Thomas Takes Off

You're a bit off-track. Reverend Wilbert Awdry created the story of Thomas the Tank Engine to entertain his son Christopher while he recovered from scarlet fever. Mrs. Awdry urged her husband to find a publisher for his stories. In 1945 the first book in the Railway Series, The Three Railway Engines, appeared in bookstores.

Derailed! But Peter Fonda will be starring alongside Thomas in the big-screen debut of Thomas and the Magic Railroad. The story of Thomas and his locomotive pals was created by Reverend Wilbert Awdry. He told the stories to entertain his young son Christopher while the boy was recovering from scarlet fever.

Choo're right! Reverend Wilbert Awdry created the story of Thomas the Tank Engine to entertain his son Christopher while he recovered from scarlet fever. Mrs. Awdry urged her husband to find a publisher for his stories. In 1945 the first book in the Railway Series, The Three Railway Engines, appeared in bookstores.

Way off track! The story of Thomas and his locomotive pals dates back 50 years. Reverend Wilbert Awdry came up with the original idea behind the Thomas stories while entertaining his son Christopher as he recovered from scarlet fever. After writing 26 books the Reverend laid down his pen, but now his son Christopher has taken over where he left off, writing the stories to entertain his own young son.