Thomas & Friends 1976: The LOST Pilot

Most people have heard of the BBC's attempt to remake "The Sad Story Of Henry," and the first attempt bring Thomas to the television that overall failed. However; there was ANOTHER lost pilot that if aired, would have changed Thomas and how we see it for forever. Let's take a look into it!
Jadand247's Remake Of "The Sad Story Of Henry:"
• BBC - The Sad Story of...
Sources: ttte.fandom.co...)
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[@nikolausbautista8925]

I'd rather have Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Thomas" than Mattel's Reboot!

[@user-no4xu9nn6v]

i agree

[@spiderman_enthusiast1578]

Those faces tho...

[@nikolausbautista8925]

Faces I can live with- even better if they copy the Reverend's latter illustrators (post-Dalby) styles.

[@motorwayt-s628]

@@nikolausbautista8925 like Peter and Gunvor Adams realistic style?

[@stumpyfunnelalt9920]

Same

[@jacobtatana3826]

I've always wondered what a 2d Thomas would be.(and this was before I found out about the 25th reboot)

[@seve8791]

We all did. Now, we have an answer. F**k mattel.

[@stuartsammodels6750]

Yeah we found out what it was f*cking sh*t

[@quattrobajeena1689]

It'd look like the RWS

[@kingofthepod5169]

@@quattrobajeena1689 or Ivor the engine. Small films knew how to make a talking engine without a face.

[@Lemmy-prod]

I feel like the reboot was based on this

[@chocococolatte3303]

"Claiming that if the Americans got a hold of it the whole series will be vulgarized and ruined" "And yeah they weren't wrong" LMAO I laughed so hard at this!!!!

[@gkingGabe72]

Holy crap. Wilbert Awdry predicted the terrible future his creation would be in before the tv series even started.

[@chocococolatte3303]

@@gkingGabe72 ikr lol

[@motorwayt-s628]

Maybe that’s why magic railroad came out after his passing

[@CorinaDoesAnimation]

@@gkingGabe72 The terrible future would be All Engines Go

[@seardadsdasd]

@@CorinaDoesAnimation when mattel's owner dies mattel's owner will go to hell because HE RUINED AN ENTIRE FRANCHISE WITH ESTABLISHED LORE A HUGE FAN BASE AND A POP CULTURE CHARACTER ALSO ANGERED LITERALLY EVERY FAN thats atleast like 5 sins

[@SteamTeamRedubUK]

I don’t think Thomas would’ve taken off to such incredible heights if it started with the 1976 pilot, let alone being animated instead of model trains. There’s something satisfying about the idea of using live action models to tell stories about talking locomotives and how it’s like watching a model train display on tv like you would see a model train show. Great video!

[@wilbertlad]

1:07 actually, thomas and Gordon wasn't the pilot, there was a prototype episode of down the mine made in 1983 that used different models and was pitched to itv

[@TheBrickGuy7939]

And one or two scenes from that unaired pilot were used in the final adaptation, being where Thomas drives away from Knapford.

[@leogio8093]

and this pilot was apparently based off of "down the mine"

[@NeidhardtDerBlitzschnelle]

@@TheBrickGuy7939It is also assumed that some Close Up Shots of the Fat Controller were also reused.

[@mickycarter2365]

In the video when you said that the Reverend W awdry said that if the Americans get ahold of it set the whole series to get vulgarized and ruined. Which entitles that he predicted that the Americans would get a hold of it and then ruin a beautiful thing which is pretty cool to think that that was predicted in the70's

[@evelynjiles29]

The Background Music is Life

[@storiesfromdifferenteras]

Not quite.

[@alexanderfenton2967]

@@storiesfromdifferenteras damn I bet you're fun at parties huh

[@alexanderfenton2967]

I found a song that samples the song in the video, it's called "Inferiority Complex" by the artist Wiser Observer.

[@alexanderfenton2967]

The sample is a remixed version of the song "Midna in Distress" and is a song from the Legend of Zelda the Twilight princess.

[@matthewdavison7456]

So wired. I wish the complete pilot was available

[@sunergascon4372]

Wired? You mean wierd?

