List of Thomas the Tank Engine pictureback books
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is a children's television series based on The Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry which was first broadcast in 1984. This article lists Thomas books in the Pictureback series.Introduces Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon and Sir Topham Hatt.
Introduces Proteus
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas wasn't originally based on a prototype; rather, the initial stories were an accompaniment to the toy made for Christopher. After Awdry's wife encouraged him to publish the stories, the publisher of the second book in The Railway Series, "Thomas the Tank Engine", hired an illustrator named Reginald Payne. Awdry selected a real locomotive for Payne to work from to create authenticity: a Billinton designed 0-6-0 E2 Class of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. This may have been chosen simply because Awdry had a photograph to hand.