Shining Time Station

Shining Time Station was an American television sequel of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends series co-created by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow. The series was produced by The Britt Allcroft Company and Quality Family Entertainment in New York, but was shot in Toronto. The series aired on PBS from January 1989 to June 1993. It aired on Fox Family for 1998 and 1999, and also on Nick Jr. in 2000 for the film Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

Background

Once Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends had become a critical and commercial success in the UK, Allcroft and her production company teamed up with PBS to create an American version of the show. Every episode of the show would include a couple episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine within the framework of a live-action story that would take place in the United States. Thus, Shining Time Station was born. Ringo Starr, who had already been providing the voice of the narrator for the British series, agreed to extend the role to include the on-screen character Mr. Conductor in Shining Time Station. He later left the show and was replaced by George Carlin.

In a review for Entertainment Weekly, Ken Tucker states that, compared to the faster paced Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, "Shining Time Station wants to slow things down; it's an old- fashioned show that creates a gentle, lulling atmosphere to convince children that life is fun and that trains are the way to travel.

Also, before the executive producer Rick Siggelkow went to work at the BBC, he was planning a Shining Time Station movie. For reasons unexplained, the movie was canceled.

Overview

Shining Time Station is a train station that resides on the Indian Valley Railroad and is located in the fictional town of Shining Time. The station is managed by Stacy Jones, the station master whose grandmother Gracie ran the station when she was Stacy's age. The station's workshop is run by railroad engineer and mechanic Harry Cupper. In the second season, Harry is transferred to a new station in Fort Farley and is replaced by Billy Twofeathers.

A local named Horace Schemer (simply called Schemer by his friends) runs the station's arcade and is always finding new ways to make more money or to protect his arcade. He serves as the series' comic relief. Schemer thinks that strange goings-on in the station happen because the station is haunted. His catch phrases include "Genius time" (for when he has an idea), "Schemer's system of success" (for when he wants to impress his friends) and "This place is haunted". Starting in the second season, Schemer would sometimes be aided in his schemes by his nephew, Schemee.

Harry's granddaughter, Tanya, and Stacy's nephew, Matt, also visit the station occasionally. In the second season, three new children visit the station: Harry's granddaughter, Kara; Stacy's nephew, Dan; and a new girl named Becky.

Other visitors to the station include various townspeople, such as socialite and gossip Midge Smoot, farmer Ginny Johnson, general store proprietor Barton Winslow, bus driver Felix Perez, Shining Time's mayor Osgood Bob Flopdinger (referred to as the mayor of East Shemp in his initial appearance), and J.B. King, Esq., the superintendent of the Indian Valley Railroad.

There is a jukebox inside the arcade that houses a band that perform for the nickels that are dropped inside. The band consists of Didi the drummer, cowboy twin brothers Tex and Rex who together play between them one guitar larger than them, Grace who plays bass guitar, and Tito the leader who plays the piano and collects the nickels they accumulate.

Mr. Conductor is a tiny man who lives in a switch house inside the station's mural and tells the stories of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends to the kids. He can teleport in a cloud of his magic gold dust.

Cast

Series Regulars

• Didi Conn - Stacy Jones
• Brian O'Connor - Horace Schemer

Season 1 Regulars

• Ringo Starr - Mr. Conductor
• Leonard Jackson - Henry "Harry" Cupper
• Jason Woliner - Matthew "Matt" Jones
• Nicole Leach - Tanya Cupper

Christmas Special Characters

• Ardon Bess - Tucker Cupper
• Lloyd Bridges - Mr. Nicholas
• Judy Marshak - Claire
• Rachel Miner - Vickie

Seasons 2-3 Regulars

• George Carlin - Mr. Conductor
• Erica Luttrell - Kara Cupper
• Ari Magder - Dan Jones
• Danielle Marcot - Becky
• Tom Jackson - Billy Twofeathers

Recurring Characters (Full Series)

• Jerome Dempsey - Mayor Osgood Bob Flopdinger
• Mart Hulswit - J.B. King, Esq.
• Bobo Lewis - Midge Smoot

