Thomas the Tank Engine® has charmed children around the world for decades. This Railway Series was originated by Reverend W. Awdry, who would tell fascinating stories of tank engines to his young son Christopher. The pair bonded over their love for trains and railways, and through this, the timeless series was born.

All of the vehicles in The Railway Series were based on prototypical engines; Thomas's basis is the LB&SCR E2 class.

Thomas' iconic blue color is also the official color of the North Western Railway. Before Thomas was blue he was originally teal green with white lining. Thomas' driver's name is Bob. In the animated series, Thomas' top speed is estimated to be between 30 and 40 miles per hour.

Emily is painted emerald green with yellow lining and a chocolate brown running board. She has three yellow squares on each side of her tender, and has the number 12 painted in yellow on the center of her tender's middle squares.

A passenger train is used to transport people along a railroad line. These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars (also known as coaches or carriages) hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be self-propelled; self propelled passenger trains are known as multiple units or railcars.

A theory that has gained traction over the years posits that the trains on the island are slaves to the island's leader, Sir Topham Hatt/The Fat Controller. According to the theory, these trains are forced to work for the Fat Controller, and if any of them get out of line, they are sentenced to a fate similar to death.

Thomas & Friends (originally known as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and later Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!) is a British children's television series that aired across 24 series from 1984 to 2021. Based on The Railway Series books by Rev. W.

Rev. Awdry was happy to make up stories about the little train, but told his son that it first needed to have a name -- so they called him "Thomas the Tank Engine." Thomas is -- strictly speaking -- a "side tank engine" -- a steam locomotive that has tanks arranged on either side of the boiler.

Thomas and the other characters can serve as substitute friends in a world with few friends. Parents of children with autism and related disorders often mention that their children find Thomas calming and comforting, rather like a 'security blanket'. Children often like to have their trains with them at all times.

First of all, all kids love trains. Second, the faces on the trains are happy and inviting and give a human characteristic to their imagination as they play. I also find that the track, trains and cars are so easy for a child to build and tear down and build again. They just love to create and play.

Oliver (Number 11/1436) Oliver (No. 11, but displays his ex-GWR number, 1436) is an 0-4-2 T ex-Great Western Railway 1400 Class locomotive, who 'escaped' from the Other Railway where he was due to be scrapped.

Official Description. Sixteen: Sixteen doesn't have a name, just a number, and he worked in a steelworks. One of his jobs was to take the waste from the works in special trucks to a place they called the tip. He was rescued one day after driving past the Danger Warning sign, and sent to the back of the shed in disgrace ...

Top 10 benefits of rail transport

• Cost-effective. Compared to other modes of transport, it is cheaper to transport goods and passengers via train than by car or plane.
• Environmentally friendly.
• High carrying capacity.
• Reliable.
• Safety.
• Reduced traffic congestion.
• Flexibility.
• Energy-efficient.

'Train' comes from a French verb that meant "to draw; drag." It originally referred to the part of a gown that trailed behind the wearer. The word train has been part of English since the 14th century - since its Middle English days.

Darkest Thomas the Tank Engine Episodes

Unlike many of the show's designated "antagonists", who were merely rude or bullying, Diesel was very much like a more traditional antagonist and was always thinking up ways to cause trouble for Thomas and his friends. He was also known to be Duck's archenemy in the original series as well as Thomas' in later series.