Thomas the Tank Engine - Train character featured on the five-minute children's show called THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE AND FRIENDS, first produced in England in 1982. It featured life-like model trains with personality and problems of their own. In 1989, PBS network produced an expaned live-action of the British series. Former Beatle, Ringo Starr (and later George Carlin in 1992) appeared as a tiny train conductor known as Mr. Conductor who lived in a painting in an enchanted train station. The American adaption also inlcuded Didi Conn as Stacey Jones, the station manager; Brian O'Connor as Schemer; Leonard Jackson as Harry, the engineer; Nicole Leach as Tanya; Jason Wolimer as Matt; and Rusty the train (featured in the video Rusty to the Rescue & Other Thomas Stories who debuted in January of 1995).