Recurring Characters (Season 2-3)

• Barbara Hamilton - Ginny
• Jonathan Shapiro - Schemee
• Gerard Parkes - Barton Winslow
• Aurelio Padrón - Felix Perez

The Jukebox Puppet Band

• Olga Marin - Didi
• Alan Semok/ Rory Dodd - Tex
• Craig Marin - Rex
• Jonathan Freeman - Tito Swing
• Peter Baird/ Kenny Miele/ Vanesse Thomas - Grace the Bass

The Jukebox Band Songs

Song	Episode(s)
I've Been Working on the Railroad	A Place Unlike Any Other
Camptown Races	Does It Bite?
Railroad Corral	Pitching in And Helping Out
Abilene	Agree to Disagree
Pop Goes the Weasel	Whistle While You Work
A Railroaders Bride I'll Be	Two Old Hands
The Wreck of Old '97	Happy Accidents
The Train Is A Comin'	Ring In The Old
The Desperado	Finders Keepers
Union Train	Just Wild About Harry's Workshop
Oh! Susanna	Promises, Promises
Jesse James	Word's Out
Casey Jones	Too Many Cooks
Red River Valley	Mapping It Out
Clementine	Things That Go Ga-Hooga! in the Night
Little Black Train	Is This the End?
Midnight Special	Scare Dares
Mama Don't Allow	Oh, What a Tangled Web
Nine Hundred Miles	The Magic is Believing
Arkansas Traveler	Win, Lose or Draw
Erie Canal	Sweet and Sour
Cosher Bailey's Engine	Achoo!
Home on the Range	A Dog's Life
Take Me Out to the Ballgame	Field Day & Second Chances
Sweet Betsy from Pike	Wrong Track
Cumberland Gap	Washout
John Henry	Crackpot
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean	Nickle in a Pickle
She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain	Stop the Press
I Dream of Jeanie	He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
This Train	Double Trouble
Chattanooga Choo Choo	Is Anybody There?
The Railroad Cars Are Coming	All's Fair
Celito Lindo	Becky Makes a Wish
Polly Wolly Doodle	Schemer Alone
Jamaican Farewell	Bully for Mr. Conductor
Five Hundred Miles	Stacy Cleans Up
Strollin' Through the Park	Schemer's Robot
Get on Board	Billy Saves the Day
We Gather Together	Billy's Party
Turkey in the Straw	Fortune Teller Schemer
Crawdad	Schemer Goes Camping
Danny Boy	Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin
Patriotic Medley	Mr. Conductor's 4th of July
Lullaby Medley	Stacy Forgets Her Name
Old Joe Clark	Schemer's Special Club
No Business Like Show Business	Mr. Conductor's Movie
Waltzing Matilda	Mysterious Stranger
Michael Row Your Boat Ashore	Dan's Big Race
Beautiful Dreamer	Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk
Cowboy Medley	How The Station Got Its Name
Freight Train Blues	Mr. Conductor Gets Left Out
Cannonball Blues	The Mayor Run For Re-Election
Engine 143	Bad Luck Day At Shining Time Station
Riddle Song	Dance Crazy
This Old Man	The Joke's On Schemer
Old Dan Tucker	''Stacy Says No!
Lonestar Trail Medley	Once Upon A Time
Buffalo Gals Medley	Once Upon A Time
What's New Pussycat?	Once Upon A Time
Christmas Time At The Railway Station	Tis A Gift
Jingle Bells	Tis A Gift
Over The River And Through The Woods	Tis A Gift
If My Friends Could See Me Now	One Of The Family
Long, Long Ago	One Of The Family
This Land Is Your Land	One Of The Family
Down in the Valley	Second Chances
Skip To My Lou Medley	Second Chances
The Lovely Ohio	Queen For A Day
Greensleeves/Scarbarough Fair	Queen For A Day
Mrs. Murphy's Chowder	Queen For A Day

