Shining Time Station is a train station that resides on the Indian Valley Railroad. The station is managed by Stacy Jones whose grandmother ran the station when she was Stacy's age. The station's engineer is Harry Cupper (Billy Twofeathers after the first season). There are some kids who visit the station as well: Harry Cupper's granddaughters Tanya (S1) and Kara (S2-3), Stacy's nephews Matt (S1) and Dan (S2-3), and Becky. A local named Schemer runs the arcade and is always finding new ways to make more money or to protect his arcade, which he considers his "castle". Then there is a Jukebox inside the arcade that houses a band that performs for the nickels that are dropped inside. The band consists of Didi the percussionist, the twins Tex and Rex who simultainiously play a guitar larger than them, Grace who mostly plays bass, and Tito the leader who plays the piano and collects the nickels they accumulate. Finally, there is Mr. Conductor. An 8 inch tall man who lives in a switch house inside the mural and tells stories of the Island of Sodor to the kids. These stories are told to teach them a lesson, encourage them to do something, teach them not to be afraid or just to relate to something that's going on at the station. He is magical in that he comes and goes in a cloud of his magic gold dust.
Occasionally an episode might have a cartoon/video (usually accompanied by a song) from the picture machine, anything tunnel, a magic bubble or if any adult told a story besides Mr. Conductor
Season 2 was delayed because producers needed to find new kids to continue the show's run. The series was famous in North America.
The show ran from (1989-1993) with four 1-hour specials in 1994
Note: Ari Magder is often credited as "Ari D. Magder", but this is incorrect. The Ari Magder on Shining Time Station is actually Ari Joseph Magder. Ari D. Magder is a camera operator who is not related to the actor Ari Magder.
Episodes
Season One (1989-1990)
NOTE: The Thomas stories that have appeared in Season One are named by their original titles.
A Place Unlike Any Other (Thomas Stories: Thomas Gets Tricked and Edward Helps Out)
Does It Bite? (Thomas Stories: Come Out, Henry! and Henry To the Rescue)
And the Band Played Off (Thomas Stories: A Big Day For Thomas and Trouble For Thomas)
Pitching In and Helping Out (Thomas Stories: Thomas Saves the Day and James Learns a Lesson)
Show and Yell (Thomas Stories: Foolish Freight Cars and A Proud Day For James)
Faith, Hope and Anxiety (Thomas Stories: Thomas and the Conductor and Thomas Goes Fishing)
Agree to Disagree (Thomas Stories: Terence the Tractor and Thomas and Bertie's Great Race)
Whistle While You Work (Thomas Stories: Tenders & Turntables and Trouble In The Shed)
Two Old Hands (Thomas Stories: Percy Runs Away and Thomas Comes to Breakfast)
Happy Accidents (Thomas Stories: Henry's Special Coal and The Flying Kipper)
Ring in the Old (Thomas Stories: Toby the Tram Engine and Thomas Breaks the Rules)
Impractical Jokes (Thomas Stories: A Cow On the Line and Old Iron)
Finders Keepers (Thomas Stories: Double Trouble and James In a Mess)
Just Wild About Harry's Workshop (Thomas Stories: Duck Takes Charge and Percy Proves a Point)
Promises, Promises (Thomas Stories: Better Late than Never and Pop Goes the Diesel)
Words Out (Thomas Stories: Diesel's Devious Deed and A Close Shave For Duck)
Too Many Cooks (Thomas Stories: Gordon Takes a Dip and Down the Mine)
Mapping It Out (Thomas Stories: The Runaway and Percy Takes The Plunge)
Things That Go Ga-Hooga! in the Night (Thomas Stories: Percy's Ghostly Trick and Woolly Bear)
Is This The End? (Thomas Stories: Saved From Scrap and A New Friend For Thomas)
Season Two (1991-1992)
NOTE: The Thomas stories that have appeared in Season Two and Three are named by their US titles.