[@katfosseneuve5721]

@@sunergascon4372Weird*

[@sunergascon4372]

@@katfosseneuve5721 you're a hit at parties.

[@alexanderfenton2967]

@@sunergascon4372 says you

[@Jtmissile]

Ironic how it was going to be animated, changed to models, and then switched to animation anyway

[@sonictailsx4690]

6:24 We may never know... *X-Files music starts playing* Nah it's probably nothing.

[@joeseaman8347]

As someone who is familiar with lord Andy’s work, that deal he wanted sounds like something he would exactly want.

[@Richardpathos]

Me:"Looks the 1976 Thomas" Me:Wait... You rememeber me the season 25 Thomas.... Thomas 1976: ...

[@catastropheintended88]

Insperaishun

[@theevildalek5425]

Opinions on Ivor the Engine? I had the VHS and loved it when I was a kid (arguably just as much as Thomas)

[@ajaxengineco]

I loved the atmosphere in that little show. So relaxing to watch or just to listen to.

[@thatconservativetrainguy3864]

Ngl it looks like it would slap and I’d perfer that over the new Thomas......

[@dogerecords5312]

Supposedly the company who made it has a copy in their archives.

[@SmokinBluntsJew]

Darn, Wish we could see it

[@Blu3tube]

I that would be cosgrove hall I would imagine, which is now defunct. Those archives were bought up in it's closure so who knows where that archive is now

[@dogerecords5312]

@@Blu3tube Wasn't it in Nelvanas archive?

[@Blu3tube]

@@dogerecords5312 if that is the company that bought cosgrove hall out it could well be. It's under some company that has no idea what to do with the films and have everything the studio ever made, that was by told into other companies for DVD release, pilots films everything is locked away some where

[@dogerecords5312]

@@Blu3tube Nelvana is the company that currently makes Thomas.

[@thelovablecretin]

Gotta say as someone who's used to the UK versions it's kind of jarring sometimes hearing the US narration and call them by their US titles. I think that would be a very interesting topic for you to cover though, differences between UK and US in terms of the actual episodes, promotional material, home video releases and merchandise. It's definitely interesting to see it from the US perspective so you might enjoy seeing what the UK side is like

[@Mskart109]

Trainboy: Gordon and thomas is the pliot for model Down the Mine (1983): I'm a Joke to you

[@andrewscolari5724]

I think Andrew Lloyd Webber's might have worked. All that would need to change would instead of it being a musical, it would have to be a straight up narration with background theme music like what we ultimately got, with original model series.

[@lenamaria4able]

1976 Thomas is probably the best adaptation of Thomas ever made because the the art style is really well made.

[@motorwayt-s628]

I think it’s worth mentioning that Andrew Lloyd Webber was the person who directed the Cats musical so the cancellation of this could’ve been a dodged bullet

[@elianoachilli1567]

Maybe that’s not Thomas. Maybe that’s Edward. I think I can kinda see a tender behind what is supposedly meant to be Thomas

[@bluebirbjayy]

If Wilbert was able to tell that the show would be ruined once an American company got there hands on it. He was probably dreaded from the grave when Hit bought the Franchise...

[@WillCWilson]

HiT wasn't an american company tho

[@MasterSinister3]

*cough* Mattel *real cough*

[@kartoonfanatic]

So thaaaaats what a classic Disney take on the characters would look like. *carefully shuts the door and bolts it shut* Mmmkay never mind that idea. While I'm genuinely curious about what those character designs would look like animated, and I'm impressed that it looks as if they were going to do a 1940s Flesher era style for stories that take place in that era (and I assume those faces would be a looot more emotive than the CGI series), I'm glad we got the models. They're cute, but not over the top. On a side note your videos are great. I love your variety of topics and I'm impressed with your upload schedule. I wish you'd slow down your narration a bit, though. I had to put on captions because i couldn't keep up with what you were saying. =/ This video could have been about a minute or two longer and I wouldn't have minded. It sounds like you have a nice voice, make the audio a treat as well as the visuals, man! And then you're golden.

