Awdry's Railway Series Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Thomas the Tank Engine
ThomastheTankEngine

Author:

Reverend W. Awdry

Illustrated by:

Reginald Payne C. Reginald Dalby

Publisher:

Edmund Ward Egmont Publishing

Published:

October 18, 1946 - Present

Previous book:

The Three Railway Engines

Next book:

James the Red Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine is the second book of the Railway Series.

Foreword[]

Dear Christopher,
Here is your friend Thomas the Tank Engine. He want to come out of his station yard and see the world. These stories tell you how he did it.

I hope you will like them because you helped me to make them.
Your Loving Daddy

Stories[]

Thomas and Gordon[]

We are introduced to Thomas – the tank engine shunter who works in the big station yard (at Vicarstown) shunting coaches. A cheeky little tank engine, Thomas goes too far when he teases Gordon the Big Engine, who begins plotting his revenge against him. Gordon gets a chance to get his own back when Thomas is remained coupled to the back of his Express train, and he takes Thomas on a short high speed run that he will never forget!

Thomas' Train[]

Our first indication of Thomas’s interest in leaving the big station is when he's complaining to the other engines. He longs to see the world and gets his chance for a passenger run when Henry is ill. But for an unexplained reason, Thomas isn’t coupled to the train and starts his journey without the coaches. He’s quickly stopped at a signal (and much to his dismay) finds out that he’s not been pulling the train at all. Despite this, he returns back to the station to try again, and this time pulls the train. But he is subject to teasing for a while due to his mistake!

Thomas and the Trucks[]

Thomas’s quest to leave the big station continues, and once again, another chance arises for him to prove himself. Edward offers to swap his train of trucks for a day shunting in Thomas’s place. Thomas (is not used to trucks) soon finds himself running into bother when they gain the upper hand on Gordon’s Hill and push him down the other side. Fortunately, Thomas has a safe escape and stops in front of the buffers, only to find the Fat Director waiting for him. He gives Thomas another chance to prove himself with trucks, and allows him to shunt them in the yard for a few weeks.

Thomas and the Breakdown Train[]

Thomas continues his work shunting in Edward’s yard and learning about trucks, with much encouragement from The Fat Director. One day in the yard, he spots a new engine (called James). James is speeding through with his brake-blocks on fire. Thomas collects the Breakdown Train and heads off to James’ accident. After a busy afternoon of clearing the mess, Thomas brings James back to the shed and is rewarded grandly by the Fat Director for his heroism with his own branch line. At long last, his hopes and dreams have become a reality, and he has grown in experience too.

Characters present[]

Worldwide date[]

  • October 18, 1946 (UK)
  • December 18, 1946 (USA)
  • June 19, 1951 (Australia)
  • July 13, 1951 (Russia)
  • August 2, 1951 (New Zealand)
  • January 1, 1952 (France)
  • April 3, 1952 (Germany)
  • July 31, 1952 (Italy)
  • November 24, 1952 (Ireland)
  • October 4, 1973 (Japan)
  • January 2, 1979 (Canada)
  • July 10, 1981 (Brazil)

Trivia[]

  • In the 2nd illustration of “Thomas and the Trucks”, there is a blue tender engine in the background, it can be assumed this is Gordon, or a LNER J37.

Gallery[]

Thomas and Gordon[]

1946-1949[]

1950-present[]

Thomas' Train[]

1946-1949[]

1950-present[]

Thomas and the Trucks[]

1946-1949[]

1950-present[]

Thomas and the Breakdown Train[]

1946-1949[]

1950-present[]

Advertisement