Thomas & Friends Magazines

There have been many magazines made and sold called Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends magazines. These feature stories, games, puzzles, character information and other things about Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. Many Thomas magazines are now old and hard to find, but are prized by many collectors. Many of the magazines has a certain theme.

The magazines feature unique stories, many of which are not televised, with some examples being 'James and the Seeds', 'Sunshine and Showers', 'Deep Dive', and 'The Cloud Factory'.

The Thomas magazines also introduce characters only found in them. Some examples are:

Characters

Sidney the Little Blue Engine

Sidney is a small light blue 0-4-2 tank engine, who runs a small branch line near the Seasides of Sodor. He loves chuffing around, pulling passengers to the Funfair and back. He is friends with Duck the Great Western Engine.

It is unsure whether Sidney is narrow-gauge or not, but it is thought he is the same prototype as Peter Sam, or a similar engine of the Kerr type. He hasn't been featured in the TV Series or Railway Series.

Victor the Old Engine

Victor is an old 4-4-0 blue tank engine, who was scrapped a long time ago. This made him sad, but one day he was found and restored into a children's playground. He now sits in a park, and enjoys the company of children, climbing in and out of him.

Victor is the only 4-4-0 tank engine on the Island, and isn't in the Railway Series or TV Series. His prototype is currently unknown.

Angus the Fire Engine

Angus is a large red fire engine, who lives and works with the Sodor Fire Brigade. He works hard helping out with fires, and rescues. He likes to work hard, and has plenty of friends.

Angus is based on a 1934 Dennis Fire Engine, and isn't in the Railway Series or TV Series. He's the second character to have separate eyes (after Caroline).

No.13 the Unlucky Engine

No. 13 is a black tank engine featured in the Thomas & Friends Magazines. When he first arrived on the Island of Sodor, he was very unlucky, and caused Donald and Douglas trouble and mayhem. While he was there, he got his firebox damaged, and stuck in a landslide! But after a while, he got good luck again, and he was very happy. Because he was the number 13, it used to be a very unlucky number.

No. 13 was only featured in one story, and hasn't been seen on the TV Series.

Little Barford the little engine

Little Barford is a purple tank engine featured in the Thomas & Friends Magazines (See Picture). As his name suggests, he is a small engine, and works on a little line near a Factory. When Gordon the Big Engine called Percy the Small Engine small, Percy met Little Barford, and then told Gordon he was middle sized.

Little Barford only appeared in the story 'The Cloud Factory', and hasn't been released in toy or on the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV Series.

The White Van

The White Van is a white road vehicle featured in the Thomas & Friends Magazines. He came to the Island of Sodor to help out, but only caused trouble, when he and his driver made fun of the steam engines. He caused further trouble when his driver left his door open, which led to a squashed mattress. The White Van ended up being taken off the road when it parked in a wrong place.

The White Van's name was never revealed, and was only featured in one story.

The Naughty Pink Truck

The naughtiest truck after S.C.Ruffey. He was painted pink. He told all the trucks to be so naughty so that they could get new coats of paint. The Fat Controller told him that the pink will wear off.

The Animal Sanctuary Coach

Appearing in "An Old Friend", he is the first male passenger coach. He was found by Thomas in the end, and is now homed at the Sodor Animal Sanctuary, where he always takes passengers.

Bennet and Co. Truck

Another freight car in the magazines, seen in Deep Dive. He was to be filled with iron, but he got too much, that he fell in the sea. In the end, he got the rest of the day off.

Other characters

• The Elderly Brake Van (Introduced in 'Galloping Sausage')
• The Canal Boat
• The Old VIP Bus
• The Workshop Engines (Introduced in 'Edward Works It Out')
• The Buffet Car
• The Kyaker
• The Care-worn Coach
• Police Car
• Annie & Clarabel's Friend
• Toy Shop Coach

People only in Magazines

• Bill the Bell Founder (Seen in 'The School Bell')
• Mrs. Gold (School Teacher)
• Farmer Collett
• Farmer McConnell
• George the Painter
• Joe the Sweeper
• Charles the Cleaner
• Hugh the Shoveller
• Albert the Washer
• Dave the Guard
• Bill the Guard
• Fred the Guard
• John the Guard
• The Captain (Old Sailor)
• Jo the Little Girl (Who owns Star the Horse)
• Tigerwoman (Superhero)
• Fang (Superhero)
• Webman (Superhero)
• Other Superhero

Animals Only in Magazines

• Thunder the Horse (Seen in 'Getting The Fizz Pops')
• Lightning the Horse (Seen in 'Getting The Fizz Pops')
• Penny, Henny Peg, Matilda, Irene, & Henrietta the hens (Seen in a counting Activity)
• Sooty the Cat (Seen in 'A Nose For Trouble')
• Big Ben the Rooster (Seen in 'Cock-A-Doodle-Don't')
• Harry the Hamster (Seen in 'The Hunt for Harry')
• Star the Horse (Seen in 'Thomas and Star')
• Ben, Stephen and Bridget Hatt's Dog (Seen in a birthday Activity)