From Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia

This article is about the book. You may be looking for the steam engine.

"Thomas the Tank Engine" was first published in 1946. It was written by the Reverend W. Awdry and illustrated by Reginald Payne. In subsequent editions, the illustrations were redone by C. Reginald Dalby.

Contents 1 Stories 1.1 Thomas and Gordon 1.2 Thomas' Train 1.3 Thomas and the Trucks 1.4 Thomas and the Breakdown Train 2 Featured characters 3 Goofs

Stories

Thomas and Gordon

Thomas the station pilot surprises Gordon, and Gordon, furious, wonders how to pay Thomas out. Next day, Thomas is late and forgets to get uncoupled after shunting Gordon's coaches. Gordon takes Thomas on a wild high-speed journey across Sodor. Thomas later resolves to never tease Gordon again.

Thomas' Train

Henry is ill and Thomas is the only one available to take his train. Thomas, impatient, leaves too early and only stops when a signalman points out he is missing his coaches. Thomas goes back and is able to take the train that time, but is teased by the others for a long time afterwards.

Thomas and the Trucks

Thomas wants to see the world, but no one takes notice until Edward offers to give him his trucks. Thomas is excited but careless, and the trucks push him down Gordon's Hill. Thomas manages to stop in time, and the Fat Controller tells him to start shunting trucks at Wellsworth.

Thomas and the Breakdown Train

Thomas is shunting when some trucks push James into a field. Thomas comes to his rescue with the breakdown train, and is rewarded with two coaches and his own branch line.

Featured characters

• Thomas
• Edward
• Gordon
• James
• Henry (does not speak)
• Annie and Clarabel (does not speak)

Goofs

• Throughout "Thomas and Gordon" Gordon has LMS running gear and a Fowler tender.
• In the second illustration of "Thomas and Gordon", Gordon's wheels aren't perfect circles.
• As Thomas backs down on the trucks in the second illustration of "Thomas and the Trucks" a grumpy van is visible in front. However, for the remainder of the story, a coal truck is in front of it, and, what's more, the van appears to lose its face.
• Thomas is missing his "1" in the third illustration of "Thomas and the Trucks".
• In "Thomas and the Trucks" the text says Thomas passed several stations and bridges before entering Henry's Tunnel. But in later maps of Sodor, there are no bridges or stations between Vicarstown and Henry's Tunnel.
• In the fifth illustration of "Thomas and the Trucks" the third and fourth trucks appear to have fused together.
• When James goes under the bridge his tender is a plain cube shape.
• In the final illustration Thomas is missing a lamp iron.
• In the final illustration Edward has branchline classification lights.