SERIES 5
Released from 28 August to 20 October 2023, the fifth and final of Sodor Railway Tales consists of 33 episodes, most of which are adapted from Books 35-42 of The Railway Series (1991 – 1996, 2007, 2011), all of which were the final ever books in the series written by Christopher Awdry, ultimately bringing The Railway Series to an end after 66 years. Episode 9 is adapted from the 1992 standalone book Thomas and the Hurricane, also written by Christopher Awdry.
Episodes 1-4 of Series 5 are taken from the thirty-fifth Railway Series book, Thomas and the Great Railway Show (1991), written by Christopher Awdry, illustrated by Clive Spong and read by George Brind.
"Dear Friends,
Henry, Gordon and James have been grumpy lately. They were jealous because Thomas had been asked to visit the National Railway Museum in York. The Fat Controller was afraid that they would go on strike, but they didn't.
'If Thomas wants to be a museum-piece", they said to each other, "what's that to do with us?'
Meanwhile Thomas was enjoying himself. I hope you will enjoy reading about how he did so.
The Author"
EPISODE 1: MUSEUM-PIECE
EPISODE 2: NOT THE TICKET
EPISODE 3: TROUBLE ON THE LINE
EPISODE 4: THOMAS AND THE RAILTOUR
Episodes 5-8 of Series 5 are taken from the thirty-sixth Railway Series book, Thomas Comes Home (1992), written by Christopher Awdry, illustrated by Clive Spong and read by Tracy Brooker. Episode 7 is based Awdry’s own annual story “The Strawberry Special” (1984).
"Dear Friends,
Daisy was most upset when she heard that people were saying there were no female engines on the Fat Controller's Railway.
'You must do something about it', she told me indignantly. 'There's me and Mavis and I was in charge while Thomas was away at that Great Railway Show, wasn't I?'
Well she wasn't really, but would you dare tell her? These stories are about what happened before Thomas came home.
The Author"
EPISODE 5: SNOW PROBLEM
EPISODE 6: WASHOUT!
EPISODE 7: TOBY'S MEGATRAIN
EPISODE 8: THOMAS COMES HOME
Episode 9 of Series 5 entitled Thomas and the Hurricane, read by Tracy Brooker, is based on the 1992 standalone book written by Christopher Awdry, in based on his own annual stories “Thomas and the Cricketeers” (1989) and “Signal Failure” (1986). The illustrations are by Clive Spong.
EPISODE 9: THOMAS AND THE HURRICANE
Episodes 10-13 of Series 5 are taken from the thirty-seventh Railway Series book, Henry and the Express (1993), written by Christopher Awdry, illustrated by Clive Spong and read by Jen Griffin.
"Dear Friends,
When I went to see Henry recently he was moaning about not having had a book to himself for ages.
'Yes,' I agreed, 'There's the story about patching up your smokebox...'
'And the time my wheel broke,' he interrupted.
'What about when you came out of the Works before you'd been properly painted?' I said.
'You wouldn't...!' he said.
But I would and I have. It might teach Henry not to try to tell me what to do.
The Author"
EPISODE 10: OUT OF PUFF
EPISODE 11: OVERHAUL
EPISODE 12: SLIDING SCALES
EPISODE 13: HENRY SEES RED
Episodes 14-17 of Series 5 are taken from the thirty-eighth Railway Series book, Wilbert the Forest Engine (1994), written by Christopher Awdry, illustrated by Clive Spong and read by Claire Brind and Edward Brind.
"Dear Friends,
Wilbert works in Gloucestershire, on the Dean Forest Railway. He kept asking if he could meet Thomas and at last the Fat Controller managed to arrange it. The visit was not without its mishaps, but I know that Wilbert enjoyed himself. We hope that you will enjoy the stories of his adventures on the Island of Sodor as much as he and the other engines did.
The Author"
EPISODE 14: PERCY'S PORRIDGE
EPISODE 15: CAB OVER WHEELS
EPISODE 16: FOAMING AT THE FUNNEL
EPISODE 17: WIRED-UP
Episodes 18-21 of Series 5 are taken from the thirty-ninth Railway Series book, Thomas and the Fat Controller’s Engines (1995), written by Christopher Awdry, illustrated by Clive Spong and read by Cheryl Graham.
"Dear Friends,
I went to see the Fat Controller the other day. I told him that in 1995 it would be fifty years since the first stories about his Railway were published.
'Good gracious me!' he said. 'We must do something to celebrate that.'
And he set to work. Not everything went quite right. For instance, Thomas... but I won't spoil the stories - happy reading.
The Author"
EPISODE 18: BIRDSTRIKE
EPISODE 19: EDWARD AND THE CABBAGES
EPISODE 20: RABBITS
EPISODE 21: GOLDEN JUBILEE
Episodes 22-25 of Series 5 are taken from the fortieth Railway Series book, New Little Engine (1996), written by Christopher Awdry, illustrated by Clive Spong and read by Thomas Puttock.
"Dear Friends,
Peter Sam has been working on the Talyllyn Railway in Wales. The Thin Controller's Railway became so busy that he had to bring Peter Sam home to help. Sir Handel was jealous, but Peter Sam told us about the time he was ill while he was in Wales. It seemed too good a story to waste, so I decided to share it with you. I hope Peter Sam isn't too upset.
The Author"
EPISODE 22: SPEEDKILLER
EPISODE 23: SIR HANDEL'S PLAN
EPISODE 24: DIRTY WATER
EPISODE 25: I NAME THIS ENGINE...
Episodes 26-29 of Series 5 are taken from the forty-first Railway Series book, Thomas and Victoria (2007), written by Christopher Awdry, illustrated by Clive Spong and read by Katherine Gell.
"Dear Friends,
Here are four new adventures from Thomas's branch line. In them you will meet up again with several old friends, including, of course, Thomas himself. Oh, and there is a new friend for you called Victoria - we all hope you will like her as much as we do.
The Author"
EPISODE 26: OVERLOADED
EPISODE 27: AVALANCHE
EPISODE 28: EELS ON WHEELS
EPISODE 29: TOBY'S VINTAGE TRAIN
Episodes 30-33 of Series 5 are taken from the forty-second and final Railway Series book, Thomas and his Friends (2011), written by Christopher Awdry, illustrated by Clive Spong and read by George Brind.
"Dear Friends,
The Awdry family is delighted to be able to mark the centenary of the Thin Clergyman's birth with the publication of this book. The Fat Controller wanted to celebrate the occasion too, and quickly made his own plans. What were they? Turn the pages to find out...
The Author"
EPISODE 30: THOMAS AND THE SWAN
EPISODE 31: BUFFER BASHING
EPISODE 32: GORDON'S FIRE SERVICE
EPISODE 33: CENTENARY