[@bambfnf]

I Hate You

[@eliotreader8220]

i wonder what the Rev Wilbert Awdry would have thought if he had seen Thomas, Henry and Edward and Gordon sing?

[@eliotreader8220]

@Sentinel Magnus all the same it would been interesting if he had given his opinion on Thomas and his friends being able to sing? that version of streamlining that Gordon song in the 2016 film was actually quite nice likewise with Thomas's song some times you need a friend in the 2018 big world adventure

[@ComicAndrew39]

I watched Thomas ever since I was a baby.

[@fishpop]

Lost media annoys me... If i could bend reality to my will i would create a KZbin channel dedicated to hosting EVERY piece of lost media, regardless of what it is. This would include all 3 Thomas pilots. BBC, Webber and Down The Mine (Pilot)

[@seve8791]

Yeah i like the idea of Mario trying to warn us about Mattel's sins.

[@iceeblueburst03]

6:34 Those 1976 pilot Thomas & Friends faces looks creepy af! Look how big their noses are, my god! 😧

[@RJLightning68]

Reminds me of how Simon Mart did the faces of his characters in the British Railway Stories.

[@graphtonix6607]

Lol!!! I love how you use Thomas's whistle as a cuss word.😂😂😂😂😂

[@sophiehanssel2017]

I just have the engines singing "Jesus Christ Superstar" with female singers singing backup in my head now LOL

[@bensomething7395]

"maybe you were like me and watched these original episodes on vhs tapes" BOY I STILL HAVE THEM

[@cadenthecadburyengine8198]

I didn’t know much about the 1976 pilot, thanks!

[@jackelite8233]

finally someone talks about this!

[@Nate_the_Great-4472]

Starlight express has been playing in Germany since the late 90’s, but it just got a revival in London, I actually saw it front row! It was really good!

[@iforgotmymoney5823]

The guy is probably about 78 or 80 They should ask him to draw it and make a full episode with that

[@jenneacubero1036]

To be fair on "Starlight Express", it's probably hard to design train costumes. That and, at least John Partidge's "AC/DC" song is worth a listen. It's lit!!

[@MadmanBuck]

Ah So that's where Mattel got their wicked idea..... Very interesting

[@MrTophatter]

I think when Mattel did season 25, the actually adapted this, and not the normal show

[@Ocsttiac]

Georgle Carlin narration? I sleep. Ringo Starr/Michael Angelis? Now that's the real shit.

[@2acidic4u]

Ringo>Carlin>Angelis

[@Jtmissile]

The British narrators definitely had more diversity with their voices.

[@kartoonfanatic]

Sorry but I gotta differ on that. Ringo Starr did well with giving Thomas a distinctive voice in some of the later season 2 episodes (making him sound like the somewhat smug asshole he's supposed to be), but much of the rest of the engines sound the same to me in his narration. He does emphasize certain lines with emotion, that I thought Carlin slept on, but vice versa, Carlin emphasized a lot of lines I think Ringo could have done as well. I especially like Carlin's voice for Gordon. It's obviously not accurate with an American accent, but hearing him say "Well well, little Thomas. Now you know what hard work means, don't you?" in that raspy, working man's voice, *that* to me is, Gordon.

[@UnitedWars]

Gonna disagree,George was life every character had a different voice while Ringo...he was alright

[@lemmythebulldog8812]

Might I recommend you listen to the 18+ version of thomas narration. Someone edited Carlins audio books and comedy routines into the narration and it’s pretty funny

[@soniccd9983]

Even as a kid I thought chugginton was stupid just the name was enough and now Thomas is basically that show now

[@LowkeyJouta]

Ok that bit at the end give me a good chuckle love your videos man

[@NeidhardtDerBlitzschnelle]

1:05 Actually, only the US dub is titled "Thomas gets tricked". The UK dub's title is indeed Thomas and Gordon. This was a thing during TTTE's earlier years, where the two english dubs (For the UK and US respectively) would sometimes have vastly different titles from each other.

