Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends - Salty's Secret Reviews

• New Thrilling Thomas Stories, New Characters on Sodor

  
  By A1ZDBXLPZ11CBS on 2002-09-13
  There's lots of work on the Island of Sodor and sometimes Sir Topham Hat needs to bring more engines and equipment onto help out, Alec Baldwin's narrator explains in the opening of this latest (as of September 2002) Thomas installment. Well, we've come a far way from the series' usual anti-Labor party themes of working until your wheels fall off, just being happy that you have a job, and understanding that if you complain, you're going to be locked in a shed. (Don't you think Alec's agent should inform him of the conflict between the actor's leftist politics and Sir Topham Hat's fascist regime?)

  Okay, okay, adults aren't the intended audience, but I had to throw that out there (since it's true).

  There is some marketing strategy going on here, though. Kids are introduced to three new characters: Harvey, a cool "lift" engine produced from mixing the DNA of James and Cranky (though how he's ever going to make it through a railway tunnel is beyond me); Salty, a nice diesel (don't you miss the days when one could count on a diesel being evil?) that the ever-over-the-top Alec Baldwin has given the accent of Rip Torn's pirate from "Summer Rental"; and Elizabeth, the series's last attempt to increase sales of non-train vehicles (good luck). The highlight here, however, is the long-awaited crash of Harold the Helicoptor (though he does manage to lose it over a nice, soft pile of hay ).

  Well, my kids love this stuff (and obviously I've seen too much of it, too), and with DVD, there's no rewinding. In addition, this disc does not contain the usual five minutes of introductory ads. Highly recommended.
  
  

• Salty's Secret and Other Thomas Adventures

  
  By on 2002-09-01
  Salty's Secret is the latest Thomas & Friends Videos. These Six stories tell us about Friendship, teamwork, and Fun.

  Salty's Secret: Salty the Diesal has a secret that everyone on the island wants to know. Join Thomas & Mavis as they meet Salty and discover the secret Bill and Ben are tryig to still figure out.

  Harvey to the Rescue: No one will socilize with Harvey the Crane Engine because of his weird Crane on the back of him. But Thomas and Sir Topham Hat assure him he's Special,and when he rescues a derailed Percy, all the engine think that different is okay.

  No Sleep for Cranky: While working at the docks Cranky drops a pile of pipes on the track, which stalls traffic until Harvey clears the load. After a long night of Salty's Sea tails, Cranky is happy to get back to work.

  The Fogman: When a new Foghorn blows to loud it creates a avalanche on the line. The Foghorn is buried in the Rubble and can't warn Thomas of the Peril ahead. But, thanks to Cyril's detanators he warns Tobey before he crashes to. Sir Topham Hat relizes that Cyril's detanators is more reliable than the Foghorn.

  A Bad day for Harold: Percy's Favorite job is delivering the mail, but when he gets stuck at a Broken siganl Harold must take the load. But when the load gets to heavy he crases into a hay stack Percy comes to his side.

  Elizabeth the Vintage Quarry Truck: While taking a load to the Docks Thomas' cside Rods Break. While looking for help Thomas' Driver finds a misterious steam powered quarry Truck that helps pull the couplings needed for Thomas. When Thomas arrives at the Docks Elizabeth arives and he relizes Elizabeth and Sir Topham Hat are old friends.

  After these episodes watch the Music Video James the Really Splended Engine.
  
  

• Awesome Thomas video!!!!!!!!!!

  
  By A110LZFBUFYWN7 on 2004-09-19
  Salty's Secret was another good one. It introduced Salty, the dockyard diesel, and Harvey, the crain engine. When Harvey makes his first appearance in Harvey to the rescue, his voice sounds normal. But when he makes his second appearance in No Sleep For Cranky, he sounds very fancy-talking. This video also introduces Elizabeth, the vintage Quarry truck. Here are the stories:
  
  Salty's Secret 4.5/5:
  Salty comes to work at the Island of Sodor, but instead of working by the docks like he wanted, he will be working at the Quarry instead. Although sad, Salty realizes that there is work to be done and gets to work immediately. The other engines are surprised at how well Salty handles the freight cars and they just can't seem to figure out his secret.
  
