Thomas the Tank Engine: Entertaining Children for 65 Year

When most us us think of Thomas the Tank engine, we think of the children's show featuring Thomas and his friends on the Island of Sodor. This incredibly popular show first premiered in 1984, however, Thomas was around decades before the TV show.

Wilbert Awdry, better known as the Reverend W. Awdry, was the original creator of Thomas the Tank Engine. An English clergyman and railroad enthusiast, Awdry invented Thomas and the other engines as a way to entertain his son Christopher. Christopher was suffering through a bout of measles at the time. The first book - The Three Railway Engineswas published in 1945. Thomas made his appearance in Thomas the Tank Engine, published in 1946. More books soon followed. Awdry's wife is credited with encouraging her husband to publish his works.

Thomas existed not only on paper, but also as a small wooden toy train that Awdry had given Christopher. This engine was different from the familiar look of the Thomas we know today. This is because Awdry later selected an illustrator for his books, and specified a real engine - one that worked at the Southhampton docks in Great Britain - for the illustrator to reference. The illustrator, Reginald Payne, is credited with creating the basic look of Thomas. A different illustrator, C. Reginald Dalby, worked on books 3-11 and is sometimes incorrectly credited as the original illustrator.

When Reverend W. Awdry stopped writing the Thomas books, his son Christopher picked up the pen and has continued to follow in his father's footsteps. Christopher has written more than a dozen additional books for the series. He continues to write today.

Thomas, as well as the other engines, have a timeless appeal that stretches across generations. An entirely new generation of children was introduced to Thomas in 1984 when the TV series took flight. Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends was first shown in September of that year. The show was initially produced using unique live-action animation with models. The shows being produced today, however, use cgi instead. No matter how the shows are created, Thomas has delighted children for many years. His broad appeal ensures that he will continue to be a popular character beloved by children and adults alike.