Series' segments

• Flexitoons Puppets & Marionettes - Jukebox Band Concert
• Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends - narrated by Ringo Starr & George Carlin
• Occasionally an episode might have a cartoon/video (usually accompanied by a song) from the picture machine (an old-fashioned arcade film machine), the Anything Tunnel (a tunnel in the station mural), a magic bubble, or if any adult told a story besides Mr. Conductor

Episodes

Season One (1989-1990)

#	Title	Thomas story 1	Thomas story 2
1	A Place Unlike Any Other	Thomas Gets Tricked	Edward Helps Out
2	Does it Bite?	Come Out, Henry!	Henry to the Rescue
3	And the Band Played Off	A Big Day for Thomas	Trouble for Thomas
4	Pitching In and Helping Out	Thomas Saves the Day	James Learns a Lesson
5	Show and Yell	Foolish Freight Cars	A Proud Day for James
6	Faith, Hope and Anxiety	Thomas and the Conductor	Thomas Goes Fishing
7	Agree to Disagree	Terence the Tractor	Thomas and Bertie's Great Race
8	Whistle While You Work	Tenders and Turntables	Trouble in the Shed
9	Two Old Hands	Percy Runs Away	Thomas Comes to Breakfast
10	Happy Accidents	Henry's Special Coal	The Flying Kipper
11	Ring in the Old	Toby the Tram Engine	Thomas Breaks the Rules
12	Impractical Jokes	A Cow on the Line	Old Iron
13	Finders Keepers	Double Trouble	James in a Mess
14	Just Wild About Harry's Workshop	Duck Takes Charge	Percy Proves a Point
15	Promises, Promises	Better Late Than Never	Pop Goes the Diesel
16	Words Out	Diesel's Devious Deed	A Close Shave for Duck
17	Too Many Cooks	Gordon Takes a Dip	Down the Mine
18	Mapping it Out	The Runaway	Percy Takes a Plunge
19	Things That Go Gahooga in the Night	Percy's Ghostly Trick	Woolly Bear
20	Is This the End?	Saved from Scrap	A New Friend for Thomas

Christmas Special (1990-1991)

#	Title	Thomas story 1	Thomas story 2
21	'Tis a Gift	TV: Terence the Tractor VHS: Thomas' Christmas Party	TV: Thomas' Christmas Party VHS: Thomas & The Missing Christmas Tree

Season Two (1991-1992)

#	Title	Thomas story 1	Thomas story 2
22	Scare Dares	Percy's Ghostly Trick	Thomas, Percy and the Dragon
23	Oh, What a Tangled Web	Diesel's Devious Deed	No Joke For James
24	The Magic is Believing	Old Iron	Edward's Exploit
25	Win, Lose or Draw	Double Trouble	Gordon and the Famous Visitor
26	Sweet and Sour	Donald and Douglas	The Deputation
27	Achoo!	Trust Thomas	Whistles and Sneezes
28	A Dog's Life	James in a Mess	The Trouble with Mud
29	Field Day	Percy Proves a Point	Thomas and Bertie's Great Race
30	Wrong Track	Thomas Saves the Day	Down the Mine
31	Washout	Bertie's Chase	Percy's Promise
32	Crackpot	Woolly Bear	Henry's Forest
33	Yabba, Yabba, Yabba	Pop Goes the Diesel	Diesel Does It Again
34	Nickel in a Pickle	Thomas Comes to Breakfast	Thomas Gets Bumped
35	Stop the Press	Percy and the Signal	A Big Day for Thomas
36	He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not	Thomas, Percy and the Mail Train
37	Double Trouble	The Diseasel	Donald's Duck
38	Is Anybody There?	Thomas Goes Fishing	A Scarf for Percy
39	Do I Hear?	Mavis	Toby's Tightrope
40	Jingle, Jingle, Jingle	Time for Trouble	Trouble for Thomas
41	All's Fair	Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party

Season Three (1993-1994)