  Harvey To The Rescue 4/5:
  Another new engine arrives at the Island of Sodor and his name is Harvey, the crain engine. The other engines find him very different looking at start talking about him. This makes Harvey sad and he doesn't want to work on the Island of Sodor anymore. But soon enough, Harvey will get his chance to prove to the other engines that, although he may look different, he is still just as useful.
  
  No Sleep For Cranky 4.5/5:
  Cranky never gets to sleep at all, he has to work all the time. This makes him very cranky, hints the name. One day Cranky gets mad with Bill & Ben and causes an accident. He is then stuck with Bill, Ben, and Salty all night long.
  
  The Fogman 5/5:
  Cyrrel the fogman has a very important job to do on the Island of Sodor, he sets explosive caps on the tracks to warn the engines of heavy fog. One day, Sir Topham Hatt shows the engines a new invention, the fog horn. This will be replacing Cyrrel, leaving him jobless. But Sir Topham Hatt soon realizes that Cyrrel is clearly more reliable than the fog horn.
  
  A Bad Day For Harold 5/5:
  Percy loves taking the mail train, it is the most important job Sir Topham Hatt has given him. But Harold must take the mail instead of Percy one day due to a broken signal. Harold is too busy teasing Percy than paying atention to what he is doing and he ends up crashing.
  
  Elizabeth The Vintage Quarry Truck 4.5/5:
  Thomas must deliver a load to the docks by sunset. Everything is going so well until he breaks his coupling rods. They end up at an old abandoned shed where his driver and fireman go inside, hoping there's a phone in there. But they find something else instead which Thomas thinks is a ghost.
  
  James The Really Splendid Engine(Music Video) 6/5:
  A great music video about James. It would've been great on the Best of James video.
  
  And there's all the stories from Salty's Secret. I'd recommend this video, it's a good one. :)
  
  

• "YO, Ho, Ho, and a bucket o' prauns. The tiller spins..."

  
  By on 2002-09-27
  This video is great! It features three new characters, all new stories, and one new music video! Salty is an old diesel who tells tales of the sea. Harvey is a unique looking steam engine who has a big crane placed on his boiler, which he is often teased about. Elizabeth is a steam powered quarry truck who was Sir Topham Hatt's first truck and she is quite concited, which often annoys Thomas!

  Salty's Secret: Salty, a dock yard diesel, comes to help Mavis, Bill and Ben complete a very important job for Sir Topham Hatt. Salty is upset that the work is in the quarry because he can't be at the docks. Still, he helps get the job done succesfuly. Meanwhile, Bill and Ben are jealous of Salty because the trucks only behave for him. They are still trying to figure out his secret. In the end, Salty is moved to Brendam docks because of his hard work.

  Harvey To The Rescue: Sir Topham Hatt introduces Harvey, the crane engine, to the other engines. He explains that the Railway Board will let Harvey join the railway after a demonstration. Thomas is pleased to meet Harvey, but Percy, Gordon, Edward, James, and Henry tease him about his giant crane. Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt assure Harvey that his different looks make him "Special". Later, some trucks push Percy off the tracks at Bulgy's Bridge, blocking the road below. This makes Bertie late getting the gentlemen of the Railway Board to Harvey's demonstration. So Sir Topham Hatt goes to get Harvey to rescue Percy. Harvey does his demonstration at the bridge. Harvey not only saves Percy and the trucks, but he also gets to join the railway! Later that night, the engines decide Harvey is realy useful.

