Shining Time Station

Shining Time Station (1989-1993) was an American PBS spinoff of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends series, although it was co-created by Britt Allcroft. The series returned as Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales in 1997.

A Place Unlike Any Other

Mr. Conductor: What's your name?

Matt: Mat--Matthew--M-- Matt!

Mr. Conductor: Or is it Matthew-Matt-Matthew? And you may call me Mr. Conductor. Well, you're a good worker. You know who'd like you? My friend Thomas.

Matt: Thomas lives in there with you?

Mr. Conductor: Dear me, no! Thomas is a steam engine, and he lives on the Island of Sodor. You are interested in trains, aren't you?

Matt: Yes, sir.

Mr. Conductor: Splendid. Then I'll tell you a story about my friend Thomas. You do like stories, don't you?

Matt: Oh, yeah.

Mr. Conductor: Very well. But first, I have to find my whistle.

[he looks in his pockets for his whistle and finds it]

Mr. Conductor: Ah! Here we go!

[he blows his whistle and the first story begins]

---

Mr. Conductor: If you've come back to clean the windows, they haven't had a chance to get dirty!

Matt: Where'd you go before?

Mr. Conductor: Railroad work takes me everywhere, Matt. You don't spend a lot of time in one place. It's a traveling business. I was just off traveling with Edward.

Matt: Who's Edward?

Mr. Conductor: You don't know Edward?! Of course you don't know Edward! If you didn't know Thomas, how could you know Edward? I'll tell you a story about Edward.

---

Harry: There's just something about this place.

Scare Dares

Matt: Dear Cousin Dan, I can't wait for you to get here. Shining Time Station is busier than ever.

Tanya: Dear Cousin Kara, guess what? Our grandfather Harry is transferred to Fort Farley, so Shining Time Station has a new engineer. His name is Billy Twofeathers.

Matt: But Schemer is still Schemer, and you know what that means. And Aunt Stacy's fine, and she's really happy running the station. A man named Mr. Nicholas came to visit us at Christmas Time. Mr. Nicholas needed help at his workshop, so when he went back to his home at the North Pole, Mr. Conductor went along with him.

Tanya: But then, Mr. Conductor's cousin arrived. There's always a Mr. Conductor living here, or else it wouldn't be Shining Time Station. See you on Halloween. Love, Tanya.

Matt: When you get here. Your cousin, Matt.

---

Mr. Conductor: Tanya Lasanya and Matt the Hatt!

Things That Go Ga-Hooga! in the Night

Schemer: It's the real man with his head on backwards! It's the real man with his head on backwards! (screams and jumps over the desk)

Stacy: Was that Schemer?

Harry: I do believe it was.

Stacy: Were his clothes on backwards?

Harry: I do believe they were.

Bully for Mr. Conductor

• Buster: Just you wait! After I tell my dumb uncle what happened, I'll be able to draw on the walls all I want. Oh, hi Uncle J.B. I was just telling them how well you run the railroad.

The Magic is Believing

Becky: Neat! How does a doll like that run? On batteries?

Mr. Conductor: STOP IT!! I don't come with batteries!

Becky: Yikes! It's a real little man!

Dan: We've been telling you, it's Mr. Conductor!

Kara: Now do you believe in magic?

Becky: I do. I do. I do!

Is This The End?

• Mr. Conductor: Now, I think it is getting time for me to leave.
• Matt: Not yet. Please, not yet.
• Mr. Conductor: Now, let me tell you both something. (he removes his hat and dries his forehead with his hankerchief) No matter what happens, we will always be friends.
• Tanya: Promise?
• Matt: Promise?
• Mr. Conductor: It's a promise! Good-bye, now. Good-bye. (he leaves without his hat)
• Tanya: Wait! You forgot your hat.
• Matt: It's too late. Now he's gone forever.

(Mr. Conductor apparently returns right before the end of the episode to reclaim his hat. This was Ringo Starr's final appearance as Mr. Conductor (if you don't count "Tis a Gift".)