21. Scare Dares (Thomas Stories: Percy's Ghostly Trick and Thomas, Percy, & the Dragon)
22. Oh, What a Tangled Web (Thomas Stories: Diesel's Devious Deed and No Joke For James)
23. The Magic is Believing (Thomas Stories: Old Iron and Edward's Exploit)
24. Win, Lose, or Draw (Thomas Stories: Double Trouble and Gordon and the Famous Visitor)
25. Sweet and Sour (Thomas Stories: Donald & Douglas and The Deputation) Available On VHS
26. Achoo! (Thomas Stories: Trust Thomas and Whistles and Sneezes)
27. A Dog's Life (Thomas Stories: James in a Mess and The Trouble With Mud)
28. Field Day (Thomas Stories: Percy Proves a Point and Thomas and Bertie's Great Race)
29. Wrong Track (Thomas Stories: Thomas Saves the Day and Down The Mine)
30. Washout (Thomas Stories: Bertie's Chase and Percy's Promise)
31. Crackpot (Thomas Stories: Woolly Bear and Henry's Forest)
32. Yabba, Yabba, Yabba! (Thomas Stories: Pop Goes the Diesel and Diesel Does it Again)
33. Nickel in a Pickle (Thomas Stories: Thomas Comes to Breakfast and Thomas Gets Bumped)
34. Stop the Press (Thomas Stories: Percy and the Signal and A Big Day for Thomas)
35. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (Thomas Story: Thomas, Percy, & the Mail Train)
36. Double Trouble (Thomas Stories: The Diseasel and Donald's Duck)
37. Is Anybody There? (Thomas Stories: Thomas Goes Fishing and A Scarf for Percy)
38. Do I Hear? (Thomas Stories: Mavis and Toby's Tightrope)
39. Jingle, Jingle, Jingle (Thomas Stories: Time for Trouble and Trouble for Thomas)
40. All's Fair (Thomas Story: Edward, Trevor, & the Really Useful Party)
Season Three (1993-1994)
Becky Makes a Wish (Thomas Story: All At Sea) Available On VHS
Schemer Alone (Thomas Story: Percy, James, & The Fruitful Day) Available On VHS
Bully for Mr. Conductor (Thomas Story: Bulgy) Available on VHS
Stacy Cleans Up (Thomas Story: James Goes Buzz Buzz) Available On VHS
Schemer's Robot (Thomas Stories: Tenders & Turntables and Trouble In The Shed)
Billy Saves The Day (Thomas Story: A New Friend For Thomas)
Billy's Party (Thomas Story: Thomas & Percy's Mountain Adventure) Available on VHS
Fortune Teller Schemer (Thomas Stories: Thomas and the Conductor and A Cow on the Line)
Billy's Runaway Train (Thomas Stories: A Close Shave For Duck and The Runaway)
Schemer Goes Camping (Thomas Story: Percy Takes a Plunge)
Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin (Thomas Story: Heroes) Available On VHS
Bad Luck Day at Shining Time Station (Thomas Story: Gordon Takes a Dip)
Mr. Conductor's 4th of July (Thomas Story: Escape)
Stacy Forgets Her Name (Thomas Story: Thomas Gets Tricked)
Schemer's Special Club (Thomas Story: Oliver Owns Up) Available On VHS
Mr. Conductor's Movie (Thomas Story: Tender Engines)
The Joke's on Schemer (Thomas Stories: Wrong Road and Daisy)
Dance Crazy (Thomas Stories: Percy's Predicament and Percy Runs Away)
Mysterious Stranger (Thomas Stories: Come Out, Henry! and Henry to the Rescue)
Dan's Big Race (Thomas Stories: Henry's Special Coal and The Flying Kipper)
Mr. Conductor Gets Left Out (Thomas Stories: One Good Turn and A Proud Day For James)
Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk (Thomas Stories: Saved From Scrap and Better Late than Never)
The Mayor Runs for Re-Election (Thomas Stories: James Learns a Lesson and Foolish Freight Cars)
Stacy Says No! (Thomas Stories: Edward Helps Out and Duck Takes Charge)
How the Station Got Its Name (Thomas Stories: Toby the Tram Engine and Thomas Breaks the Rules)
Special
'Tis A Gift (Television: Thomas Stories: Terence the Tractor and Thomas' Christmas Party) (Video: Thomas Stories: Thomas' Christmas Party and Thomas And the Missing Christmas Tree) (Available on VHS)
Schemer Presents: The World According to Me (No Thomas Stories) (Available on VHS)
TV specials (1995-1996)
Once Upon a Time (Thomas Stories: Rusty To The Rescue and Thomas & Stepney)
Second Chances (Thomas Stories: Granpuff and Sleeping Beauty)
One of the Family (Thomas Stories: Toad Stands By and Thomas & The Special Letter)
Queen For a Day (Thomas Stories: Thomas Meets The Queen and Special Attraction)
Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales (1997-1998)=
1.) VOLUME ONE
Thomas Stories:
Come Out, Henry!
