Thomas & Friends

Thomas & Friends is a long-running show about trains that talk. The star is a small blue tank engine named Thomas. He lives on an island called Sodor. All the trains there have faces and feelings. The show is based on books written by a British man named Reverend Wilbert Awdry.

Engines on Sodor

Thomas has lots of train friends. There is Percy, James, Gordon, Henry, and Edward. They are all numbered and have different colors. Sir Topham Hatt runs the railway and gives the trains jobs. Sometimes the trains cause trouble, but they always try to be Really Useful Engines.

A Long History

The show first aired in 1984. The early episodes used real model trains on tracks. Later, the show switched to computer animation. Famous people like Ringo Starr from The Beatles have been the narrator. Thomas has been on TV for over 40 years.

Fun Facts

• The original stories were told by a father to his sick son.
• Thomas has the number 1 painted on his side.
• There are more than 100 different engines in the show.

Did You Know?

George Carlin, a famous American comedian, was once the narrator of Thomas & Friends in the United States.