1988: Rev W Awdry on THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE | Wogan | Writers and Wordsmiths | BBC Archive

Terry Wogan chats to Reverend W Awdry about his love of steam engines, and the phenomenal global success of Thomas the Tank Engine and his Railway Series of children's books.

Originally broadcast 30 March, 1988.

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[hilaryepstein]

What a lovely man and the hero of generations of children. I hope he made lots of money out of Thomas.

[tonysellen]

My now 3 year old Grandson is obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine, thanks to his sadly departed Gramps. And as a family we try to keep that legacy fresh. Thank you Rev. Awdry for this gift for generations to come.

[Who.Knew-The.Salt.MustFlow]

Beautiful man. A wonderful legacy he has left in perpetuity.

[DillianTrainzStudios]

Bless you, Wilbert Awdry for making me and the rest of our childhoods great.

[SirRamone]

That one bloke changed the lives of so many people and had no idea he was doing it, Just put in the research and gave trains characters to their real life copies. What a legend !

[DasaniDragon]

"A steam engine is an extrovert" I love that. I was raised on the books, the model series (All be it the HIT era) and I still love it to this day

[TheBerzerker]

Wilbert has made a lot of kids appreciate the joys of steam trains and how great our railways were 😃🇬🇧

[thattankengineguy]

A man that's done so much for so many people, all through use of telling stories with talking trains.

[DanielNeedham]

The Rev W Awdry was a lovely man who brought joy to millions of children all over the world. I remember the early episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine narrated by Ringo Star and I admit, after he left the stories were never the same and the series today is a grim shadow of what it was.

[t]

I owe my life to this man and the stories he created.

[JewelKnightJess]

As a kid in the 80s Thomas was my obsession. I adored it so much. Although I barely recognise the modern version of the franchise it makes me happy to know it's still bringing joy to children four decades on.

[Creative_dude]

Thank you so much Wilbert Awdry for inventing Thomas the tank engine and his friends

[dainbramage]

Always loved thomas, and that in turn fueled a lifetime of loving steam trains

[RatelHBadger]

Watching interviews with Awdry, its like watching my own grandfather (also a reverend). Same dry humour, love for wordplay and keen on spinning a vivid yarn. Always called people chap, that builder chap or that railway chap. He had The Flying Kipper on '72 which I played in his study on no doubt ENDLESS repeat. As well as printings of the first dozen or so railway books (the small hardback ones) which you cant get anymore.
Its remarkable really.

[levidarling]

Oh Reverend, how I wish you were still alive keeping your creation true to its core and safe with you.

[plumbingstuffinoregon]

I really miss watching this on TV when it was still the actual model trains, before they computer animated everything. Similar case with Bob the Builder.

[TomGayler]

I was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine as a young boy. I watched the VHS tapes so much, I wore them out. I would play with the train sets and renact episodes in my imagination. I would be read the stories before bed, or listen to them on tape. It still remains something I cherish from my childhood.

[missmanxee]

Thank you Rev W Awdry for introducing me to the world of steam trains 🚂 through your wonderful series of stories about Thomas the Tank Engine and all his many friends that continues to inspire and delight both children and adults unlike the current pointless reboot that Mattel has made I will continue to read the original stories written by yourself as well as your son Christopher and watch the classic model tv series made by the brilliant Britt Allcroft and told by the legendary narrator’s Ringo Starr and the late Michel Angelis 👍❤️

[wwb]

id love to see a biopic about this man

[mrdiamond_]

This man has saved me from a lot of difficult times with his creations. For that I am forever thankful for him