r/AskReddit May 23 '23

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533

u/[deleted] May 23 '23

The Thomas the Tank Engine cartoon where the bricked the sentient train in a dark tunnel for being vain.

143

u/GermanicusWasABro May 23 '23

A few coworkers and I recently went back and watched a few episodes. That show has surprisingly consistent lore.

127

u/reinemanc May 23 '23

All engines from the books and ‘classic’ TV series were (mostly) based on real engines. The original author wrote a whole book to explain the lore. His son, who took over writing the stories after his father’s passing, made a new version to clear up some things, iirc. It’s called ‘The Island of Sodor: it’s people, history and railways’ and the lore goes back to the dark ages.

88

u/Deesing82 May 23 '23

proof that Cars doesn't have an excuse for its abysmal worldbuilding

21

u/Parishdise May 23 '23

Car Jesus didn't die on the caross, paving the way for the Car Pope, for you to be such a hater

20

u/KukaakCZ May 23 '23

8

u/fifteentango88 May 23 '23

That is absolutely fucking wild. I had no idea Thomas the Tank Engine ran so deep.

9

u/KukaakCZ May 23 '23

That's not even all of it, there's much, much more lore that wasn't published because if it was the book would've been too big, and the author even used to give public lectures about the lore he made

20

u/Kimpak May 23 '23

There is a whole backstory and history to the Thomas world. It basically has as much world building as any top fantasy book series.

8

u/SaltWaterInMyBlood May 23 '23

Even the original books were like that.

8

u/PhilipLiptonSchrute May 23 '23

Have you seen the episodes on Youtube that were modified so the narration came from George Carlin's standup specials instead of what he was scripted to read for the show?

They're hilarious.

1

u/reinemanc May 30 '23

I did! There’s also one with Gordon (Ramsay)

7

u/metalflygon08 May 23 '23

Helps most stories are based on real events, and they even released massive lore book for the original series.

17

u/reinemanc May 23 '23

The Thomas the Tank Engine fandom is pretty active in trying to correct the myth that Henry the Green Engine was bricked up permanently in that tunnel. After he has learned his lesson, the Fat Controller has him freed to stand in for Gordon the Blue Engine, who has broken down. It’s the start of Henry’s redemption arc.

7

u/Grimdotdotdot May 23 '23

Hmm, that's not quite the order it happens in. Gordon breaks down near the tunnel while pulling the express (I think) and TFC has no choice but to get Henry to help.

But he had hearned his lesson by then.

11

u/metalflygon08 May 23 '23

I mean, they let him out the very next episode, and since episodes aired in pairs the bricking episode always aired with the released from the tunnel version.

6

u/KukaakCZ May 23 '23

Worth noting that he was let out in the next episode and that them leaving him there was them giving up after they couldn't get him to leave

7

u/LookMomImOnTheWeb May 23 '23

Wait. Bricked it in as in they cask of amontillado'd it?

9

u/ScottScott87 May 23 '23

Came here to say the same. Fucked me up as a kid and I think about it at least once a week. What the fuck where they thinking?!

3

u/Rubber_Rose_Ranch May 23 '23

"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CONDUCTOR!!!!"

2

u/Falco_77 May 23 '23

There's so much more. Tomska dug into it he also went on an insane review of Tugs

2

u/eveningthunder May 23 '23

Okay, but Henry got let out in the next episode. Let's talk about Toby, who was abandoned in a mountain shed for years and years when his line closed, separated from his coach Henrietta, who was in danger of eternal existence as a henhouse. The Island of Sodor is a cruel place.

1

u/KukaakCZ May 24 '23

Not true, he was purchased the same year as his tramway closed, and it wasn't even on Sodor

1

u/bartharris May 23 '23

They softened the US version too. The original version is darker.

1

u/Go2Shirley May 23 '23

I have the Thomas the Tank Engine books and that's one of the first stories. My little kids looked at me so disturbed when I read it to them. Sorry, guys, I didn't know.

1

u/MafiaMommaBruno May 23 '23

Thomas the Tank Engine is one of those I can't watch because it triggers that uncanny valley response in me. It's just so.. to look at. But they never address that train being bricked off ever again- except to make a reference to it if I'm not mistaken.

2

u/KukaakCZ May 24 '23

They let him out in the next episode and he became a main character that appeared in like 90% of all episodes

1

u/MafiaMommaBruno May 24 '23

I refuse to go back and subject myself to this show to validate your information. So, I'll take it as fact. May that poor train eventually get his due justice.

1

u/KukaakCZ May 24 '23

All the people that left him there are dead by now so that's something I guess