Thomas & Friends: Building the New Line

About

Thomas & Friends: Building the New Line lets you design and manage railway tracks for classic engine characters. You take control of Thomas, James, Edward, or Percy to lay down routes, adjust switches, and troubleshoot obstacles. The goal is to help the North Western Railway expand its network by completing tasks assigned by Sir Topham Hatt. Once tracks are built, switch to play mode to watch trains run your system and ensure everything stays on schedule. The game mixes planning with hands-on execution, requiring attention to layout efficiency and character-specific behaviors. The charm lies in its straightforward approach to railway simulation, catering to younger audiences or fans of the franchise. Customization options are modest but effective, focusing on logical track placement rather than complex mechanics. Though dated by today’s standards, its gentle pace and clear objectives make it a low-stress build-and-manage experience. A built-in tutorial guides new players through basics, and the satisfaction of a smoothly running line remains consistent. Released in 2002, it holds up as a simple but rewarding entry in the series.

Storyline

Sir Topham Hatt decides that the North Western Railway is in need of a new branch line to make operations run smoother. He assigns either Edward, James, Thomas, or Percy with helping build the new line and run errands across it. Afterwards, a grand opening ceremony is held to celebrate the new line's completion.