What is the history of the long running PBS show Shining Time Station?

Answer 1

The long running PBS children's program Shining Time Station began entertaining television audiences on Sunday morning, January 29, 1989, where they brought Thomas the Tank Engine to the United States. Created by the team of Britt Allcroft and Rick Siggelkow, and made its debut on PBS as part of a children's programming block that included Long Ago and Far Away, which is hosted by James Earl Jones.

Shining Time Station starred Ringo Starr as Mr. Conductor, along with Didi Conn as Stacy Jones, Leonard Jackson as Harry, Nicole Leach as Tanya, Brian O'Connor as Schemer, and Jason Woliner as Matt. All of the episodes took place at Shining Time Station on the Indian Valley Railroad, along with the Flexitoon Puppets as the Jukebox Band, and stories from Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends that is told by Mr. Conductor. When the show debuted on January 29, 1989, Darrell Waltrip won the Daytona 500, and Hank Parker won the 19th annual Bassmaster Classic.

Following the departures of Ringo Starr and Leonard Jackson at the end of Season 1 (1989), George Carlin joined the cast in Season 2 (1991) as Mr. Conductor, who would later star in a spinoff called Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales in 1996, along with Danielle Marcot as Becky, Ari Magder as Dan, Tom Jackson as Billy Twofeathers, and Erica Luttrel as Kara.

Shining Time Station's June 11, 1993 finale, which is one of the most watched show closes in history, where Public TV viewers tuned in to say goodbye, and returned for family specials in 1995. Even its theme song was written by Joe Raposo, and performed by Kevin Roth.