Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends character
	Illustration by C. Reginald Dalby
First appearance	Thomas the Tank Engine (1946)
Created by	Wilbert Awdry; Christopher Awdry
Designed by	L. B. Billinton (in-universe); Reginald Payne
Voiced by	British Ben Small (2009–2015) ; John Hasler (2015–2021) ; Aaron Barashi (All Engines Go, 2021–2023) ; Shaun Jemmett (All Engines Go, 2023–2025); American Martin Sherman (2009–2015) ; Joseph May (2015–2021) ; Meesha Contreras (All Engines Go, 2021–2023) ; David Kohlsmith (All Engines Go, 2023) ; Kai Harris (All Engines Go, 2023–2025); Japanese Keiko Toda (series 1–8, 1990–2007) ; Kumiko Higa (series 9–24, 2008–2021) ; Minami Tanaka (All Engines Go); Other John Bellis (Thomas and the Magic Railroad; workprint only) ; Eddie Glen (Thomas and the Magic Railroad) ; Kerry Shale (Hero of the Rails; original cut and trailer only) ; Ringo Starr (The Official BBC Children in Need Medley);
In-universe information
Species	Tank locomotive
Gender	Male
Home	Island of Sodor
Nationality	English

Thomas the Tank Engine is a character created for The Railway Series children's books by Wilbert Awdry. He is a tank locomotive who runs on the Fat Controller's North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor. Thomas later became the title character of the books' television adaptation Thomas & Friends as well as its wider media franchise.

Based on the LB&SCR E2 class, Thomas debuted in the 1946 book Thomas the Tank Engine—the second book in The Railway Series—and was the focus of the four short stories featured within it. Upon the success of the television series, Thomas became well-known in popular culture.