Thomas The Tank Engine Review Seasons 1-21

Season 4

The fourth series of Thomas & Friends first aired on television in October 1995 in the UK. Michael Angelis returned for another season as well as everyone else. The fourth series saw the introduction of the smaller narrow-gauge engines. Stepney, a character based on a real-life engine and used to highlight the preservation movement in the books, was given an entirely different background when he was introduced. This was the last season (until season 20) that the team would adapt Chirstopher/Awdry's stories from the railway series and make their own stories. With that all out of the way, let's review all 26 episodes of season 4.

Grandpuff

One winter's night, when the cold wind blew, the engines found it hard to sleep. Thomas knows a story and decides to tell the other engines all about it. There were 3 little engines who lived in their own little shed on their own little railway. Their names were Duke, Stuart and Falcon. Duke was the oldest and was named after his grace, the Duke of Sodor. He was proud of this and love to keep the little ones in order. Whenever they did anything that Duke thought wrong, he would say... "That would never suit his grace". Other engines came and went but Duke outlasted them at all. Stuart and Falcon used to call him "Granpuff". They were fond of him, but they got very tired of hearing all about his Grace. Sometimes they would tease him and chant... "engines come and engines go, Grandpuff goes on forever. Duke warns them to behave or they will end up like Smudger. Now Smudger, was a show-off. He often come of the rails, Duke tried to warn him, but Smudger just laughed at him. Until one day, manager was going to make him useful at last. He turned him into a generator, he'll never move again. After that, Stuart and Falcon became really useful engines and all 3 were happy together for many years. Then hard times came. The mines and the hills closed and the railway was closed too. People came to buy the engines. They took Stuart and Falcon, nobody wanted Duke, he was too old. Stuart and Falcon tried to be brave and cheerful, but no-one really thought their dreams would come true. Duke's driver and fireman oiled and greased him 1 last time. They sheeted him snugly and said goodbye, then they had to go away and find work. Duke decides to go to sleep. Winter torrents washed soils from the hills. Trees and bushes grew all around. You wouldn't have known a shed was there, let alone a little engine sleep inside. But the story isn't over yet. You will have to wait till next time

Few points I would like to make

-Always loved Smudger as a child. Something about him makes you want to see more of him. Also, it's nice to see the little engines (AKA the Skarloey Gang) in the TV series. Duke, Sir Handel (Flacon) and Peter Sam (Stuart).

-Lore was told by Thomas. Interesting

-Sleeping Beauty Continues this story

This episode gets an 10/10

Sleeping Beauty

Continuing from Grandpuff, after a long day's work. All the engines want to know the rest of Thomas' story about Duke. Thomas continues his story. Duke was old and lived with two young engines called Stuart and Falcon. They teased Duke and called him "Granpuff", but they were happy together. Then their line was closed down and the young engines went away. Duke was left alone in the shed. He went to sleep and everything around him changed. But Duke was never forgotten. Years went by until one day not long ago, visitors came to see the fat controller. They want to find Duke and make him happy again. They show The Fat Controller a map of Duke's old railway and believe he is still there. Everyone set off to the mountains faraway. The days went by, the search grew harder, but the rescuers wouldn't give up. They scrambled over hills, struggled over ditches. At last, their search ended, quite by accident. Duke being woken up from his sleep, starts asking if the visitors were vandals, the visitors explain that they are taking Duke home. (To Stuart and Falcon). Then they all set off for Duke's new home. Stuart and Falcon were ready for a big welcome and tease Duke before puffing away. But Duke's old eyes twinkled, and for the first time in years, he smiled as he dozed in the sun. Thomas finishes his story; everyone loved it and soon they were asleep.