ThomasTrain's blog

Thomas and Friends has its share of twins. Bill and Ben are one set of twins on the Island of Sodor. Bill and Ben are mischievous engines. They are identical twins are based on the low-slung 0-4-0 Saddle-tank engine by the W.G. Bagnall. W.G.Bagnall created two these Engines that were named Judy and Alfred.

Thomas the Tank Engine will be chugging along in Edaville for its annual Days out with Thomas.  Edaville is a local attraction in Carver, MA.  Edaville has rides for kids, including train rides on a miniature railway.    Thomas will be providing rides at the annual event.  Guests also get to meet Sir T

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.

A study conducted in the United Kingdom found that autistic children were far more fascinated by the television series, "Thomas and Friends," than they were with other fictional characters.

The study, by the National Autistic Society, summarized that the show held such appeal because of the clear facial expressions of the characters, the pacing of the program and the easy-to-follow story lines.

We are use to stop and go animation of Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas the Tank Engine series has remained one of the most low-teach animated series. Now Thomas will be computer generated when it returns to PBS this fall.

Get a ride on a replica of Thomas the Tank Engine this July 3-5 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

The 40-stop "Day Out With Thomas 2009: The Hero of the Rails Tour" will come to Phillipsburg 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 3-5 and 10-12, offering kids and their families a chance to take a quick excursion on the track. Rides will last about 25 minutes, with crafts, live music and other activities for kids in the boarding area.