Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection. Tho' not entirely complete, as it lacks Christopher Awdry's 14 books, all of the Rev W. Awdry's 26 books can be found here along with a foreword, and brief biographies of the Reverend and his illustrators. Click on a national flag to order from amazon.co.uk or amazon.com respectively. The artwork is smaller than in the Railway Series books and is slightly cropped, but is reproduced from the originals. |
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Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection contains all of Christopher Awdry's volumes including #41: Thomas and Victoria. This anthology was released by Egmont Books (along with #41) in early September, 2007. As with the Complete Collection above, the images are reduced in size. Along with Christopher's foreword, an introduction to the characters and a history of Sodor in the endpapers, A 1992 version of the map of Sodor can be found printed on the inside cover. A red cloth bookmarker compliments the collection |
Old but Gold:
These items are out of print and rare, but essential source for this website and any true fan. The links connect to the relevant ISBN number in case any secondhand copies show up.
At the last check, there were some copies of Thomas the Tank Engine Man in the UK.
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| Cover of The Island of Sodor, provided by Jim Gratton, to whom many thanks | The cover of The Thomas the Tank Engine Man, by Brian Sibley | Published in 2005, Sodor, Reading Between the Lines. Click here for details |
THE RAILWAY SERIES
Congratulations to Egmont in UK and Christopher Awdry for reviving the Railway Series in its original format, now with the Egmont imprint, and not only all of Christopher's pre-1996 works, which had become rarer than hen's teeth, but also a brand new volume for 2007, Thomas and Victoria. The original publishers were in order, Edmund Ward, Kaye & Ward, and Heinemann.
You may also buy all the Rev W. Awdry's 26 original books in the Classic Library Station Box, (UK only)
Clicking on a book cover will lead to a fuller description of that book - or start with The Three Railway Engines.
Edward's Day Out Edward and Gordon The Sad Story of Henry Edward, Gordon and Henry Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Thomas and Gordon Thomas' Train Thomas and the Trucks Thomas and the Breakdown Train Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Reginald Payne |
James and the Top-Hat James and the Bootlace Troublesome Trucks James and the Express Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Thomas and the Guard Thomas goes Fishing Thomas, Terence and the Snow Thomas and Bertie Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Henry and the Elephant Tenders and Turntables Trouble in the Shed Percy Runs Away Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Coal, The Flying Kipper Gordon's Whistle Percy and the Trousers Henry's Sneeze Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Toby and the Stout Gentleman Thomas in Trouble Dirty Objects Mrs. Kyndley's Christmas Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Off the Rails Leaves Down the Mine Paint Pots and Queens Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Cows! Bertie's Chase Saved From Scrap Old Iron Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Skarloey Remembers Sir Handel Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady Old Faithful Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Percy and the Signal Duck Takes Charge Percy and Harold Percy's Promise Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: C. Reginald Dalby |
Percy Takes the Plunge Gordon Goes Foreign Double Header The Fat Controller's Engines Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: John T. Kenney |
Domeless Engines Pop Goes the Diesel Dirty Work A Close Shave Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: John T. Kenney |
Trucks Home at Last Rock 'n' Roll Little Old Twins Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: John T. Kenney |
'Hullo Twins' The Missing Coach Break Van The Deputation Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: John T. Kenney |
Thomas Comes to Breakfast Daisy Bulls-eyes Percy's Predicament Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: John T. Kenney |
Special Funnel Steamroller Passengers and Polish Gallant Old Engine Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: John T. Kenney |
Bluebells of England Stepney's Special Train Stops Play Bowled Out Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
Mountain Engine Bad Look-out Danger Points "Devil's Back" Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
Crosspatch Bucking Bronco Stick-in-the-Mud Duck and Dukes Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
The Diseasel Buzz Buzz Wrong Road Edward's Exploit Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
Ballast Tit-for-Tat Mike's Whistle Useful Railway Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
Tenders for Henry Super Rescue Escape Little Western Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
Donald's Duck Resource and Sagacity Toad Stands By Bulgy Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
Granpuff Bulldog You Can't Win! Sleeping Beauty Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
Ghost Train Woolly Bear Mavis Toby's Tightrope Author: Rev W. Awdry Illustrator: Peter and Gunvor Edwards |
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Interlude - Early Railway Series Anthologies:
The Rev. W. Awdry Engine Stories Contains: |
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Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection. Published by Heinemann in 1996, contains all 26 of the Rev W. Awdry's books. Contains a foreword, and brief biographies of the Reverend and his illustrators. A few used copies of this anthology can still be ordered from amazon.co.uk or amazon.com (click any flag on the left) Smaller versions of the original artwork are included in this volume. |
Stop Thief! Mind That Bike Fish Triple Header Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Old Stuck-Up Crossed Lines Fire Engine Deep Freeze Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Patience is a Virtue Peter Sam and the Prickly Problem Pop Special Sir Handel Comes Home Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Thomas, Percy, and the Coal The Runaway Better Late Than Never Drip-Tank Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
High-Speed Gordon Smokescreen Fire Escape Gordon Proves His Point Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Mavis and the Lorry Toby's Seaside Holiday Bulstrode Toby Takes the Road Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Scrambled Eggs What a Picture! Trevor Helps Out Down the Drain Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
We Need Another Engine Sticking-Power Jock Teamwork Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Museum-Piece Not the Ticket Trouble on the Line Thomas and the Railtour Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Snow Problem Washout! Toby's Megatrain Thomas Comes Home Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Out of Puff Overhaul Sliding Scales Henry Sees Red Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Percy's Porridge Cab Over Wheels Foaming at the Funnel Wired-Up Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Birdstrike Edward and the Cabbages Rabbits Golden Jubilee Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Speedkiller Sir Handel's Plan Dirty Water I Name This Engine Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Overloaded Avalanche Eels on Wheels Toby's Vintage Train Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
The following three books written by Wilbert and Christopher Awdry are not the "Railway Series" but must be considered canonical, dating from when the TV and Railway Series still managed to get along.
