Wooden Railway| Company |
- Learning Curve (1992–2011)
- TOMY (2011–2012)
- Mattel (2013–2017)
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| Availability |
1992–2017 (25 years) |
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Thomas Wood, formerly called Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway (known to many fans as Thomas Wooden Railway) is a wooden railway system designed and created by Learning Curve. It is one of two Wooden Railway lines that feature the characters from Thomas & Friends. The other is BRIO. However, this line is the only line to feature characters from The Railway Series.
Learning Curve
Learning Curve created the line in 1992. This line was created with the help of Roy Wilson.[1] One of the first sets for the line was the 22 piece starter set.[2] This set and many of the earlier sets had generic track until 1995, which is the year that Learning Curve patented the "Clicketyclack" track design.[3]
The models at this time were made from painted wood, with plastic being added for the wheels and faces. Metal was used for the magnets and axles.
These models got upgraded. The wooden smokeboxes were replaced with plastic smokeboxes. These also include more realistic funnels. These models would not last long, because they got revamped again in 2002. These models had more detailed, newer faces.
The battery-powered line of characters were first released in the 1990s.[4] The second version of these models got released in the 2000s.[4] Learning Curve created new track in the 2000s, so that this line of characters could use the track.[5]
Like many other brands, Learning Curve faced a recall around the time of the economic downturn. The models involved in this recall had red or yellow paint, and were sold between January 2005 and June 2007. Tests with these models indicated there was the presence of lead. Hence, there was a risk of lead poisoning.[6]
Learning Curve was also responsible for the creation of the Talking Railway Series in 2008. This series of engines and destinations could interact with each other through gold magnets found on the engines.
In 2009, this line was affected by the takeover of the Thomas franchise by Mattel's preschool division Fisher Price. Now, this line was creating the new characters from the CGI series, and rereleases of the originals with CGI faces. Learning Curve (RC2) got acquired by TOMY, who continued making the line until they gave up the rights to Fisher Price.
Fisher Price
In 2013, Fisher Price acquired the Thomas Wooden Railway line from TOMY. The models from TOMY would continue to be made although over time these models began to evolve. They introduced rounder corners to the models, so that children would not injure themselves.
Mattel reintroduced most of the battery powered line as well as adding new characters.[4]
In 2017, they altered the models again.
Thomas Wood
In 2018, the line changed to become Thomas & Friends Wood. Much less paint has been applied to the models. Some characters even have compartments for figures (which come with said characters). The track is redesigned, and can connect to previous Thomas Wooden Railway track or other manufacturers' track using adapters.
A YouTube stop motion series has been created to promote this line.[7]
Products
Products that are introduced or discontinued individually before or after being included with larger items in bold.
Talking Railway Series Engines
Destinations, Bridges, & Tunnels
The line has been a part of many popular media sensations since the late 2000s and early 2010s.
YouTubers
Keekre24 (aka ThomasWoodenRailway)
On 15 June 2008, Keekre24, a YouTuber known as ThomasWoodenRailway since his original account got hacked in January 2009, created the channel that centers on a series of videos called "Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends: Wooden Railway Adventures", which started with Episode 1, "The Trouble With Trucks," a spoof of the TV episode "Thomas and the Trucks" (1984).[9] From 2008 to 2017, he has made a total of 14 seasons (210 episodes as well as some movies and documentaries).[10] Season 15 began release in August 2018 with the episode "Roundhouse Roulette."[11] ThomasWoodenRailway has also made various remakes of different episodes from different seasons of the television series.
On 2 May, 2009, another YouTuber called MilktankerMedia joined. His series began with the episode "Thomas and the Spamcam."
WoodenRailwayOnly
On 26 July, 2010, WoodenRailwayOnly joined. His first video was "string test," where he was testing a string pull on Thomas. Later, like Keekre24 and MilkTankerMedia, he just used his hands. Despite the name of his channel indicating that he would only use the Wooden Railway line, only one video shows otherwise: "Crazy Crash Contest Entry - Woodenrailwayonly," (uploaded 19 August, 2013), which was an entry for Youtuber Calebtrain's contest, showed him using the Take Along/Take N Play line.
enterprisingengine93
On 3 June 2011, enterprisingengine93 joined and created his own series.[12] Like Keekre24, his stories are also based on the Railway Series.[12] His series, titled "Enterprising Engines," began with the episode "Lift Bridge".[13]
ThomasWoodenEpisodes
On 24 August, 2012, ThomasWoodenEpisodes joined. According to the user's name, most of his videos are remakes from the television episodes. His first remake was "Bulgy," an episode from the third season in the 1990s.
References
Notes
- 1 2 Not featured in 2000 pamphlet, but featured in 2000 yearbook.
- ↑ Not featured in 2002 and 2004 pamphlet, but featured in 2002 and 2004 yearbook.
- ↑ Not featured in the 1999 or 2000 pamphlets, but featured in the 2000 yearbook.
- ↑ Not featured in 2001 yearbook nor 2001 pamphlet, despite still being available that year.
- ↑ Not featured in 2001 yearbook, but featured in 2001 pamphlet.
- ↑ Not featured in 1998 yearbook, but featured in 1998 pamphlet.
- ↑ Not featured in 2003 pamphlet, but featured in 2003 yearbook.[8]
Citations
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