[@davidwilliamklak]

“A man named Andrew Lloyd Webber”. When you’re a musical theatre actor, you’re not used to not hearing “Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber” everytime

[@lemmythebulldog8812]

You know there’s another rare item lost in obscurity. Supposedly it’s a recording of the Beatles singing the theme song.

[@motorwayt-s628]

The Beatles broke up 3 years before this pilot was first written

[@Pander1985]

People take the pisss out of Chuggington, Thomas 25th - hold my oil can! Chuggington is at least animated well, it was never meant to be a threat to Thomas..

[@scottriddell3514]

Believe me I feel like Thomas gets tricked was the pilot episode itself

[@callum110597]

Well, that Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation would've been interesting, though the illustrations didn't look so good, and as Wilbert Awdry said, it probably wasn't a good idea if Americans were running his work, like how Mattel unfortunately is (and that's an interesting theory there at the end that it could've inspired that 2D reboot!).

[@owendinostudios1200]

I think the one picture was of Edward and Gordon where Gordon is teasing edwards abt being small

[@TotoDG]

1:55. Did this Andrew Lloyd Webber guy get up to much else, by any chance? Serious question, though: how did *this* not get made, but the Cats movie _did?_

[@fastoutnotforkids7192]

I was just asking myself the same question. Lol. But if you look back on it. The only movie that got a lot of hate at the time was sonic because the character look like um well lets say very very bad wosrts then cats until the movie people of sonic change up the character to look more clean and more sonic. Maybe thats why idk. Now only if they can change thomas back to the old days with models or something close season 25 would probably be great. But sadly no. Its going to get kicked in the hole with cats and ruin it self.

[@arcticshark1808]

Another good video TrainBoy and merry Christmas

[@pinkyponky]

This was the inspiration for season 25

[@nameit100itsme]

Awesome video as always can you please make a video about how to download Thomas engines for Trainz 2019 I keep getting unknown assets with every thomas engine I tried (other trains never gave me any problems

[@KeeperofToast]

Bruh some of these noses give Transformers: Animated's chins a run for their money.

[@extrahistory8956]

Hello. I loved that you talked a bit more about this piece of lost media. As a side note, what is the name of the music?

[@samanthabradley1245]

Ever since I seen that sad dog face of Thomas it always reminded me of that unmade part of the episode Ghost Engine like remember the Creepypasta Timothy the ghost train

[@michaelkolai4288]

0:02 Thomas and the magic railroad Thomas whistle

[@ruchellemiller8423]

6:28-6:57 that scared me to death

[@sneezeman497]

1:12 *sad down the mine noises*

[@hexbugmuse]

I love that art style!

[@user-nx7ru2ge8p]

5:12 I was thinking the exact same thing the whole time.

[@FrabjousBat]

Bruh where did you get that clean ass TatMR whistle from

[@sunergascon4372]

Bro he just has the real tatmr whistle onhand at all timez

[@TheAtlantaRailfan]

for everyone who wanted to see what the 2d animated Thomas would look like now you have it with Mattel's death blow of a reboot.

[@alexanderfenton2967]

Sick video, I didn't even know this existed until now so great job! P.S. what song did you use for this video?

[@Cloaker.]

Those was released the day my Granddad died. He died on 17th December 2020 😭

[@sonic2733]

Fun fact somebody actually said on a Reddit post I think I might actually have found seven of the episodes

[@ThomasIsBig]

Mattel: noted

[@klowell19]

Mattel's reboot is maybe based off of Andrew Lloyd's animated pilot i don't know I don't work at Mattel

[@parrapatherapperandstuff7657]

This should be an anime because the faces look very unigue

[@CorinaDoesAnimation]

And All Engines Go should be an anime too because most anime is somewhat realistic while All Engines Go, which is on the other hand, is too cartoony. Also, it's *unique

[@Badumpop]

Quite the Weird one its not as iconic as the "Sad Story Story of Henry (1953)" pilot or well known and the Down The Mine Pilot.Its just that weird pilot that never got off the ground...