 Thomas's Christmas Party (1984)
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Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Clive Spong |
The Reformatted Railway Series: Heinemann began to reformat the Railway Series books circa 1998. A slightly larger book size, bigger typeface and cropped blown-up sections of the illustrations on the left side of each page distinguished these volumes from the classic format. Only 14 of the books were made rather than all 40. The project was eventually shelved, but not before the classic format had gone completely out of print for many years. Below is a gallery of of the reformatted volumes - replete with links for the discretionary collector.
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Christopher Awdry has a second book series, based on the adventures of engines on the Eastbourne Miniature Railway , Eastbourne, East Sussex, a railway whose motive power is all 7" gauge models of classic British locos, including a Royal Scot 4-6-0 (General), Fowler 4F 0-6-0 (Rachel), a Churchward GWR 38xx 2-8-0 (Western), a Hymek B-B (Oily), and a Maunsell "Schools" 4-4-0 (Eastbourne). The volumes listed below can be purchased directly from the Awdry-owned and operated SODOR ENTERPRISES. Other titles penned by Christopher are also showcased on their online store.
 General Takes Charge Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Marc Vyvyan-Jones |
 Rachel and the Goose Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Marc Vyvyan-Jones |
 Western and the Lost Ring Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Marc Vyvyan-Jones |
 Oily Keeps Things Going Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Marc Vyvyan-Jones |
 Eastbourne's Wedding Special Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Marc Vyvyan-Jones |
 Oily and the Flood Author: Christopher Awdry Illustrator: Marc Vyvyan-Jones |
Additional Titles of Interest:
The Little People, a story based on the Rev Awdry's Ffarquhar I model railway scenery and characters, serialised in the Church of England Newspaper in early 1960. Needs Acrobat. With thanks to the British Libary (Newspapers) in Colindale.
In 1958, the Rev. W. Awdry ventured into more mature literary territory with Belinda the Beetle and its sequel in 1961 - Belinda Beats the Band. Published by Brockhampton Press Ltd., the stories follow the adventures of a little three-wheeled red car owned by the Vicar Excel, his wife, and their children, Susan and John. One of the more unusual crimefighter teams ever assembled in sleuthing history.
 Belinda the Beetle (1958) Illustrated by IONICUS  |
 Belinda Beats the Band (1961) Illustrated by JOHN KENNEY |
The Trains We Loved by C. Hamilton Ellis
Narrow Gauge Album by PB Whitehouse
Railway Adventure by LTC Rolt
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VIDEO and DVD
There appear to be gadzillions of Thomas DVD, VCD and VHS titles, and I'm the probably the last person to consult on them. But a bit of hunting turned up The Original Adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (26 episodes) as a starting point in the UK, which came with the following hopeful encomium:
"The original series of Thomas the tank engine and friends is brought to Bumper Video. When Henry had the same shape as Gordon, Diesels were nowhere to be seen and Thomas shunted coaches in the big station. " - a quote I found later came from SiF administrator Ryan!
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The Original Adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (26 episodes: VHS-PAL) |
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Each complete television season/series is available on DVD from Amazon's UK Branch. (Region 2: PAL Format) Series 1 |
For excellent episode summaries for each series, we recommend Ryan Healy's Sodor Island Fansite's Episode Guide
Thanks to Jake for assistance with texts and images on this page.
Recommended Railway Literature:
| ~Buggleskelly Books~ | ||
| Anthony P. Vent's publishing company - Buggleskelly Books - has a few noteworthy titles in their portfolio - available from British Railway Books' online shop. | ||
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(top-right) NEW for 2008 from Buggleskelly Books! NINE ELMS by George Marsh,Clinton Shaw and Driver Jim Evans (Nine Elms Top Link). A5 size, perfect bound. 52 pages plus 3-colour laminated card cover. 39 B/W and 42 colour photos (including 16 full page images). This book combines the largely previously unseen work of two accomplished photographers, George Marsh and Clinton Shaw, along with the notes and captions of former driver Jim Evans. George, an early associate of master lensman C. T. Gifford, is no stranger to the readers of our publications. His monochrome images capture the dawning years of the 1960s. Clinton’s colour images, his complete collection of the shed dating from 1967 and into 1968,continue this visual record. Jim Evans, author of From Booking Boy to Bulleids, was on the footplate of No. 35030 Elder Dempster Lines at Nine Elms on the very last day of Southern steam. Copies are priced £7.45 each (POST FREE for UK orders, please e-mail us for OVERSEAS rates - buggleskellybooks@hotmail.com). Payment should be made out to ‘Buggleskelly Books’ and orders sent to:- 22, Glassenbury Drive, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex ENGLAND TN40 2NY As with all previous publications 10% from all orders received at the address below will go to the the Bluebell's Brighton Atlantic Project. |
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