A long-lost Thomas the Tank Engine game for the Commodore 64 has finally surfaced, more than three decades after it quietly vanished during development.
Back in the early 1990s, Thomas the Tank Engine 2 appeared repeatedly in Commodore Format magazine’s Early Warning Scanner, but never progressed beyond brief mentions. With no screenshots or follow-up coverage, it was widely assumed to be vapourware.
In reality, the game was very real — and largely finished.
How come it wasn’t released?
Developed around 1990 by Clockwize for publisher Alternative Software, Thomas the Tank Engine 2 was based on the book The Race, featuring Thomas competing against Bertie the bus. Unlike many budget titles of the era, the design needed to closely follow existing source material and remain simple enough for younger players.
According to developer Dean, the project spanned multiple platforms. He handled the design, coded the ZX Spectrum version, and ported it to the Amstrad CPC with entirely new graphics. Graphics duties were shared with Lee Burns, who created the intro story images and title screens. The Commodore 64 and Atari versions were handled by Dave, with graphics shared between Dave and Lee.
Despite the game reaching the final mastering stage by 1992, Clockwize’s financial difficulties and a later dispute with Alternative meant none of the conversions were ever released.
Thankfully, Dean retained final builds of the game and later backed up the C64 and Spectrum versions. While previous attempts to release the recovered versions stalled, the Commodore 64 edition has now finally been made available, allowing players to experience a children’s game that should have arrived back in 1991 or 1992.
Choo-choo, Thomas
I’ll freely admit this story hits a personal sweet spot. I’ve always liked Thomas the Tank Engine, and only recently ended up discussing the endlessly debated location of Sodor on my Kasterborous podcast. It’s one of those cultural artefacts that somehow spans generations, mediums, and levels of seriousness.
Seeing a lost Thomas game resurface on the Commodore 64 feels oddly appropriate, especially right now, when a new C64 is shipping. It’s a reminder of just how many licensed titles never made it past the planning or mastering stage — especially on home computers, where budgets were razor-thin and publishers could pull the plug without warning.
It’s another reminder of just how many completed games from the 8-bit era slipped through the cracks — and a welcome recovery for Commodore 64 preservation efforts.
You can read more about this at GamesThatWerent.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
