Shining Time Station

Shining Time Station is an American children's television series co-created by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow. The series was produced by The Britt Allcroft Company and Quality Family Entertainment in New York for New York City PBS Station WNET, and was filmed first in New York City and then in Toronto. It incorporated sequences from the British TV show Thomas & Friends. The series aired on PBS from January 1989 to June 1993, but aired re-runs until 1997. It aired on Fox Family from 1998 to 1999. It also aired on Nick Jr. in 2000 and on Canadian TV networks such as APTN and SCN. Elements from the show were incorporated into the Thomas the Tank Engine film Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

Shining Time Station (1989-1995) is an American children's television series co-created by Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow for PBS station WNET in New York. Stacy Jones (Didi Conn) and her young relatives, including Matt Jones and Dan Jones, find their way into a magical train station run by Mr. Conductor, voiced and played in different appearances by Ringo Starr and George Carlin. Alongside them are Billy Twofeathers (Tom Jackson), a storyteller with a warm, grounded presence, and the Cupper family, with Kara Cupper (Erica Luttrell) and Tanya Cupper (Nicole Leach) bringing youthful energy. Each episode blends live-action scenes set around the station with sequences borrowed from the British series Thomas and Friends, so trains become the vehicles for small moral lessons about kindness, honesty and imagination. The engine of the show is simple: a child's problem appears, the station's characters respond, and a train-based story resolves it gently. Across three seasons and seventy-five episodes, the tone stays cozy, whimsical and reassuring, with a soft fantasy atmosphere that feels like a fairy tale told by a friendly conductor. Filmed first in New York City and then in Toronto, it is a family-friendly children's series in the tradition of PBS educational programming. Fans of Thomas and Friends, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and Sesame Street will find similar warmth and gentle learning.

• Thomas & Friendsgentle family puppetry and whimsical train-set storytelling for young children
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhoodgentle educational children's tone with life lessons in a cozy community setting
• Sesame Streetwarm live-action and puppet hybrid for young viewers with friendly recurring characters

Created by

Britt Allcroft, Rick Siggelkow

Release Date

1989-01-29

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

8.1 / 10 (11)

What is Shining Time Station about?

A young city boy and his friends explore a magical train station where kindly characters and rail-based stories teach children lessons about kindness and imagination.

What is Shining Time Station like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shining Time Station as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Shining Time Station violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Shining Time Station.

Which shows are like Shining Time Station?

Shows with a similar feel include Thomas & Friends, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and Sesame Street.

How long is Shining Time Station?

Shining Time Station: 3 seasons, 75 episodes.

Is Shining Time Station still running?

No, Shining Time Station has ended.