I bought Thomas in 1948 when I was writing Tank Engine Thomas Again, and wanted to start modelling once more after a lapse of some twenty years. Thomas was one of Stewart Reidpath's standard models with a heavy, cast white metal body, and was fitted with his "Essar" chassis and motor. Stewart Reidpath is now dead, and his motors, let alone spare parts for them, have been unobtainable for years; but Thomas still keeps going! He is, as you might expect from his age, a temperamental old gentleman, and has to be driven very carefully indeed. The US DVD release New Friends for Thomas and Other Adventures features this episode, having been re-narrated by Michael Angelis for American audiences. Awdry, Christopher (2005). Sodor: Reading Between the Lines. Spalding, UK: Sodor Enterprises. ISBN 0-9549665-1-1. OCLC 931417954. Despite becoming the most popular character in The Railway Series, Thomas was not featured in the first book, The Three Railway Engines.

Thomas has been referenced, featured and parodied in popular culture. In 1988, he was parodied on ITV's Spitting Image where he was portrayed as a drunk who went "completely off the rails." [18] In 2009, he appeared in " The Official BBC Children in Need Medley" where he was voiced by Ringo Starr, who narrated the first two series of Thomas and Friends. [19] In the British comedy show Bobby Davro's TV Weekly, a spoof was created titled "Thomas the Tanked Up Engine" involving Jeremy, the pink engine. Bobby Davro provided the narration by impersonating Ringo Starr.The first episode not directed by David Mitton. However, he worked as model consultant for this episode. Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (9 May 2019). "Why are people modding Thomas the Tank Engine into video games?". The Face . Retrieved 15 May 2019. How Thomas the Tank Engine ended up in Ant-Man". Digital Spy. 27 July 2015 . Retrieved 27 December 2022.

All of the prototype LB&SCR E2 class locomotives were scrapped between 1961 and 1963. Thomas locomotives used on Day Out with Thomas days on heritage railways are either unpowered replicas or converted from other locomotives. [10] The Railway Series The first episode to prominently feature Thomas' gauge 3.5 model, constructed during the fifth series but never primarily used to portray Thomas (only used in close-ups of his wheels) until this episode. As a result, Thomas' model has some noticeable differences in its appearance compared to prior episodes. Thomas was described in the opening to "Thomas and Gordon", the first story in book number two, Thomas the Tank Engine, as: [11]From Hero of the Rails until Series 18, Thomas was voiced by Martin Sherman (US) and Ben Small (UK). [13] From 2015-2021, Thomas was voiced by John Hasler in the UK, and by Joseph May in the US. Both ended their roles after the 24th series was produced. The role was taken by child actors in Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go. Meesha Contreras voices Thomas in the US [1] and Aaron Barashi voices him in the UK. David Kolsmith later took over from Contreras before getting replaced himself by Kai Harris for the third season. Ant-Man granted Thomas the Tank cameo as long as train wasn't evil". The Independent. 30 July 2015 . Retrieved 27 December 2022. When Awdry based Thomas on a wooden toy made for his son Christopher. This toy looked rather different from the character in the books and television series, and carried the letters NW on its side tanks, which stood for "No Where" according to Awdry. [5]