Thomas the Tank Engine

fictional steam locomotive

Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher.[2] He became the most popular character in the series. He is the title character in the television series, Thomas and Friends.[3]

Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas & Friends character
A tank engine customised to look like Thomas at a Day Out With Thomas event
First appearanceThomas the Tank Engine (1946)
Created byWilbert Awdry
Christopher Awdry
Designed byL. B. Billinton (in-universe)
Reginald Payne
Voiced by
  • Martin Sherman (2009–2015)
  • Joseph May (2015–2021)
  • Meesha Contreras (All Engines Go, 2021–2023)[1]
  • David Kohlsmith (All Engines Go, 2023)
  • Kai Harris (All Engines Go, 2023–present)
Other
NumberNWR 1 (formerly, L.B.S.C. 70 in Thomas & Friends)
Information
SpeciesSteam locomotive
GenderMale
NationalityEnglish (formerly)
Sudric

Origins

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Sometime after the first Railway Series book "The Three Railway Engines" was published, Wilbert Awdry gave his son Christopher a wooden model of a blue steam engine. Christopher named it Thomas. Wilbert would later write a second book focused on Thomas, publishing it after he was encouraged to by his wife.[4] Illustrated by Reginald Payne, Thomas was based on an LB&SCR E2 class tank engine.[5]

Characteristics

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Thomas is introduced as being very cheeky and fussy; he thinks his job is the most important one,[6] and thus looks down on everyone else despite being the smallest at the time. He also tends to ignore advice and prefer doing jobs on his own. These two flaws cause him to get into accidents a lot. As the series goes on, Thomas became less selfish and got more mature over time.

References

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  1. "Thomas' Promise". Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go. Season 1. Episode 1. September 13, 2021. Cartoon Network.
  2. "Full Steam Ahead: Thomas The Tank Engine Turns 65". NPR. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  3. "From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment: Thomas & Friends: Dinos & Discoveries". MarketWatch, Inc. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  4. Awdry (2005), 1
  5. "Characters of the Railway Series: Thomas the Tank Engine". PegnSean. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017.
  6. The Rev. W. Awdry (1946). Thomas the Tank Engine. Edmund Ward. p. 4. ISBN 0-434-92779-1.