  No Sleep For Cranky: Cranky never gets any sleep, which is why he's always rude. While holding some pipes, Salty, Bill and Ben start to get on his nerves. Cranky accidentally drops the pipes which role into the shed, trapping Salty and the twins. Cranky winds up listening to Salty's stories all night. Finally the next day, Harvey comes to rescue Salty, Bill and Ben. Cranky is now grateful Harvey works on the railway. For a little while, Cranky is nicer to Thomas, Percy, Salty, Harvey, Bill and Ben. But it doesn't last long!

  The Fogman: Cyril is the Sodor fogman of Misty Valley. All the engines love him. He puts out detanators to warn them when there is fog ahead. It makes their axles tingle. But Sir Topham Hatt decides to replace their trusted fogman with a very loud fog horn. When it goes of for Percy, it causes a rock slide. The fog horn is crushed and is unable to warn Thomas, who crashes into the rockslide. With Toby coming and no foghorn, Toby could have an even worse accident! So Cyril comes to the rescue with a fog detanator to warn Toby. Toby is stopped and Thomas is later rescued by Toby and Percy. Sir Topham Hatt agrees with them that Cyril is much more reliable, so he puts him back on the job.

  A Bad Day For Harold: Percy is upset when Harold has to take his place in the mail route. Ignoring his pilot's advice, Harold takes all of the mail bags at once. But their weight causes damage to his engine and Harold crashes upside down in a haystack. As quickly as possible, Percy proves to Harold that he is just fast as goes for help.

  Elizabeth the Vintage Quarry Truck: While taking a special to the docks, Thomas breaks his coupling rods. After finding Elizabeth, an old and very rude steam truck, his driver and fireman set out to the fitters yards. Thomas is gald to be rid of her for while when he is given his new side rods. After reaching the docks, Elizabeth arrives to find Thomas talking to Sir Topham Hatt. They recognize each other right away. Thomas can't believe they're old friends! After some repairs, Elizabeth comes out looking as good as new and more concieted than ever! Thomas still doesn't like her company, too.

  Music Video: James the Really Useful Engine:

  "He's the really useful engine everybody knows,
  But he does go on and on and on, always letting us know!
  He really is a splendid fellow, but he really is quite vain.
  Who do we need? Ya got it. James!

  Take a look, who's comin' down the tracks!
  Make way for James! Hooray for James!
  Shiny, shiny paint with a checked black stack!
  Make way for James! Hooray for James!
  A tacky feelin', you really should not,
  He's really beautiful, but let's take a vote.
  He's the really splendid engine with the bright, red coat!

  Heeeeeerrrrre he cooooommmmesss!
  He could brag all day 'bout how fast he goes,
  How good he looks, he's such a pose.
  But whatta 'bout the time that he was covered in mud.
  Oh, what a joke! What a duze!
  But up and down the line, you'll here the others say,
  despite his vanity, he really is okay.
  Dependable, reliable and seldom late!
  We all think James is great!

  Speedin' down the line as we're rushing last!
  Make way for James! Hooray for James!
  Hang on to ya hat as he whooshes past!
  Make way for James! Hooray for Jmaes

  He really knows how to stay at the show.
  You gotta stand back and watch him go!
  He's the really splendid engine with the bright red coat!

  He's makin' his way on down the tracks.
  Make way for James! Hooray for James!
  He never looks up. He never looks back!
  Make way for James! Hooray for James!
  A tacky, beaten and really quite vain,
  He knows we love 'em just the same!

  Look who's comin' on down the tracks!
  Make way for James! Hooray for James!
  Shiny, shiny paint with a checked black stack!
  Make way for James! Hooray for James!

  He's the really splendid engine!
  Shiny, shiny engine!
  He's the really splendid engine! Yep, that's are James!

  That's James!
  
