How A Vicar Made Tracks for Generations of Steam Train Lovers

Once upon a time, an Anglican vicar, whilst finding a way to keep his 2 year old son entertained whilst he was ill in bed with measles, started telling him stories about steam trains, inspired by the very same ones that were puffing up the nearby rolling hills of the Gloucestershire countryside - who were able to talk to one another.

Little did The Reverend Wilbert Awdry know that these tales were going to journey around the world - and into the hearts of generations of fans as a result. His first four stories he created at Christmas 1942, for his son, Christopher, were about Edward, an old but reliable little tender engine, and Gordon and Henry, a pompous Pacific Class express engine and a troublesome big tender engine respectively.

These were collated together into The Three Railway Engines, the very first book in what would become known as The Railway Series, published in May 1945. An instant bestselling success, young readers were drawn into the magical world of Sodor, a small island near Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, preceded over by The Fat Director - or, as he became later best known, Sir Topham Hatt, The Fat Controller.

And much like his son, they were soon asking for more stories. His next book in the series, published the following year, in September 1946, introduced the character that arguably became the enduring classic for generations: Thomas the Tank Engine. In these stories, it followed Thomas, the plucky and cheeky station pilot, who dreamt of a life beyond pushing trucks and coaches around the yard for the bigger engines and seeing the world for himself.

From there, young readers were soon introduced on a near yearly basis to characters such as James, Percy, Toby, Duck, Bertie the Bus, Harold the Helicopter and many more besides, and Awdry eventually went onto write 26 books in all for the series, right up until the publication of the last book, Tramway Engines, in October 1972. Its total worldwide sales to date stand at around 201 million copies.

Fast forward twelve years to October 1984, and a new generation of kids were introduced to the world of Awdry's books, when they were adapted into the hugely successful ITV series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

Created by Britt Allcroft, and narrated by former Beatle, Ringo Starr, it utilised live action models that vividly brought to life the stories on the small screen, with Thomas subsequently becoming one of the most popular classic British children's characters, to rank up there with Paddington Bear and Winnie the Pooh.

His son Christopher went on to carry on where his father left off, writing and publishing a further thirteen books in the series, which started with Really Useful Engines in September 1983, and concluded with Thomas and his Friends in July 2011.

The continued success of both the book and TV series over the last eight decades - which has progressed from live action models to CGI animation, and even been adapted into films - have ensured that Awdry's creations have remained high in the affections of the young, and a fair few of the young at heart.

In fact, even though many of the books were reflecting the huge real life changes that happened as a result of the modernisation and nationalisation of British Railways from the 1950s onwards, when steam engines were scrapped for diesel and then latterly electric engines, it has regardless inspired generations growing up to become train drivers themselves, or to get actively involved and volunteer at one of the wealth of heritage steam lines that are based around the UK and internationally.

A number of commemorative events are happening to mark the 80th anniversary - including the much talked about premiere online last week of the rediscovered pilot episode of the original Thomas TV series, titled Down The Mine, from 1983 - but it seems an opportune moment to blow our whistles for the Reverend Wilbert Awdry - and the magic of the golden age of steam he has given to many.

Were you a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine growing up? Perhaps you've got an untapped desire to try travelling on or even driving a steam train yourself? Visit our Steam Train Trips page today to book onto a number of our experience packages to go full steam ahead on at preserved railway lines across the UK.