Thomas & Friends series 13

Thomas & Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Reverend W. Awdry.

Thomas & Friends
Series 13
No. of episodes	20
Release
Original network	Five (via Milkshake!)
Original release	25 January (2010-01-25) – 19 February 2010 (2010-02-19)
Series chronology

This article lists and details episodes from the thirteenth series of the show, which was first broadcast in 2010. This series was narrated by Michael Angelis for the United Kingdom audiences, while Michael Brandon narrated the episodes for the United States audiences. Mark Moraghan later re-narrated "Snow Tracks" for the Santa's Little Engine DVD.

This was Marion Edwards' first series as executive producer.

This series was released following the release of the feature-length special DVD Hero of the Rails in September 2009 and the theatrical and video releases of select episodes. This series introduced computer-generated imagery as a replacement for the show's long-standing model animation, as well as a voice cast rather than an individual actor's narration.

Production

Beginning with this series, Nitrogen Studios began providing the animation.

Director Steve Asquith had left the show after the previous series, after working on twelve series and directing five series, while Simon Spencer also stepped down as producer. Christopher Skala was joined by Marion Edwards as executive producer. Ed Welch left after The Great Discovery, while Robert Hartshorne remained. Greg Tiernan and Nicole Stinn replaced Asquith and Spencer as the director and producer.

Note: The series was filmed in 2009, but would not be aired until January 2010.

Episodes

Main article: List of Thomas & Friends episodes

On 7 November 2009, four select episodes ("Splish, Splash, Splosh!", "Slippy Sodor", "Play Time", and "Snow Tracks") were screened theatrically in an event called "Splish, Splash, Splosh". The episodes were then released on a DVD of the same name in the United States, which was later released in the UK on 1 March 2010. Another event, again in the United States and titled "Thomas and the Runaway Kite", was screened on 9 January 2010, and showed a further 4 episodes. The two songs, "Sounds" and "Determination" by Ed Welch, were introduced during Series 13 after the story. The thirteenth series aired in the United States on 5 September 2010.

In October 2010, the thirteenth series also aired on Nick Jr. UK.

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	TV Order
309	1	"Creaky Cranky"	Greg Tiernan	Sharon Miller	25 January 2010 (2010-01-25)	601a
After being teased for creaking by Thomas, Cranky proves to him that he is stronger than the little blue tank engine. However, when Thomas suggests to lift him up, it ends in disaster.
310	2	"The Lion of Sodor"	Greg Tiernan	Mark Robertson	26 January 2010 (2010-01-26)	601b
Thomas is tasked to transport a crate containing "The Lion of Sodor". Believing the lion is real, Thomas vows to take extra special care of it, making sure it is comfortable.
311	3	"Tickled Pink"	Greg Tiernan	Allan Plenderleith	27 January 2010 (2010-01-27)	602a
James is sent to the Steamworks to have a new coat of paint. However, an emergency forces him to take a train before he has finished, leaving him covered in his pink undercoat. Believing the others will laugh at him, James attempts to hide wherever he can.
312	4	"Double Trouble"	Greg Tiernan	Sharon Miller	28 January 2010 (2010-01-28)	602b
It's the Fat Controller's birthday, and Thomas is sent to Maithwaite early to collect the Fat Controller and Lady Hatt to take them to the party. However, when Thomas arrives, he is very surprised to see the Fat Controller already there - and that he has a mustache and a strange change in personality.
313	5	"Slippy Sodor"	Greg Tiernan	Mark Robertson	29 January 2010 (2010-01-29)	603a
Thomas is after a replacement funnel, although the only replacement is strangely shaped and brightly-colored. However, with everyone laughing at him, it proves Thomas' job of taking bubble liquid to Mr. Bubbles' show to be a bit of a slippy mess for Mr. Bubbles and the Fat Controller.
314	6	"The Early Bird"	Greg Tiernan	David Richard Fox	1 February 2010 (2010-02-01)	603b
With Percy at the Steamworks for repairs, Thomas is put in charge of his mail run. However, he ignores Gordon's advice to ask Percy and makes the crucial mistake of whistling loudly, disturbing the sleep of others.
315	7	"Play Time"	Greg Tiernan	Sharon Miller	2 February 2010 (2010-02-02)	604a
Thomas meets a new purple tank engine named Charlie, deemed to be "The most fun engine ever" by Percy. When Thomas proves to Charlie how fun he really is, it proves to be problematic for his job of taking Allicia Botti.
316	8	"Thomas and the Pigs"	Greg Tiernan	Allan Plenderleith	3 February 2010 (2010-02-03)	604b
Farmer Trotter asks Thomas to collect some straw for some newborn piglets. However, Thomas thinks that the piglets would prefer something else instead.
317	9	"Time for a Story"	Greg Tiernan	Miranda Larson	4 February 2010 (2010-02-04)	605a
Thomas is excited to take some new storybooks to the library for the children's storytime session. However, a mixture of unsecured trucks and bumpy tracks proves to be a problem.
318	10	"Percy's Parcel"	Greg Tiernan	Robyn Charteris	5 February 2010 (2010-02-05)	605b
Percy is given the job to deliver a birthday parcel for Dowager Hatt's birthday. However, Percy decides to showcase the parcel to everyone else first.
319	11	"Toby's New Whistle"	Greg Tiernan	Louise Kramskoy	8 February 2010 (2010-02-08)	606a
Toby has a three-chime steam whistle installed in place of a bell. However, he is scared to use it due to the noise.
320	12	"A Blooming Mess"	Greg Tiernan	Miranda Larson	9 February 2010 (2010-02-09)	606b
Emily believes that Mavis is sad and decides to cheer her up with her flower delivery for Knapford Station. However, this just proves to be problematic for Thomas and Edward.
321	13	"Thomas and the Runaway Kite"	Greg Tiernan	Louise Kramskoy	10 February 2010 (2010-02-10)	607a
Thomas goes on a wild chase around Sodor chasing after Stephen and Bridget's kite after it escapes while on a job to collect the winner's cup - ignoring his friend's offers to help.
322	14	"Steamy Sodor"	Greg Tiernan	Sharon Miller	11 February 2010 (2010-02-11)	607b
Thomas is put in charge of the Steamworks while Victor is visiting the narrow gauge engines. However, Thomas' excitement sends the Steamworks into a complete mess.
323	15	"Splish Splash Splosh"	Greg Tiernan	Sharon Miller	12 February 2010 (2010-02-12)	608a
Thomas creates a fun game called "Splish Splash Splosh" with Rosie on a rainy day - where he runs through a puddle and splashes mud on someone. However, his attempts to splash his friends unintentionally ruins Allicia Botti's grand tea.
324	16	"The Biggest Present of All"	Greg Tiernan	Sharon Miller	15 February 2010 (2010-02-15)	608b
Thomas tries to find a welcome present for Hiro, who's returning to Sodor to visit. However, his intentions of finding a present causes him to forget to ask the other engines to meet at Knapford.
325	17	"Snow Tracks"	Greg Tiernan	Alan Hescott	16 February 2010 (2010-02-16)	609a
A snowstorm has covered Sodor, and Thomas and Gordon are given important jobs. While doing his job, Gordon decides to take the shorter, hilly route because he thinks he is special and stronger. This promptly leads him into trouble.
326	18	"Henry's Good Deeds"	Greg Tiernan	Alan Hescott	17 February 2010 (2010-02-17)	609b
After Thomas performs a good deed for Farmer McColl. Henry, who is taking a nesting pole for a rare bird called the Sodor Warbler, decides to try and do a good deed too. However, all of his attempts go horribly wrong. In the end, however, he manages to do a good deed without even realizing.
327	19	"Buzzy Bees"	Greg Tiernan	Sharon Miller	18 February 2010 (2010-02-18)	610a
Thomas is given the task of delivering beehives to Farmer Trotter. He decides to take the route past a field of flowers, only for the bees to escape.
328	20	"Hiro Helps Out"	Greg Tiernan	Sharon Miller	19 February 2010 (2010-02-19)	610b
The Fat Controller is rather busy - so busy he does not tell the other engines their jobs. Hiro decides to help him by giving the others their jobs, but this only results in a big muddle.