  

• NEWEST THOMAS VIDEO IS COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  
  By on 2002-10-22
  This video is very cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and so are the new storys and the music video

  Salty's Sceret
  Harvey To the Rescue
  No Sleep For Cranky
  The Fogman
  A Bad Day For Harold
  Elizabeth The Vintage Quarry Truck
  James The Really Splendid Engine (music video)

  This video is so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  BUY IT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  

• Probably one of the best Thomas videos!
  By A1Z54EM24Y40LL on 2005-06-14
  We love this video. Salty is especially neat and shows the viewers that even though you may not enjoy what you're doing right now, pretty soon you'll be rewarded for your hard work and get to do what you enjoy. Salty is sent to the quarry to help out and gets the job done so very fast and impresses Sir Topham Hat. Salty is able to keep the troublesome trucks in line and is the only engine able to do so. In the Fogman story, when Hatt tries to replace Seral with a machine to warn the engines of fog, it causes a disaster and Seral gets his job back. Percy helps Harold when he crashes to the ground and learns how to be a true friend.
  
  We watch this video over, and over and over... It is just so very cute and well done. Highly recommend!
  
  
• thomas
  By on 2002-11-05
  BEST DVD EVER!!!! IF YOU EVER JUST WANT TO LET YOUR CHILD BE...AND EXPERENCE UNINTERUPTED BLISS...THOMAS IS A GOD-SENT! YOUR BOY OR GIRL WILL DROOL OVER THIS MOVIE... GREAT BUY
  
  
• Salty's Secret Not As Good As Other Thomas Videos
  By on 2002-12-03
  Salty's Secret is shorter than most Thomas videos, a mere 34 minutes. Most children's videos are about 45 minutes long. It has promos in front, too. Alec Baldwin is not as good at narrating as George Carlin. My son loves our other Thomas videos, but he seemed a bit bored by this one. Thomas videos with toys are [inexpensive] at Walmart, so it's a bit pricey.
  
  
• All new adventures!
  By AI30K6WW5MOGI on 2003-04-11
  Thomas & his friends have some new adventres to share with you!
  Meet 3 new friends Salty, Harvey & Elizabeth! Discover Salty's secret & help Harvey prove that even unique engines are really useful. Also watch as Sir Topham hatt meets his old friend, Elizabeth the steam truck, once again! The stories are Salty's secret, Harvey to the rescue, No sleep for Cranky, The fogman, A
  bad day for Harold, Elizabeth the vintage quarry truck & James the really splendid engine (Music video) I hope you will enjoy it!
  
  
• Great DVD!
  By A1Z54EM24Y40LL on 2005-05-12
  What a very, very cute DVD this one is! Salty is just really neat and provides a great deal of entertainment for my little one. He's got one of those Scottish seaman accents, complete with a couple of missing front teeth, and is just a delight to watch. Alec Baldwin narrates this one and does a wonderful job on Salty's voice. Really, really cute and we watch this one over, and over, and over...
  
  All of the stories are very well done and it's very nice to see stories about Cranky again. Salty calls crabby folks around Sodor "Captain" which makes my little one laugh each time. Cranky is the "captain" in this movie.
  
  Highly recommend this one!
  
  
• The BEST so far...
  By on 2003-03-10
  I liked Salty's Secret more than a few of the other videos in the past. What makes this video so unique is that each individual story was written by a different person, allowing a greater variety of stories to be told on multiple scales, each with it's own special uniqueness. Some using slapstick, some using repitition, but all essentially with a secret message. Another thing I like about this video is the narration of Alec Baldwin. In this film he uses the word "trucks" instead of the overly-used "freight cars". The words "freight cars" just sounds too American, and it was really easy to understand what he meant by him just blatantly saying "trucks". Overall, the new locations, characters, and themes make this video probably the best video to date.
  
  
• thomas RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  By on 2003-10-03
  salty's secret:Salty loves the sea and is disappointed when he finds his new job is at the quarry.Much to Bill,Ben and Mavis'supise he handles the troublesome trucks so well that he finishes the job in no time.

  Harvey to the rescue:Harvey the new crane engine must prove himself worthy of joining the railway and when percy has an accident harveys help proves to be the best demonstration of his usefulness to the team.

