Thomas Commercialism

steamyjim · Post by **steamyjim** » Tue May 20, 2008 4:32 pm

laalratty wrote:Its written in the book, I think its inspired by an engine found in the jungle in Argentina. As for the Time Team, I saw that one, they just managed to expose the end of the viaduct at the end of day three, after going down something like 20 metres!

Aye that was it

I should watch it again. Id appreciate it more

They will never uncover it though

SillyBilly · Post by **SillyBilly** » Tue May 20, 2008 4:36 pm

Prince then, oops, Princess looks more like it with it's current livery

.

Matt,
The straight frames are similar to skirts running along the length of the loco which carry lots of the weight www.frheritage.org.uk/wiki/Image:GMP948PBL31-07-64.jpg , in the 1962 re-build they were made like that, from being like this www.frheritage.org.uk/wiki/Image:Prince1898.jpg .

Since in the 70/80s they were changed back to what you see today www.frheritage.org.uk/wiki/Image:50thPrince.jpg .

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue May 20, 2008 8:44 pm

Oh, I see.

riveresk · Post by **riveresk** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:09 pm

Going back to the books, I work in a bookshop in the hols and managed to get my newbooks colleague to order the original Awdry books instead of the more expensive HIT adapted ones. (£2.50 for one story). This means that we sell quite a few at a time as we get in men who read them when they were children (I think the mum's go for the HIT ones). We try and stock all the ones that are in print at the mo. I definately try and plug the originals where possible.

Oh, me and my boyfriend are going on the Tal-y-lLyn a week tomorrow as there's a Sir Handel day. I'm trying to educate him in Welsh railways. Going on the Festy on Bank holiday Monday.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sat May 24, 2008 10:30 pm

I've just come back from nottingham on a rowing weekend, and stopped at a services to get some grub. Whilst there, I picked up a leaflet for Drayton manor/Thomas land, and I was surprised about what's there. Apart from the 2 main rides, which are a miniture train ride behind either Thomas or Percy, both steam outlined diesels, and a troblesome truck rollacoster, all the rides are standard fairground rides with thomas pictures slapped on.

Mind you, they have made a good job of the miniture railway. They've built a full size Knapford station, complete with overall roof, and a turntable. Too bad that they're using cheap diesels locos rather than buying proper steamers. My verdic, not worth the money.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:38 am

Hey, I've just had an idea. Why don't preserved railways do 'dr who' weekends? It will bring in huge amounts of visitors, and would combine 2 of the greatest childhood tv shows.

What do you think?

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:50 am

Quainton did a Doctor Who weekend in the early '90s, IIRC because the station featured in one of Peter Davison's episodes. But I agree, it would be a good potential replacement for Thomas now that HIT are being so discriminatory to preserved lines...

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sun May 25, 2008 5:58 pm

Yeah, I know. The Barry steam railway featured in 'The Empty Child', so they could do one.

ptlrcecil · Post by **ptlrcecil** » Mon May 26, 2008 12:56 pm

Yeah but that would mean that the crews would have to wear slightly uncomftable gas masks all day.
Mummy?

SillyBilly · Post by **SillyBilly** » Tue May 27, 2008 8:32 pm

Of course they're not going to use steam locos in the theme park, it wouldn't be a good business decision. The only use them in DisneyLand, because Walt was a railway enthusiast.

Why would they do Dr Who days, they aren't directly related!

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Tue May 27, 2008 9:01 pm

So? If it's a popular children's character, it'll bring in the visitors. That's the main thing!

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue May 27, 2008 9:02 pm

Yeah, trains and dr who. Perfect recipy for large crowds and lots of money.

riveresk · Post by **riveresk** » Tue May 27, 2008 9:11 pm

MuzTrem wrote:Quainton did a Doctor Who weekend in the early '90s, IIRC because the station featured in one of Peter Davison's episodes. But I agree, it would be a good potential replacement for Thomas now that HIT are being so discriminatory to preserved lines...

Episode = Black Orchid.

Doctor Who weekends would be wicked, the Dr mentions in that episode that he always wanted to be a steam engine driver. And the sixth Doctor met George Stevenson in Mark of the Rani.

made-in-england · Post by **made-in-england** » Tue May 27, 2008 9:45 pm

In conversation with a fellow railway man at twyford he said somthing about "Sandy the Shunter" weekends?

riveresk · Post by **riveresk** » Tue May 27, 2008 10:04 pm

I think that it's a HIT Thomas character but I could be wrong.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Tue May 27, 2008 10:07 pm

Yeah, it is. That character is a dock shunter who talks more about the sea than railways.

Look, if you going to have a character that likes the sea, put him in 'Tugboats', not Thomas.

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:58 am

Are you sure you don't mean Sammy the Shunter? Those books were written by one Eileen Gibb and published by Ian Allan, presumably as a rival to Thomas. Some of the covers can be seen on this page (you have to scroll down a bit though!): http://bearalley.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html

There's a complete list of titles on Wikipedia. However only once have I actually seen any of these books for sale, on a stall at Steam on the Met '99...I think they must have been out of print for a long time!

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