Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine is an anthropomorphised fictional tank locomotive in the British Railway Series books by Wilbert Awdry and his son Christopher, published from 1945. He became the most popular and famous character in the series, and is the titular protagonist in the accompanying television adaptation series Thomas & Friends and its reboot Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go. Thomas is a locomotive on The Fat Controller's North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor alongside Edward the Blue Engine, Henry the Green Engine, Gordon the Big Engine, James the Red Engine, Percy the Small Engine, Toby the Tram Engine, and many other locomotives. Thomas is based on the LB&SCR E2 class. Thomas first appeared in 1946, in the second book in the series Thomas the Tank Engine, and was the focus of the four short stories contained within. In 1979, British writer and producer Britt Allcroft came across the books, and arranged a deal to make the television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (later simplified to Thomas & Friends). The programme became an award-winning hit around the world, with a range of spin-off commercial products.