Thomas & Friends never reveal before seen 1983-pilot with Ringo Starr (exclusive)

Thomas Tankmotor has been a loved one for children for 80 years!

In the celebration of eight decades of Thomas and his friends, who started with Wilbert Awdrys The railway series and developed into a global entertainment phenomenon centered on the beloved blue engine, Thomas & Friends Opens the archives for fans in a special way.

Thomas & Friends release the original, never before the Seen Pilot section 1983 Thomas Tank Motor and Friends on Youtube for the first time ever. People have a snikitt at the special section, which also has a never -heard voiceover of Ringo Starrwho told the original series and played in their spin-off, Brilliant time station.

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The episode, entitled “Down the Mine”, started filming in April 1983. The section contains a cheeky Thomas as a joke with friends, just to feel embarrassed by his behavior when he later needs someone to help him out of a sticky situation.

The pilot was composed and digitized from 40-year-old 35mm movie clips. Thomas & Friends Have rebuilt both the image and the sound to show everyone what the very first test game looked like.

Mike O’Donnell, who served as a serial composer from 1984 to 2003, also created a new tailor -made musical arrangement for this special section.

After a number of failed attempts to bring Thomas stories to television from the 1950s to the 1970s, it was producer Britt Allcroft -who died in January 2025 At the age of 81 – which would finally succeed. The British TV producer read books from The railway series When she prepared to work with a railway -related documentary. She was beaten by the stories and what they could offer children.

It took many years of fundraising for Allcroft to secure the TV rights to the series and move on with the production. In 1983, all pieces came together and thus the pilot was created.

It is not the only celebration in store. There are eight new Thomas & Friends Storytime Podcast episodes, each illustrates a different theme than the brand’s 80-year heritage.

Each section will contain special guests who have been integrated into Thomas history, who span illustrators, writers, directors and more. These guests will talk about their places in Thomas history, as well as help along a complete resale of a classic Thomas story. These new episodes will debut on May 12 and will be released every week, wherever you listen to your podcasts.

For collectors and the most Diehard fans, there is also a special anniversary auction that will put pieces of Thomas’s history in the hands of the public.

When it was announced in 2008 that Thomas & Friends Would move into a new age of CGI, some of the show engines and props were shown around the world. Those who were packed and sent to storage are now in need of loving homes.

To celebrate 80 years of the legacy of Thomas, Thomas & Friends Collaborates with Propstore to host an online charity auction. The auction will open for bids all over the world from May 12, with about 200 articles, from vehicles and figures to animals and buildings.

The auction, revenues from which will support National Autistic Societywill contain sets such as Topham Hall, character models used in sections and marketing materials, sketches and character pieces including Sir Topham hat and lady hat.

An important part of Franchiseen’s legacy has been the star power behind it. Adding the voltage, Olivia ColmanEddie Redmayne and Hugh Bonneville, long fans and before Thomas & Friends Narrator, will personally sign selected auction objects.

“Reaching our 80th anniversary is an exciting milestone that highlights the timeless appeal of Thomas & Friends And the joy it has been brought to generations, says Roberto Stanichi, CEO of Hot Wheels and global head of vehicles and construction sets, Mattel.

“As part of the celebration, we are pleased to reveal 40-year archive films-which offers a nostalgic nod to our past while we invite fans to rediscover the brand in a new, new way. This milestone is both a reflection of our history and a renewed commitment to engage our society when we see the future.”