  No sleep for cranky:Cranky learn a lesson when he drops some pipes in the shed inn a tantrum but it doesn't last long and he soon drops another load on the rails!

  The fogman:one day in foggy misty vally the fat controller replaces cyril with a foghorn that is so loud that rocks fall and block the tracks and crush the foghorn.thomas can't see a thing and crashes but cyril comes to the rescue!

  Bad day for harold the helicopter:when Haroldhas a very bad day and he crashes into a haystack(unhurt)it is up to percy.

  Elizabeth the vintage lorry:upon discovering an old steam lorry called Elizibeth in a shed the fat controller decides to restore her to her original beauty.
  
  

• New engines, no new showings
  By on 2004-02-19
  I liked this movie much better than my last one but I hated that they would make more charecters when they haven't even shown Bertram and Thumper from Spills Chills and other Thomas Thirlls. What about Edward? He has no real big parts in this movie. Salty was a neat engine. I bought 2 newer tapes and not a single one had Harvey a different crane engine. I get alot of vidios but the song "James The Really Splended Engine" is very catchy. I was startled at Harvey's voice in "No Sleep For Cranky". I like the way in another movie Salty is almost like a wise gruff salor. The other story's The Fogman, A Bad Day For Harold, and Elizabeth The Vintage Quary Truck were okay. I gave the movie a three because I thought it was good but I have seen better.
  
  
• great movie
  By on 2005-02-21
  Salty's Secret:In this episode,a diesel named Salty,who loves the sea,get's a job at the quarry.but Salty was glad when he was assined a job at the docks.In Harvey to the rescue,Harvey is said to not be useful;even by Edward!!!!
  
  
  
• Thomas gets new friends
  By on 2005-09-28
  Saltys secret is a great tape to add to your seires of thomas videos the storys on the tape feature a new chracter in almost every story my brother and sister were always woundering when are thare going to be new chracters wean we were at the store one day they baged us to get so we did we all enjoyed the storys on the tape the best is harvey to the rescue but the new charcter elzibaeth was jest plain rude none us relly liked her but anyway if you have a new thomas fan in your family looking for new chracters buy this p.s. New friends for thomas has more
  
  
• Go Salty!!!
  By A20F6WHACP65CK on 2006-01-27
  As usual you cannot go wrong with Thomas - Kids learn morals and manners in an easy to listen and view forum.
  
  
• Great New Friends
  By on 2006-07-03
  In this movie you'll meet Salty the desiel ngine, Harvey the Crane Engine, And Elizibeth, Sir Thoppam's first truck. Watch Salty do work he really doesn't to very quikly, watch Harvey rescue Percy in two good ways, watch Cranky the crain cause a silly accident. Wath what happens when a new fog horn, uum, well might destroy itself. Watch happens wen the mail is to heavy for Harold. And find out what happens Thomas'es driver discover a vintage Quarry Truck
  
  
• Thomas Rocks!
  By on 2002-10-04
  This video rules! It features 3 new Charactors: Salty the Diesel, Harvey the crane engine, and Elizebith the Vintage Quarry Truck. The Episodes are:
  +Salty's Secret
  +Harvey to the Rescue (I love this episode!)
  +No Sleep for Cranky
  +The Fogman
  +A Bad Day for Harold
  +Elizabeth the Vintage Quarry Truck
  and a music video.
  
  
• Thomas has 3 new friends in this video!
  By A1DTOHMM2Y5KY0 on 2002-10-26
  Over the past 6 years I have benn watching several Thomas videos. This one is the newest and I think the most fun to watch with my kids.

  They were relly glad to see new cast memeber like Salty, who works at the Brendham Docks with Bill and Ben.

  Also they met Harvey the crane engine and watch him rescue James, and finally Elisabeth shows up and the cast is complete.

  Overall this video is a refreshing surpise with all nee epsiodes and a new song paying tribute to James - well done.
  