Fish
Whistles and Sneezes
Henry and the Elephant
Bulldog
Song: Let's Have a Race
2.) VOLUME TWO
Thomas Stories:
Passengers & Polish
Gallant Old Engine
Bertie's Chase
Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady
You Can't Win
Song: Gone Fishing
3.) VOLUME THREE
Thomas Stories:
Bulls Eyes
Train Stops Play
Percy's Ghostly Trick
Thomas, Percy, & the Dragon
Special Funnel
Song: Really Useful Engine
4.) VOLUME FOUR
Thomas Stories:
Thomas Goes Fishing
Bowled Out
Saved From Scrap
The Diseasel
Home At Last
Song: Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover
5.) VOLUME FIVE
Thomas Stories:
Daisy
A New Friend For Thomas
Thomas and Stepney
Four Little Engines
A Bad Day for Sir Handel
Song: Toby
Merchandising
These are the home video releases of Shining Time Station. All of them are on VHS.
Tis a Gift (Christmas Special)
Sweet and Sour
Stacy Cleans Up
Schemer Alone
Bully for Mr. Conductor
Becky Makes a Wish
Billy's Party
Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin
Schemer's Special Club
A Day In The Life Of The Jukebox Band. (video only)
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 distinguisable by the brown railway sleepers and interchangeable couplings (bachmann style included). In total 3 sets were offered between 1993 and 2001-
Thomas with Annie and Clarabel
James with the Troublesome trucks
Deluxe Thomas with Annie and Clarabel- playmat and figures
Staring in 1999 Lionel has produced several O scale models of The Thomas the Tank Engine characters and several starter sets.
Starter sets:
1999-2000 Thomas with Annie and Clarabel and Harold on Flatbed with 3-D Station house on playboard
2000 Thomas with Annie and Clarabel Circus with animals and 3-D tent on playboard
Individual Items from 1999:
Percy The Saddle Tank Engine
Troublesome Trucks 1 and 2
A G-Scale Thomas The Tank Engine set was offered again starting in 2001
In 2004 Lionel made a new version of the Thomas O-gauge starter set. This set featured a Lionel exclusive of that three extra faces were included so the operator could change Thomas expression and the eyes in the front move from side to side.
In 2005 the Troublesome Trucks #1 and 2 were re-released this time with darker faces and a Tidmouth milk car and Sodor mining Co. car of American styling were released. These items were released either as separate items or as part of an expansion pack.
Late 2005 brought about the rerelease of Percy with three separate faces.
2006 brought about a second expansion pack which contains:
A flatcar with Harold the Helicopter on it
A Sodor Gondola car with a load of canasters
A S.C. Ruffey model
A Sodor Boober caboose
and four straight pieces of Fasttrack
2006 brought the planned release of James with three different faces for the O-gauge market.
2007 brings the release of a Sir Topham hatt flagman crossing & Devious Diesel with 3 different faces for the O-Gauge Market.
(Originally Mavis was featured in Lionel's 2007 catalog before the switch to Diesel.
Reasons for the change are unknown.)
While Shining Time was in production David Mitton and Robert D. Cardona were working on Thomas's sister series TUGS
After the Episode "Tis a Gift", the original Mr. Conductor played by Ringo Starr went to live with Mr. Nicholas at the North Pole. Mr. Conductor's cousin, played by George Carlin, took his place.
In the TV specials, Mr. Conductor's whistle and magic dust sound different from the sounds in Seasons 2 and 3. Both are lower-pitched. The whistle's pitch went from A to E.
During the series run, people referred to this station as "There's just something about this place." The something is Mr. Conductor and episodes such as "Is this the End?" have featured characters other than the kids that know Mr. Conductor.
In the episode "Washout", when the Thomas story "Bertie's Chase" is shown, the first scene (Edward waiting for Thomas) is omitted.
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 signalhouse, and in a large basement-type room that may or may not be part of the station building.
In his comedy special You Are All Diseased, George Carlin verbally attacks children, and comments "Remember, this is Mr. Conductor talking. I know what I'm talking about."
Mr. Conductor visits the Jukebox Band at least once in every special of Shining Time Station.
In the third special, One of The Family, the Thomas story (Thomas & The Special Letter) is the 100th episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.
Mr. Conductor has a name tag on his uniform in the TV Specials.
In Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales it seems that Mr. Conductor has a dog named Nessie and a goldfish.
The train seen in both the opening and closing credits is a real engine known as the Union Pacific 844.
In the third special, it is revealed that Didi likes Mr. Conductor.
In the opening, Shining Time is listed as having a population of "5,006 give or take". Coincidentely, those same words appear on the Shining Time welcome sign in Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
In the ending, the sign says "You're leaving Shining Time. Come Back Soon!"
Shining Time Station was the last children's show Joe Raposo composed for, before his death. He was replaced by the composer for Reading Rainbow, Steve Horelick who was the music director for Shining Time Station.
Beginning in season 3 Didi Conn wore a wig as Stacy Jones.
United States
PBS (1989-98)
TV3 (2000-)
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