Thomas Facts

The Railway Series which is where Thomas the Tank Engine is from was created by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry for his son Christopher. In 1942, two-year-old Christopher Awdry caught measles and was confined to a darkened room. His father would tell him stories and rhymes to cheer him up.

Despite becoming the most popular character in The Railway Series, Thomas was not actually feature in the first book, The Three Railway Engines.