This year marks 40 years since the debut of the Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends TV series. That same year Ertl released its first die cast train, the title character Thomas, in an original collection that continued for two decades. Similar toys are still made today, albeit by different companies, to accompany the latest iteration of the show, now titled Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go. Not bad for a franchise based on a series of books from 1945.
I was born in December 1987 putting me at the prime age for the peak of Thomas’ original run on both screen and shelves in the early to mid 90s. Here’s a picture I drew from a ‘diary’ schoolbook, dated 15th September 1994. Along with the visually impaired sun (which did feel closer to you in a 90s summer, they were so warm) I’ve depicted the wooden ride-on train we had. I’m not sure it was ever painted up in such livery (I think this is Percy’s colour scheme) but my imagination documented on paper is quite a lovely thing.
I was such a big fan of both the Thomas TV show and toys, it’s a wonder my collecting tendencies didn’t lead to me becoming a model railway enthusiast – although I guess there’s still time?
Just recently my collection of die cast Thomas trains found its way back to me. Many of my childhood toys, like most of yours I expect, are long gone. Perhaps they are somewhere in circulation at the toy shows and vintage shops we regularly frequent (anywhere other than landfill is the ideal). I’m not sure how these trains survived three decades, I can only guess it was their strong build and enduring appeal that has seen them played with by younger relatives visiting my parents’ house through the decades, mostly recently my nephew.
The interest he showed in them led to me believing I might be able to encourage him to start his own collection. I bought him two or three of the newer trains every birthday and Christmas for a couple of years. The modern pace of trends was against me on this one though. He’s cycled through so many hobbies in such a short time, Thomas is now far in the rear view mirror.
Back when he would tip the faded Thomas backpack full of toys out onto the floor, I may have picked up one of my old trains, or maybe just seen them from across the room. They were as familiar to me as they were void of much emotional attachment. Which is why I’m surprised to have been stopped in my tracks by Thomas trains on two occasions recently.
The first was at Sandown Park Toy Fair last year. On the corner of one seller’s table top, something bright and colourful caught my eye.
Now I’ll gladly confess to being a bit of a packaging nerd. These days I keep as much as I can of the card or plastic the toys I buy come in. That wasn’t the case when I was younger, as such it had been a long time since I’d seen Thomas trains as they would’ve appeared on the pegs of the places I’d buy them.
This sight took me back. I had sense memories of standing in the gift shops on the stations of Swanage Railway and the miniature railway at Moors Valley Country Park, both of which knew the side their bread was buttered and sold a selection of Thomas trains. Then there was the Poole Toy Centre (RIP) which I’d probably visit weekly in my childhood. They had a whole aisle dedicated to the full Thomas range.
I appreciate the magic I’m trying to convey here is pretty face value consumerism. Nonetheless there is something powerful about the wonder of choice presented to you as a child in the form of a wall of toys. I occasionally get to experience something similar to this feeling on my travels now as a collector. It melts my brain a bit every time, I forget what I already have, I’m unable to decide which I want most, I lose sense of monetary value.
All of that emotion was contained in these card backs, beautifully illustrated by Owain Bell, unseen by my eyes for years.
I wanted to buy them and (hopefully) take a piece of what I felt there and then in the moment home with me. As you can see by the unfortunately attached stickers, raw, uncapped nostalgia has a price point. A photo would suffice.
More recently I stumbled upon another Thomas collection for sale at Totton Toy Fair. These were actually very reasonably priced, given that they were mint on the earlier card back designs that date back to the original 1980s releases. They were in such good condition that I, again, felt inclined to purchase the lot, if only to preserve the history.
Once more, I settled for photo evidence, this time drawing the attention of the seller. He seemed keen to part with them and suggested an offer for the full set. It’s reassuring for me to know that I have an ounce of willpower, and sense left (I politely declined).
So while I may not have a collection of mint condition Thomas trains to my name, what I do have is a beat up bag of rusty old engines, imbued with memories and generations of play. Admittedly, I’m not sure I’d want to put them on display, but I hope they stay with me now for a few years yet.
Based on the fan made checklist below, I believe I have 34 of the 70 releases (some of which included two carriages, giving me a total of 41, plus an original paper decal face Thomas). The last I purchased was number 37. Godred which, based on his release date means I likely stopped collecting at the age of 7 in 1995.
If I’ve piqued your interest in this fantastic toy line from Ertl, you may be delighted as I was to learn it has its own dedicated, and highly detailed Wiki. Alight here for your reading enjoyment: ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Ertl_Company 🚂
Liam Toms 