Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (simply referred tae as Thomas & Friends or Thomas the Tank Engine) is a Breetish children's television series. In the U.K. it haed its first broadcast on the ITV network in Great Britain in 1984. In the U.S. it haed its first broadcast on Shining Time Station in 1989. It is based on The Railway Series of books bi the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. Thir books follae the adventures o a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books war based on stories Wilbert told tae entertain his son, Christopher, during his recovery frae measles. Mony of the stories frae the first fower series are based on events frae Awdry's personal experience.