Thomas & Friends 1984

Overview

Thomas and Friends is a British children's television series that premiered on the ITV network on September 4, 1984. Developed for television by Britt Allcroft, the program is based on The Railway Series of books written by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. The stories originated from tales Wilbert told to entertain his son during a recovery from measles. The series centers on the adventures of anthropomorphized locomotives and road vehicles residing on the fictional Island of Sodor. The titular protagonist is Thomas the Tank Engine, a blue tank engine who operates on the North Western Railway, which is managed by Sir Topham Hatt, also known as the Fat Controller. Thomas often encounters trouble while striving to be a useful engine. Other characters featured in the series include Percy and Gordon. From the first to the fourth series, many of the narratives were based on events from the personal experiences of Wilbert Awdry. The show has also been known by the titles Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends and Thomas and Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!