  

• Great Interactive Fun
  By A38DCAOZ6M0WUP on 2002-11-05
  I usually dislike TTT but my son (age 4) thinks they are excellent. I bought this one when my child was poorly. At the time I thought this was overpriced. However, I feel this is well worth the money.

  This DVD is a huge improvement on the early TTT stories, but what my child enjoys the most are the games he can access, as well as the read along story.

  all in all, an excellent DVD.
  
  

• It's no secret, Salty's Secret is great!!!
  By A3IE4QUY4FL6IV on 2003-01-18
  Another great job! This DVD is loved by all 5 of my kids. (Ages 2,3,5,7,8) Of course the 7 and 8 year olds won't admit it. And according to the two year old his name is not Thomas it is Mamus. The storys are good as alwasys but the DVD has some great extras. The kids love the Sir Toppem hat scrap book. And the James Song is very cute. (Much better then some of the songs on other Thomas tapes.) This is a must have for your toddlers collection.
  
  
• Cool Video!
  By on 2003-01-20
  In this video, I saw in Salty's Secret that Salty is a new engine at the Island Of Sodor and Bill and Ben ask him to work in a quarry and Salty loves telling tales about the docks and when he pushes cars, he sings with a beat. And in Harvey to the rescue Percy has a trouble with freight cars and Harvey is on the way to rescue Percy. Oh, and speaking of new Thomas videos, me and my friend Brian have been inventing some new engines and we sent them to Totally Thomas depot.And then Totally Thomas passed them onto the people who make the trains. And I made a new video that will be probably released on July 5, 2003. It's called "Johnny's Crazy Talks." It has all the characters we invented. It also has some old characters that have been made but their in the video now. The characters are Johnny the fluroscent green colored engine, Joe the breakdown train, and some characters that haven't been on any thomas video but I'm putting them in the video. Like Sixteen, and Lord Harry. And when I'm done with my video, I'll review a little more about it.
  
  
• adult dvd???
  By A18JV9STCXZMHE on 2003-01-22
  we could have saved the money for this dvd, because my 4 year old son stood up in the middle, explains, that it is for adults and never wants to see it again. Scence with old boats and fog frightend him.(Friends told me simalar storys about other thomas dvds.)
  
  
• Salty's Secret
  By on 2003-02-06
  This video wasn't what I thought it would be. It was better. Every story was great! My favorite story was Salty's Secret. I couldn't care less for the last story but that's not enough to change my opinon. This is one of the best tapes!
  
  
• Great!!!!
  By on 2003-02-23
  Salty's Secret: Salty is a dockyard diesel. What he doesn't know is that he is going to work at Center Island Quarry with Bill, Ben, and Mavis. He can actually handle the Troublesome Trucks!
  Harvey to the Rescue: Harvey is a steam engine who has a crane on his boiler. All the engines except Thomas jump to the wrong conclusion.
  No Sleep for Cranky: Cranky is having a very bad day. He has to work all night and through the day. Salty comes with Bill and Ben and tells them a story. Cranky gets so cranky that he swings his arm and drops the pipes on to the tracks. The pipes roll into a pole and the roof on the engine shed falls down and traps the engines.
  The Fogman: Seerul the Fogman warns engines of fog ahead, because there might be rocks on the track. Sir Thopham Hatt replaces Seerul with a foghorn.
  A Bad Day for Harold: Percy gets held up at a broken signal and Harold has to take the mail for Percy.
  Elizabeth the Vintage Quarry Truck: Thomas is delivering important freight. He goes so fast that his coupling rods break. They see a shed. They find a rude steam truck named Elizabeth.
  If you want to find out the ends to these stories and what Salty's secret is watch the video yourself.
  
  

• Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends - Races, Rescues & Runaways
• Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends - Cranky Bugs & Other Thomas Stories
• Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends - James and the Red Balloon
• Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends - New Friends For Thomas
• Thomas & Friends: Thomas and the Toy Workshop (Full)