• Matt: Mr. Conductor. Did you hear the news?
• Mr. Conductor: Yes, I'm afraid I have, Matt.
• Tanya: What's wrong with Shining Time Station?
• Mr. Conductor: The railroad thinks it's old fashion.... Yes, old fashion. Just like my friend Trevor.
• Matt: What happen to Trevor?
• Mr. Conductor: (Referring to the "Saved From Scrap" story) Well, I'll tell you the story, because he has a sad beginning, but a happy ending. Maybe it can cheer us all up.

(He blow his whistle and start the "Thomas Story: Saved From Scrap".)

'Tis A Gift

Mr. Conductor: Oh! There's Midge Smoot! Don't tell her a secret. She's sure to leak it!

Stacy Forgets Her Name

Stacy: Tell me, do I know you?

Dan: Of course you know me. I'm your nephew, Dan.

Stacy: Oh, hi. Nice to meet you, Dan. (they shake hands as Mr. Conductor appears)

Mr. Conductor: Hi, Dan. Hello, Stacy. (Stacy looks at him)

Stacy: AAH! A little man! (she hides behind the information desk)

Dan: Aunt Stacy, come back! It's only Mr. Conductor! (Mr. Conductor disappears, then reappears on the information desk. Stacy reacts)

Mr. Conductor: You don't have to be afraid of me. My name is Mr. Conductor. And I've known you since you were Dan's age. I knew your parents when they were Dan's age. I live here in the signal house on that mural.

Too Many Cooks

Matt: Mr. Conductor, how can Schemer make mistakes we still like we only did? You know sorry or anything?

Mr. Conductor: We may not learn anything. But you have learned about helping people and Gordon had learned the same thing. Lucky thing for Thomas that he did too. But let me begin at the beginning.

Field Day

Matt: Well, Schemer did pay for the uniforms. (Mr. Conductor appears on his baseball bat)

Tanya: Maybe they'll look better when they're on. (Matt moves his bat, but Mr. Conductor falls, but a baseball mitt breaks his fall)

Kara: Mr. Conductor, are you okay?

Matt: Sorry, Mr. Conductor. I didn't see you there. (Mr. Conductor gets back on his feet, unharmed)

Mr. Conductor: Oh, that's all right, Matt. Yes, Kara, I'm as right as rain. I landed as a soft pop fly I might say.

---

Mr. Conductor: Yes that's a good move. I've got 'em now. Oh, so that's a plan eh? We'll just see about that.

Becky: Who is he playing that game?

Billy: Maybe by himself.

Tanya: And that one too.

Billy: Something like that you never do.

Mr. Conductor: My that was clever. I was expecting that. You win, thank you. Good game thank you. There's nothing like playing a game against a skillful of warm. But wouldn't you be out playing baseball?

Kara: The game's not for a while yet.

Dan: And anyway, we're gonna lose.

Mr. Conductor: Well you certainly will with that attitude. Imagine of Thomas had felt like in that of a famous race against Bertie.

Kara: Did Thomas win?

Becky: Tell us, Mr. Conductor.

Mr. Conductor: I will.

Mr. Conductor's Movie

Stacy: Ladies and gentlemen, cast and friends, Shining Time Station is proud to present... Oh. Mr. Conductor, what's your title?

Mr. Conductor: Producer/director.

Stacy: No, no, no, no. I mean, the title of the movie.

Mr. Conductor: Oh. "A Little Light Madness".

Stacy: ...Proud to present, "A Little Light Madness", starring... starring everyone.

Double Trouble

• Mr. Conductor: He's not me!
• Evil Mr. Conductor: Yes, I am!
• Mr. Conductor: I'm much taller!
• Evil Mr. Conductor: No, you're not!
• Mr. Conductor: You're fatter, though.
• Evil Mr. Conductor: No, I'm not! We're the same!
• Mr. Conductor: We're not the same at all!
• Evil Mr. Conductor: Yes, we are!
• Mr. Conductor: No, we're not!
• Evil Mr. Conductor: Yes, we are!
• Mr. Conductor: I can prove it! That cutout fits my outline perfectly. It won't fit yours.
• Evil Mr. Conductor: Will too!
• Mr. Conductor: Will not!
• Evil Mr. Conductor: Will too!
• Mr. Conductor: Be my guest!

(the Evil Mr. Conductor runs over to the cut out space where he used be a picture and lies down in it)

• Evil Mr. Conductor: You'll see that I'm you, then you'll know that it's true.

