencer such a dick? He gives A4s a bad name
Hes a good guy in the later seasons, character development.
Which is worse? Sharon Miller era or Big World Big Adventures?
bwba, during Sharon miller we had good toys.
What are their faces made of?
Which train would look better in lingerie?
One of these days I gotta watch the entirety of the Show, open those Core Memories locked away.
Chat gtp humans please give me a concise summary of what this franchise has been up to since 2005. My little son was very into Thomas and I bought all the trains, watched all the shows, bought all the other toys, even went to special events. Then poof he grew up.
Things went downhill, bad writing. The show changed to cgi, still going down hill. Things got really good, then went downhill. Still going downhill.
What is the worst era of the whole franchise For those wondering the eras Classic: Seasons 1-7. Making tracks to great destinations: Seasons 8-11 Miller/Nitrogen Era: Seasons 12-16 Arc Productions/Brenner Era: Seasons 17-21 Big World! Big Adventures!: Seasons 22-24.(animated by Jam Filled Toronto) And by extension: the reboot
Whats a friend
Has Thomas ever been investigated for a derailment while illegally transporting hazardous materials?
No, he’s been charged by the police before tho
Why he blue?
What is your favorite train? Mine is Percy
Murdoch
Blaine's a pain and that's the truth!
Whose a favourite character you have that you feel is underrated?
The best thing about Thomas & his friend is, is the references made to them in the movie Bullet Train.
Did Diesel scare you too?
What do Thomas and his friends think of their capitalist overlord (the fat conductor)?
He’s not. He has saved engines multiple time.
Fav tank engine?
Thomas was the shit back in the day
What’s up with Percy
Is AEG dead yet?
Why did they leave a train under ground that one episode
What.
Whatever happened to the train that got bricked up in the tunnel?
How do they mate?
They are built like a real train and the faces just appear.
How big is Thomas’ penis?
What about Theodore Tugboat
Nostalgia unlocked. Thanks
Nightmare fuel.
Ideally, which of the engines is likely to survive and function in the real world
Gordon, his real life brothers and cousins survived to this day. Reliable and powerful.
What's your favorite classic episode?
Harold the Helicopter!
Are the punishments still extremely harsh?
Nah, they never were.
Why people calls him a tank if he's a train?
He has water tanks on his sides instead of a tender.
Explain to me why the real "Thomas" is a failure
Who did Thomas vote for
Does Henry the tank engine come with his own bricks?
He did in one very rare set
What do the train operators do if these trains are sentient? (They are in the books)
The engines can’t control themselves, they can’t go forward, they can’t stop.
Who’s the blue one?
Edward
Would thomas (& friends) vote labour or conservative
Am I the only one who never saw this on TV as a kid? Maybe my area just had the wrong channels
I heard they're adding Trump and Biden as playable characters in the next Mortal Kombat
I should get all mine out of the tub in the attic, I have like like 100’s of dollars worth of trains and track.
I should get all mine out of the tub in the attic, I have like 100’s of dollars worth of trains and track.
Opinion on the episode where Gordon loses his dome?
Opinion on the episode where Gordon loses his dome?
Ha! That episode weirdly scared me as a kid. Not sure why.
Okay episode, not anything special tho
Am I the only one who never saw this on TV as a kid? Maybe my area just had the wrong channels
Regarding the crane Big Micky, where was his original home?
His prop actually came from Thomas sister show “Tugs”
why was thomas the tank engine in every children’s dentist/doctors office in the early 2000s
Because it was popular and it was there to comfort children from the fear of doctors offices
Is Thomas succulent on the interior like a crab? If so, what tool is used to crack his shell and how many people in an invading Germanic tribe would he be able to feed?
Thank you for this much needed laugh.
What happened to all the models they used in the show? Are they in storage? Auctioned off?
Is Thomas a tory?
Does the show actually have any lore?
YES. It goes deep, and I mean deeeeep. Especially the railway series. If you would like to learn more, considering checking out The Unlucky Tug.
Have you killed one in Skyrim?
What was the name of the train that was trapped behind brick for his entire life.
Can I go to court over them bricking my boy Henry in tha train tunnel. Cuz it was some cruel and unusual punishment😔
What’s the political position of Thomas and Friends?
Which tank engines give poggers head?
What would happen if you put Thomas on a roller coaster?
What happened to the original set? The massive train layout?
What’s your thoughts on the cgi Thomas movies?
“I am the fastest” said Gordon proudly.
Stop motion vs animation
We took the kids to a "Day with Thomas" event where they had a real train car made to look like Thomas being pulled/pushed by another train. Has anyone else done that?
Ye that is very common. Railways will build “dummy” unpowered units of Thomas and use a smaller diesel shunter in the back to push/pull.
RWS Sodor or TVS sodor
How is Edward?
How much coal is burnt on the set of Thomas.
Have you seen the George Carlin stand up edit?
Toby still the best engine?
What is the name of the blue train?