Thomas the Tank Engine

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.Awdry (2005), 4

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.Awdry (2005), 4

The first Thomas model was not based on a prototype.Awdry (2005), 29 After Awdry's wife encouraged him to publish the stories,Awdry (2005), 1 the publisher of the second book ''Thomas the Tank Engine'' hired illustrator Reginald Payne. Awdry selected a real locomotive from which Payne would work to create authenticity, namely a [[L. B. Billinton|Billinton]]-designed {{whyte|0-6-0|T}} E2 Class of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/thomas.htm |title=Characters of the Railway Series: Thomas the Tank Engine |website=PegnSean |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213145829/http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/thomas.htm |archive-date=13 December 2017 |url-status=dead}} This may have been chosen because Awdry had a photograph to hand. name="Awdry29"/>

The first Thomas model was not based on a prototype.Awdry (2005), 29 After Awdry's wife encouraged him to publish the stories of the first book [[List of books in The Railway Series|''The Three Railway Engines'']],Awdry (2005), 1 Awdry wrote a second book ''Thomas the Tank Engine'' featuring the titular character. The publishers selected artist Reginald Payne to illustrate the book, who designed Thomas after a [[L. B. Billinton|Billinton]]-designed {{whyte|0-6-0|T}} E2 Class of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/thomas.htm |title=Characters of the Railway Series: Thomas the Tank Engine |website=PegnSean |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213145829/http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/thomas.htm |archive-date=13 December 2017 |url-status=dead}} Payne was not credited for his illustrations at the time, and it is only since the publication of [[Brian Sibley]]'s ''The Thomas the Tank Engine Man'' that he has received recognition. After Payne died of a nervous breakdown in 1947, the book was re-illustrated by [[C. Reginald Dalby]], who remains the only artist credited in current publications of the book.

The models of Thomas used in the ''Thomas & Friends'' television series and produced by Hornby are based on the E2 locomotives fitted with an extension to the front of the water tanks.Awdry (2005), 5 Awdry was unsatisfied with one detail of the illustration; the front end of his [[Steam locomotive components|running board]] sloped downward, which meant that his front and back [[Headstock (rolling stock)|buffers]] were at different heights. This was an illustrator's mistake that was perpetuated in subsequent books. The crash seen in ''[[List of books in The Railway Series#Branch_Line_Engines|Thomas Comes to Breakfast]]'' was partly devised as a means of correcting this.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The models of Thomas used in the ''Thomas & Friends'' television series and produced by Hornby are based on the E2 locomotives fitted with an extension to the front of the water tanks.Awdry (2005), 5 Awdry was unsatisfied with one detail of the illustration; the front end of his [[Steam locomotive components|running board]] sloped downward, which meant that his front and back [[Headstock (rolling stock)|buffers]] were at different heights. This was an illustrator's mistake that was perpetuated in subsequent books. The crash seen in ''[[List of books in The Railway Series#Branch_Line_Engines|Thomas Comes to Breakfast]]'' was partly devised as a means of correcting this.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Payne was not credited for his illustrations at the time, and it is only since the publication of [[Brian Sibley]]'s ''The Thomas the Tank Engine Man'' that he has received recognition. It had often been erroneously assumed that C. Reginald Dalby created the character, as he was responsible for illustrating books 3–11 and repainting the illustrations of the first two books.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

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 railway]]s are either unpowered replicas or converted from other locomotives.Awdry (2005), 5–6

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 railway]]s are either unpowered replicas or converted from other locomotives.Awdry (2005), 5–6