<P> Thomas 's on - screen appearances in the TV series were developed by Britt Allcroft . The first series of 26 stories premiered in October 1984 on the ITV Network in the UK , with former Beatles drummer / vocalist Ringo Starr as storyteller . The stories were featured as segments as part of Shining Time Station in the US beginning in 1989 with Starr as the show 's Mr. Conductor character . From 1991 to 1993 , George Carlin replaced Starr as both the storyteller and as Mr. Conductor for Shining Time Station . Carlin also told the Thomas stories for Shining Time Station in 1995 . </P>
<P> Thomas 's on - screen appearances in the TV series were developed by Britt Allcroft . The first series of 26 stories premiered in October 1984 on the ITV Network in the UK , with former Beatles drummer / vocalist Ringo Starr as storyteller . The stories were featured as segments as part of Shining Time Station in the US beginning in 1989 with Starr as the show 's Mr. Conductor character . From 1991 to 1993 , George Carlin replaced Starr as both the storyteller and as Mr. Conductor for Shining Time Station . Carlin also told the Thomas stories for Shining Time Station in 1995 . </P>
how long has thomas the train been on tv
how long has thomas the train been on tv
1984
1984