Remembering the Shining Time Station episodes and growing up with Thomas, not CG version, the version with moving eyes and smoke, I know the smoke was a toxic gas. But the question I ask is, what scale was it filmed at in 1989, 1990, 1991, etc of those years? I've read 1:48 and 1:32, but I'm not acctually sure, so I just thought I would ask.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
To be honest, I remember it was G at the start. It had something to do with all the features. Not long after the intro the pieces were re-sized. I watched those with my grandchildren. Why can't they do re-runs?
I wish. I hope they come out with the whole DVD series someday of STS.
I seem to recall it was Marklin One Gauge (G Gauge).
Yup G gauge. It was an actual layout in an old airplane hanger in GB.
A friend of mine did the DVD artwork for about 8 of the episodes here
in Farmington MI.
Tom,
I found this site a couple of years ago.
It is packed with information and photos.
The British always did a great job on miniature sets. The marionette shows, Supercar, Fireball XL-5, Aquamarina, all had wonderful miniature/model sets.
They could build some great layouts!
Can you imagine combining Gerry Anderson's Supermarionation with Thomas?
The Bachmann forum site has an area devoted to all Thomas related trains.
They as a group, are a very good group to check with for Sodor specific history, and the offerings/diffrences of many companies, and scales used throughout the world. The kiddie posts come with the territory(go figure), but lots of info, bashes, and some cool Sodor layouts.
Not sure "scale" applies to a locomotive with eyes.
Gauge, yes; scale, no.
Remembering the Shining Time Station episodes and growing up with Thomas, not CG version, the version with moving eyes and smoke, I know the smoke was a toxic gas. But the question I ask is, what scale was it filmed at in 1989, 1990, 1991, etc of those years? I've read 1:48 and 1:32, but I'm not acctually sure, so I just thought I would ask.
The models for the 1980s shows were scratch-built bodies on Marklin Gauge 1, before G gauge was called G gauge and confused a whole new generation of train nuts.
Original Gauge 1 is 1:32, about 10mm or 3/8"=1 ft.
They were filmed with a periscope lens on 35mm, which gave that great depth of field.
There was a non-starter TV attempt in the 1950s, with 00 gauge models and jerky operation. Didn't work; there was even a giant hand trying to sort out a derailment.
If you Google some, you can do a pretty good job of tracing all the prototypes of the locomotives in the Thomas stories.
What are you guys talking about?
Why 1:1, of course. 
Here he is at Strasburg.
George
Well! OK Marty, I'm buddies with Thomas' friend, Theodore Tugboat!
So there! 
That's the two of us posing in Halifax, NS, CA harbor. He's the one on the right. 
George
That was a great program. As quirky as he was, Ringo was a very good host and narrator. George Carlin was adequate, but Ringo was by far better. My wife and I watched with my oldest son who grew up in the 80's. He was born in 82, and still has fond memories of the show.
Don
Well! OK Marty, I'm buddies with Thomas' friend, Theodore Tugboat!
So there!
That's the two of us posing in Halifax, NS, CA harbor. He's the one on the right.
George
I saw Theodore years ago when I was little great memory 
They're not making the show anymore like this with models, right?
If so, I wonder whatever happened to all the models, including structures and such?
Marty, what year was that photo taken? Also to what Rich posted, I feel bad about the flood and terrible about what happened. Also, to add another picture, I took this picture below when Thomas was on the CVSR (Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad) a day out with Thomas back in May 2013 passing Fitz Water Yard. I just wish they would get the face correct to the show version in the 90's. Also, P51 Lee, to anwser your question, every once in a while my sister watches the new Thomas, I'm 23 years old and watch the older versions sometimes instead of the new versions because there now Computer Generated.
They're not making the show anymore like this with models, right?
If so, I wonder whatever happened to all the models, including structures and such?
I believe the models went on display at Drayton Manor theme park in England, and the CGI film company HiT Entertainment has the rights or owns them.
Good question. I believe Thomas was filmed in G scale. Here is a good site for a "behind the scenes" look.
http://www.sodor-island.net/behindthescenes.html
The heavily modified Maerklin trains and mechanisms used in Shining Time Station were not exactly G gauge but actually 1/32 scale Gauge 1. The width of the track is the same but the scale is completely different. There are so many different scales 1/32,1/29 and 1/20 to name a few using gauge 1 track it's confusing!
I ran across this video and just had to post one more reply.
This is the Thomas engine that runs on real steam. ( only one of 7 I think )
reason being is that they only take it where there is a maintenance facility.
Here at Greenfield Village in Dearborn MI, and Strasbourg are the only two I know of.
Anyway if you haven't scene this Thomas it's worth a look.
Also the first farm you see him go through is the original Firestone farm
Enjoy
Bruce..
Another good site for Thomas information is The Real Lives of Thomas the Tank Engine. The author Rev. W. Awdry was meticulous in creating a history of the Island of Sodor. Each character was based on some sort of real engine and most had their origins as HO or OO models on his own model railway. Amazingly most of them survive today at either museums or are in the possession of the Awdry family.
http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/
Adam
Oh and I forgot to mention that I saw Theodore in Sandusky when I was about 11 years old! It should also be noted that Thomas had an offshoot called Tugs which then gave rise to Theodore.
I think the narrow gauge engines were some kind of 2 rail o scale
I brought Thomas set in 1990 and it was a g scale, every year the kids want it set up for Christmas. Now my grandson, only wants to play with Thomas..... I have all the postwar, but without thomas.......
and the youngest is 27
The original Thomas was a made from a broom handle by the Reverend for his son Christopher. It was an 0-4-0 tank engine, more like Percy. But Christopher insisted it was the 0-6-0 we know today, sadly it is one of the few engines in the series to never make it into preservation. only six were built. Same with Edward the Seagull and a few others. James was actrauly was a 0-6-0 fright engines with a unique back story of being a prototype front bogy. The Reverend based them on prototypes, mostly, but also added bits of imagination.
As for the TV version I always thought it was G gauge.
Your expert is wrong.Thomas is Gauge 1 scale 1:32,G scale (LGB) is 1:22.5. Thomas isn't narrow gauge so he's not G.
I remember reading the article in Model Railroader back in 1993,I have this issue in my archives somewhere buried. In the article is clearly states that Thomas is gauge 1 and based on modified Marklin 1 gauge trains. Just want to share the facts.
Clearly you guys have the scale all wrong it was 2 to 1 gauge, Thomas the Tank engine was so much larger than life!!!
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
