The Story of Wilbert Vere Awdry
The Creator of Thomas the Tank Engine

Wilbert Vere Awdry, the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, was born in 1911 and grew up living near the Great Western Railway, in southwestern England.

At his family home in Wiltshire, England, he used to lie in bed at night, listening to the trains and imagining that the engines were talking to each other. He imagined that each one had a personality and invented characters for them all.

As a grown man in the early 1940’s, Wilbert had a young son of his own, named Christopher. When his three-year-old son caught the measles in 1943 and had to stay in bed, Wilbert gave him a small, simple wooden model train that he later christened Thomas. During this period that Christopher was ill, Wilbert sat at his bedside and told him stories about the train engine. It was then that Wilbert decided to introduce Christopher to the make believe locomotive characters from his childhood memories. Mrs Awdry believed that these children's stories had some merit and so pestered her husband to "do something about them".   

The first stories were titled Edward’s Day Out, The Sad Story of Henry, and Edward and Gordon. Wilbert drew simple pictures of steam engines with human faces to illustrate the stories. These stories were told over and over again, to the point where young Christopher memorized every word and would allow no deviation. To help him remember his stories, Wilbert wrote them down in pencil, on scraps of paper. He had no inspirations of becoming an author.

After encouragement from his family, Wilbert submitted his stories to a publisher and the first book The Three Railway Engines was published in 1945. It sold well, prompting Wilbert to create second and third books Thomas the Tank Engine and James the Red Engine, in 1948. The three books were so successful and the demand from parents was so high, that Wilbert promised to add one additional book per year to his Railway series. This annual tradition continued for the next 23 years, until the year 1971 when his 26th and final book was published.

 

Over the next 12 years, no additional stories were published. Then, in 1983, Wilbert’s son Christopher decided to continue his father’s legacy with publication of the 27th book in the series: Really Useful Engines. Fourteen additional books have since followed.

In 1982, while filming a documentary on a preserved steam railway, producer and screenwriter Britt Allcroft was reacquainted with The Railway Series. Remembering the books from her childhood, she was inspired to bring the stories to screen. Two years later, in 1984, the Thomas the Tank Engine TV series steamed onto the television scene in the United Kingdom. The following year, Ringo-Starr signed on as narrator and storyteller of the TV series.

 

In 1989, Thomas the train pulled into the United States and Canada with its TV premiere on PBS. The TV series is currently off-air in the U.S., but continues to show in Canada, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, The Philippines, and in the U.K.  Thomas the train was such a hit in Japan that they opened a “Thomas the Tank Engine Theme Park” in 1998.

 

Over the years, the popularity of the Thomas the Tank Engine books and TV shows has prompted an entire line of products and merchandise.  Thousands of Thomas the train products are now sold in 150 countries worldwide, including books, videos, wooden railway vehicles, wooden railway track and buildings, toys, apparel, party supplies, bedding, room décor, furniture, and more.

 

More about Thomas the Tank Engine Thomas is a cheeky, fussy little engine who wears #1 on his side and never lets anyone forget it. Joining him in his adventures on the Island of Sodor are his engine friends, including cheerful Percy, moody James and the proud but boastful Gordon. They are joined by the coaches Annie and Clarabel, Bertie the Bus, Terence the Tractor and Harold the Helicopter, to name a few. Sir Topham Hatt, Superintendent of the railroad, is the kindly boss who keeps everyone in order.

The Origins of Thomas

The Official Thomas the Tank Engine Website

Official Site for Christopher, Diana & Richard Awdry, Christopher is the son of the Rev. Wilbert Awdry, creator of “Thomas the Tank Engine” 

Shining Time Station Information Shining Time

Return to Ethans Choo Choo Station

Last updated on Aug.29, 2005!

| Home | Presidental Prayer Team For Kids | Coloring |
| About Thomas | Justin Spider Pages |
| History of Trains | My Awards | Games |
| Andrea's Bratz Pages | My Cyberpets | My Adoptions |
| Fun Stuff | Thomas' Friends |
:::: Back To Main page ::::

Originals For You