#	Title	Thomas story 1	Thomas story 2
42	Becky Makes a Wish	All at Sea
43	Schemer Alone	Percy, James and the Fruitful Day
44	Bully for Mr. Conductor	Bulgy
45	Stacy Cleans Up	James Goes Buzz Buzz
46	Schemer's Robot	Tenders and Turntables	Trouble in the Shed
47	Billy Saves the Day	A New Friend for Thomas
48	Billy's Party	Thomas and Percy's Mountain Adventure
49	Fortune Teller Schemer	Thomas and the Conductor	A Cow on the Line
50	Billy's Runaway Train	A Close Shave for Duck	The Runaway
51	Schemer Goes Camping	Percy Takes the Plunge
52	Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin	Heroes
53	Bad Luck Day at Shining Time Station	Gordon Takes a Dip
54	Mr. Conductor's 4th of July	Escape
55	Stacy Forgets Her Name	Thomas Gets Tricked
56	Schemer's Special Club	Oliver Owns Up
57	Mr. Conductor's Movie	Tender Engines
58	The Joke's on Schemer	Daisy	Wrong Road
59	Dance Crazy	Percy Runs Away	Percy's Predicament
60	Mysterious Stranger	Come Out, Henry!	Henry to the Rescue
61	Dan's Big Race	Henry's Special Coal	The Flying Kipper
62	Mr. Conductor Gets Left Out	One Good Turn	A Proud Day for James
63	Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk	Saved from Scrap	Better Late Than Never
64	The Mayor Runs for Re-Election	James Learns a Lesson	Foolish Freight Cars
65	Stacy Says No!	Edward Helps Out	Duck Takes Charge
66	How the Station Got Its Name	Toby the Tram Engine	Thomas Breaks the Rules

TV specials (1995-1996)

#	Title	Thomas story 1	Thomas story 2
1	Once Upon a Time	Rusty to the Rescue	Thomas & Stepney
2	Second Chances	Granpuff	Sleeping Beauty
3	One of the Family	Toad Stands By	Thomas & the Special Letter
4	Queen For a Day	Thomas Meets the Queen	Special Attraction

Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales (1997-1998)

#	Title	Story 1	Story 2	Story 3	Story 4	Story 5	Song
1	Paint the Town Red	Come Out, Henry!	Fish	Whistles and Sneezes	Henry & the Elephant	Bulldog	Let's Have a Race
2	Splish, Splash, Splosh	Passengers and Polish	Gallant Old Engine	Bertie's Chase	Peter Sam & the Refreshment Lady	You Can't Win	Gone Fishing
3	Missing Whistles	Bulls' Eyes	Train Stops Play	Percy's Ghostly Trick	Thomas, Percy & the Dragon	Special Funnel	Really Useful Engine
4	Wildlife	Four Little Engines	Daisy	Saved From Scrap	Rusty Helps Peter Sam	Percy's Predicament	Toby
5	For the Birds	A Bad Day for Sir Handel	Percy Proves a Point	Bowled Out	The Diseasel	Steamroller	Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover
6	Wish You Were Here	Thomas, Percy & The Mail Train	Mind That Bike	Rock N Roll	Home at Last	Thomas & The Special Letter	Island Song

Merchandising

• Stacy Cleans Up Volume 1
• Schemer Alone Volume 2
• Bully for Mr. Conductor Volume 3
• Becky Makes a Wish Volume 4
• Sweet and Sour Volume 5
• Billy's Party Volume 6
• Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin Volume 7
• Schemer's Special Club Volume 8

Thomas & Friends Ertl Trains

1989-1990

• Thomas
• Edward
• Henry
• Gordon
• James
• Percy
• Toby
• Annie and Clarabel
• Henrietta
• Duck
• Diesel
• The Express Coaches
• The Old Coaches
• Troublesome Trucks
• Milk and Tar Tankers
• The Breakdown Train

1991-1992

• Bill
• Ben
• Donald
• Douglas
• Daisy
• Boco
• Mavis
• Oliver
• City Of Truro
• Sodor Mail Coaches
• Toad

1993-1994

• Sodor Fuel Wagons

Thomas & Friends Trains

In 1989 when Shining Time Station was to begin, Thomas was a success in USA and The Lionel Train Company who made big scale 1 trains made several sets. These trains are 43mm gauge which is the closest commercially available to the ones used for filming (When the TV shows started Gauge 1 (37mm) models based on Marklin mechanisms were used) The original Gauge 1 (G scale) sets are becoming collectable particullarly original 1993 sets with the play mat and yellow track. In 1994 James the Red Engine with Troublesome Trucks followed in G scale. A re-release of Thomas in G followed in 2000, using sets made outwith the US. These later sets are distinguishable by the brown railway sleepers and interchangeable couplings (bachmann style included).

