Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas & Friends character
A tank engine customised to look like Thomas at a Day Out With Thomas event
First appearance	Thomas the Tank Engine (1946)
Created by	Wilbert Awdry Christopher Awdry
Designed by	L. B. Billinton (in-universe) Reginald Payne
Voiced by	British Ben Small (2009–2015) John Hasler (2015–2021) Aaron Barashi (All Engines Go, 2021-2023) Shaun Jemmett (All Engines Go, 2023-present) American 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) Japanese Keiko Toda (series 1-8, 1990-2007) Kumiko Higa (series 9-24, 2008-2021) Other Edward Glen (Thomas and the Magic Railroad) John Bellis (Thomas and the Magic Railroad; workprint only) Kerry Shale (Hero of the Rails; original cut only) Ringo Starr (The Official BBC Children in Need Medley)
Number	NWR 1 (formerly, L.B.S.C. 70 in Thomas & Friends)
Information
Species	Steam locomotive
Gender	Male
Nationality	English (formerly) Sudric

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]

Origins

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

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

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.