[@Cheez-It92]

Sometimes I revisit this episode just for that Chuggington comment at the beginning. XD

[@lukechristmas3951]

I haven't heard of this much detail about the cancelled series and pilot. This is so interesting to think that Thomas was very close to starting as a cartoon. And between Season 25 and this, I would go with this. The series is now part musical beginning with The Great Race and frankly, I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to have a song in every episode because Salty's Lighthouse did that with TUGS footage and failed. Bad. It's cringe. The songs are catchy but annoying after the fifth time. As for Starlight Express, I haven't seen it but it does look and sound unusual but I like the fact that The Railway Series did inspire a stage musical and that a fan did try to bring his childhood to the screen and share with the world. Frankly, I think it was best that the classic model series became successful because the Reverend was all about realistic detail and the classic model series did just that.

[@susman6364]

the 1976 2D predicted the future

[@graphtonix6607]

Can you please do a video on the series 12 Thomas models next???

[@TheEerieMaster]

once someone in my family put on Chuggington for my cousins... they went missing 2 hours later after I saw what they have done 🙂

[@TitanXecutor]

It is interesting to see Thomas 2D, but not in the way we have it now

[@kilatbiag]

he tried to warn us

[@cdangelo1843]

Another thing we know is that instead of “Thomas and Friends,” this show was supposed to be called “Thomas the Tank Engine.”

[@sonic23233]

They need to bring back the models

[@icheckered6837]

The music is a bit loud tbh, but otherwise an very informative and entertaining video

[@therealawgm]

I didn't know if Thomas and Friends was going to be a musical huh you live in you learn

[@skullzproductions]

very nice :-) here's a topic suggestion try talking about the spinoff series of The All New Captain Kangaroo that featured Thomas Mister Moose's Fun Time!

[@southernkansasrailfan3746]

The pilot episode of the model series was released on my birthday!!!

[@teetrimino]

What's the music used in the video?

[@Big-Country304]

What's the background music here it so calming

[@nelsonnoname001]

So, what I don't understand is - Has anybody ever asked the source? Has ALW ever made comment about the pilot? Feel like someone could just ask him? I mean he has a passion for the books, so sure he even might have some art from the show

[@NBraun04]

I was worried there wasn’t gonna be a video today.

[@the_oao_raider]

Well to answer your question towards the end, how does season 25 look like?

[@sdmedia1323]

6:29: That right there my friends, is a modified Jinty. Next to him are some very fat drawings.

[@Vinnyanimate.]

This Comment will probably never be seen, But in my search for the pilot, I know usually Animators, have the original cels and illustration frames of the animation sometimes (That being Brain Cosgrove). I had the idea of emailing the Cosgrove Hall archives (a place where lots of Brain Cosgrove work was preserved), they replied, surprising me, the simple answer is, that they didn't have it sadly, they explained that Mr Cosgrove tends to keep his early 2d animation works to himself, so in my guess, Cosgrove may have the drawings, but not the film maybe.

[@user-hh8wg5xf7m]

Can someone please tell me the name of the background music in this wonderful video?

[@Network1245_Productions]

1:21 Shoutouts to SodorNWRsteam’s *PERFECT* remake of what the 1953 Sad Story of Henry adaption might’ve been: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ6yoZ59o5WlqMk

[@spearmintpony7105]

Andrew Webber is still alive. Maybe someone could ask if he still has those drawings.

[@ajsremakesandcustoms4093]

3:03 f*cking bars bro

[@Steamerthesteamtrain]

Starlight Express has a lot catchy songs though.

Who already knew about this before the vid came out?

[@nopenonope1]

Even though that chuggington was around I still grew up with Thomas 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@James-sr2rd]

Hheheheh hi @trainboy I like this video,i just want you to know that I will never let you down and will support all your videos that you post,Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, keep safe from covid19 😊😊🤗🤗☺☺

[@aegontan686]

Andrew Lloyd Webber was also responsible for making the Cats stage musical

[@sirthomas_1]

2:12 they predicted the reboot…

[@harrisonallen651]

Comment if there’s a fair chance that we’ll see the original 70s pilot footage released online in the near future...