Alright Everyone, So, as you've probably already picked up, I'm a HUGE fan of Thomas the Tank Engine. I love the original Railway Series and the TV Series a lot, so this question is a little hard to ask. What's my question? It's this: Does Thomas the Tank Engine Misrepresent the Railroad Industry? Now, I'm speaking in regards to the current seasons and the Sharon Miller Era (Seasons 8-16 and 22 onward...), as I believe the Railway Series and the first 7 seasons and Seasons 17-21 portray the Railroad Industry during the early 20th Century quite well. (Heck, many of the stories in the RWS could've very easily taken place at the time the stories were published.) But during the Sharon Miller Era (Seasons 8-16), we had things like mistransportation of cargo like perishables being carried in open wagons, AND FREAKING BALLOONS ON FLATBEDS!!! HOW CAN IT GET ANY WORSE THAN BALLOONS ON FLATBEDS??!!
And While Season 22's pretty good, don't get me wrong, Thomas the Tank Engine is doing things like going around the world, BY HIMSELF, going in a loop-de-loop in Utah, and just being a real selfish jerk. Not to mention he brought an engine home WHO ALREADY HAD A RAILWAY TO BEGIN WITH!!! At this point, I'm simply ranting, so I want to ask: Do YOU think Thomas misrepresents the Railroad Industry?

OK, I'll take the bait this time....

I suppose you could nitpick Thomas ad infinitum very easily if you were so inclined. It's been done here numerous times. My position - If it helps little kids develop a life long interest in railroading, I'm good with it.

Real trains do not have faces....strike one.

Sure they do. A hat that lights up, two glowing eyes, big round nose and a smile:

Isn't Thomas unrealistic by nature? I think the important thing is that it gets young kids interested in trains, and brings revenue in for museums through the Day out with Thomas event.

I think Tweetsie12 is asking the wrong question. For me, the question should be, "Is Thomas holding us back? Is Thomas the best we can get in mass marketing and in generating interest? Or are we going to always be 'boys who play with toys?' Will we always be juvenile by association?"

And arguably, some of this could apply to The Polar Express as well.

I'll also add that the series has been on a long time now; I do think writers can and do grow stale with the subject matter, especially something like this.

I haven't been to the island of Sodor, so I don't know how they railroad. So I for one am in no position to judge!

Also, it is British. They don't railroad anything like Americans...

That revenue is declining...

Getting mad that a show primarily aimed at toddlers that teaches the virtues of sharing and asking for help misrepresents the railway industry is like getting mad that Minecraft vastly simplifies the process of smelting.

Thomas makes money, isn't that what RR's are all about?

Good Point. I suppose in that regard, Thomas represents the railroad industry PERFECTLY.,