Voice cast

Main article: List of Thomas & Friends voice actors

Actor/Actress	Region	Role(s)	Notes
Michael Angelis	UK	The Narrator
Michael Brandon	US	Diesel, Mr. Bubbles and the Narrator
Ben Small	UK	Thomas and Toby
Martin Sherman	US	Thomas, Percy, and The Bird Watcher
		Henry	Originally
Keith Wickham	UK	Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, The Fat Controller, Sir Lowham Hatt, The Mayor of Sodor and Mr. Bubbles
	UK/US	Dowager Hatt
Kerry Shale	UK	Diesel
	US	Henry, Gordon, James, Kevin, Sir Topham Hatt, Sir Lowham Hatt and The Maithwaite Stationmaster
William Hope		Edward, Toby, Rocky, Farmer McColl, Farmer Trotter, and The Maithwaite Stationmaster
		Stephen Hatt	Thomas and the Runaway Kite only
Teresa Gallagher	UK	Emily, Rosie, Mavis, Bridget Hatt, Lady Hatt, Some Children, School Children, The Teacher, and Bridget Hatt's friends
Jules de Jongh	US
	UK/US	Allicia Botti
Matt Wilkinson	UK	Spencer, Charlie, Rocky, Cranky, Kevin, Farmer McColl, Farmer Trotter, The Maithwaite Stationmaster, The Knapford Stationmaster and The Bird Watcher
		Stephen Hatt	Thomas and the Runaway Kite only
Glenn Wrage	US	Spencer, Charlie and Cranky
David Bedella		Victor and The Mayor of Sodor
Togo Igawa	UK/US	Hiro
Pierce Brosnan		The Narrator	Originally
Mark Moraghan	US		Re-dubbed Snow Tracks for "Santa's Little Engine" DVD only

A HiT Entertainment press release from 2007 stated that "3 upcoming Thomas & Friends television series" would be narrated by Pierce Brosnan. Although the statement was made prior to season 12, HiT confirmed that Brosnan would only appear as a guest narrator on The Great Discovery.

iTunes release

'Thomas & Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh!' was released in the United Kingdom iTunes Store on 1 March 2010. It consisted of four episodes, which were the following:

• Splish, Splash, Splosh!
• Slippy Sodor
• Snow Tracks
• Play Time

The programme can be purchased as a series or individual episodes.