G Scale

• Thomas with Annie and Clarabel
• James with the Troublesome Trucks
• Separate Sale Troublesome Truck
• Accessory Pack-Set included the Sound System, a 4 1/2' by 7 1/2' Playmat, Sir Topham Hatt and Railway Staff figures, and three Thomas facial expressions
• Yellow track was also made for the Thomas G scale line, and packs of track was sold separately with 4 Straight or Curved Track.
• A Track Kit was made, which included four straight track, four curved track, and a Left and Right Switch Track.
• Also, a model of Wellsworth, the windmill, and a watertower was made, and sold all together in a pack.

O Scale

• Thomas the Tank Engine with Annie and Clarabel
• Percy the Small Engine
• James the Red Engine
• Thomas Expansion Pack
• Sodor Freight Expansion Pack
• Devious Diesel
• Sir Topham Hatt Gateman
• Iron Arry and Bert

HO Scale

• Orriginally produced by Hornby, the Thomas line is now available in the US from Bachmann Industries. The current lineup includes figures, structures, locomotives, and rolling stock. Most of the locomotives have eyes that will look side to side as the train moves. Most of the popular trains are available and are part of the "Standard" series.

Books

• A book was written by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow, featuring the Juke Box Band, entitled, "This Old Band," published by Quality Family Entertainment in 1994.

Syndication

United States

• PBS (1989-1998)
• Fox Family (1998-1999)
• Nick Jr. (Nickelodeon) (2000)

Canada

• YTV (1990-1998/99)
• TVO (1999-2000)
• APTN (2000-01)
• Both TVO and APTN aired only the last two series of STS. The main reason that STS aired on APTN was due to the fact that Tom Jackson (Billy Twofeathers) stared on the show.

Ireland

• TV3 (1999-2003)

Trivia

• Shining Time is seen in the movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Didi Conn plays Stacy again, but Tom Jackson's role as Billy was handed over to Russell Means. The new Mr. Conductor is played by Alec Baldwin.
• All of the Shining Time Station episodes only ever have three sets: the main room of the station, the workshop, and the interior of the station's jukebox, where the Jukebox Band resided. This changed in the specials, in which scenes took place outside, in the signal house, and in a large basement-type room that may or may not be part of the station building.
• The train seen in both the opening and closing credits is the real locomotive, the Union Pacific 844.
• The "Rainbow Sun" mentioned in the theme song is the name of Billy Twofeathers' train.
• Every episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends from seasons 1 through 4 was told by Mr. Conductor, at least once, over the course of all 3 seasons as well as the family specials and Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales.
• For reasons unexplained, in the episode "Washout" when Mr. Conductor tells the story "Bertie's Chase" the beginning (Edward waiting for Thomas) was omitted. This scene was also omitted from the James In A Mess picture book for unexplained reasons, but in the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, "Splish, Splash, Splosh", and in all VHS and DVD releases, the episode is in its entirety.
• When Shining Time Station was aired on Nickelodeon it was aired to promote Thomas And The Magic Railroad.
• When the show aired on Fox Family, it used the credits from the TV Specials but episodes were edited significantly so they could fit the time slot.
• In the Station is a huge wall painting, which resembles WPA paintings of the 1930s.

Funding

Funding for the show was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the financial support of the viewers/stations of PBS

References

External links

• A very popular Shining Time Station fan site
• Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
• Shining Time Station at Internet Movie Database
• Shining Time Station at TV.com
• An informational guide to Shining Time Station