"Thomas the Tank Engine" Toys and Collectibles

About Thomas

Thomas can be described as a cheeky, fussy little engine. He often gets into scrapes, ususally be being over-eager to do things best left to bigger and more sensible engines. But clouds never last long in Thomas' life and he's soon bustling about again, playing his part in the yard and on his very own branch line, of which he is extremely proud.

Thomas and Friends is a British children's television series, first broadcast on Anglia Television in September 1984. Until Season 7, which premiered in 2003, the name was called Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. This series was shot in Shepperton and Isle of Man.

It is based on The Railway Series of books created by the Reverend W. V. Awdry. These deal with the adventures of a group of subanthropomorphised trains and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Awdry told to entertain his son Christopher during his recovery from measles. Many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.

During the 1980s, the television rights were sold to Britt Allcroft, who started producing the television series. It premiered in the UK in 1984. The show has been narrated by Ringo Starr (1984-90), Michael Angelis (1991-2008), George Carlin (1991-97), Alec Baldwin (1998-03), Michael Brandon (2003-07) and the upcoming series will be narrated by Pierce Brosnan.

Many businesses have been eager to cash-in on the worldwide popularity of the series. 'Thomas'-themed merchandise has appeared in almost every form imaginable, from books and magazines, through vast series of models, to duvet covers, cutlery, soft drinks and even spaghetti shapes.

Heritage railways have also benefited from the series. "Day out with Thomas" events, where passengers are given the chance to ride on full-size trains pulled by Thomas or his friends, provide a considerable source of income, and attract those who might not otherwise visit the railway.