The first series of the British children's television series Thomas & Friends premiered in the United Kingdom on ITV on 9 October 1984. Based on The Railway Series books by Wilbert Awdry and narrated by Ringo Starr, the series focuses on the daily adventures of various anthropomorphic steam locomotives as well as other vehicles living on the fictional Island of Sodor. The season was produced by Clearwater Features Ltd. for Britt Allcroft (Thomas the Tank Engine) Ltd. and Central Independent Television.
In the United States, the first series premiered in 1989 as part of Shining Time Station, with Starr re-recording portions of each story (except "Whistles and Sneezes") with American railway terminology (i.e. "trucks" to "freight cars"). Many stories were also re-titled for home video releases. After Starr left the show, American comedian George Carlin was cast to narrate all episodes from the first series to the fourth series.
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