(Mr. Conductor throws his magic dust on the Evil Mr. Conductor)

• Mr. Conductor: GOTCHA!

(the Evil Mr. Conductor turns back into a picture)

Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin

Evil Mr. Conductor: I won't go back! Not this time! A broken promise is not a crime.

Kara: Well, then, I'll tell on you.

Evil Mr. Conductor: Tell. Go ahead. They'll just get angry and send you to bed.

---

Evil Mr. Conductor: Stick him quick! He'll get away!

Mr. Conductor: Wait! I'm me! He's not!

Evil Mr. Conductor: Stick him with that gluey pot!

Kara: Which one of you's Mr. Conductor?!

Evil Mr. Conductor: ME!

Mr. Conductor: ME!

Kara: Your whistle!

Evil Mr. Conductor: My whistle?!

Mr. Conductor: My whistle!

(the evil Mr. Conductor blows his whistle, which sounds like it used to be for the real one's whistle, and the real Mr. Conductor blows his whistle, which is still at its low toot. Kara pours the glue on the evil Mr. Conductor)

Evil Mr. Conductor: NO!!!!

(he turns back into a picture)

Mr. Conductor: YES! Thank you, Kara. If you hadn't recognized my whistle, we'd have never gotten out of this mess!

Is Anybody There?

(Schemer sees Mayor Flopdinger glaring at him and remembers something)

• Schemer: Hello, everyone, we got a special birthaday announcement for the mayor; it's the mayor's birthday today-
• Mayor Flopdinger: No, it's not my birthday, it's my wife's birthday!
• Schemer: I'm sorry, it's his wife's birthday- her name is Tuna Melt, and she's crispy on the outside, and she's soft on the inside. That's her name, and-
• Mayor Flopdinger: Her name is Twylene! Hello, Twylene, dear. It's me, Twylene, yes, your husband!

Billy Saves the Day

• Mr. Conductor: Everyone has something special to offer, but you never know it unless you give them a chance to show you.

Crackpot

• Mr. Conductor: I don't think it matters on what will collect. To all of it was not straw.
• Kara and Becky: Straw?
• Mr. Conductor: (referring to Woolly Bear) Haven't I told you about the time Percy ended up with a big straw collection and didn't wanted it? (The girls shook their heads.) No? Well then I'll tell you now. (Blows the Whistle)

Stacy Cleans Up

Dan: Well I reckon the garbage fly like honey bee. I haven't bees like James, bees only stung when they're angry. Garbage flies like dirty smell.

The Joke's on Schemer

• Gordon: It's not fair!
• Edward: What isn't fair?
• Gordon: Letting branch line diesels pull Main Line trains!
• Edward: Never mind, Gordon. I'm sure Boco will let you pull his cars sometime.
• Gordon: I won't pull Boco's dirty cars! I won't run on branch lines.
• Edward: Why not? It would be a nice change.
• Gordon: Sir Topham Hatt would never approve. Branch lines are vulgar!

Sweet and Sour

Midge: Kids, we'll see ya at the garden party.

(she turns to Schemer)

Midge: As for you, Schemer, if you ever, ever, EVER try, or even THINK of trying, or consider, pulling such a stunt again, I personally will bring every member of the Friends of the Flowering Cactus Ladies' Auxillary down here to picket your arcade! And that is no JOKE!

(she and the ladies drop Schemer to the floor, then marched out of the station)

Schemer: Wait a minute. "Friends of the Flowering Cactus Ladies' Auxillary"?! My mommy is in that group!

(he and Schemee run quickly out of the station)

Schemer: Hey, Midge! (screams) MIDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Schemer's Alone

Mr. Conductor: Well, I'm here to work. What's our first step?

Billy: Uh, your first step, Mr. Conductor, is to watch your step. That shelf hasn't been...

[the shelf comes off, and Mr. Conductor slides down]

Billy: ...nailed in.

Stacy: Mr. Conductor, are you all right?

Mr. Conductor: All right?! I appear for work and fall off a shelf? I've had better jobs, I'll tell ya.

External links

• Shining Time Station quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• Shining Time Station at TV.com
• TV.com - Shining Time Station: 'Tis A Gift