In 1979, British writer/producer Britt Allcroft came across the books, and arranged a deal to bring the stories to life as the TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (later simplified to Thomas & Friends). Thomas's best friends are Percy and Toby, though he is also close friends with Edward. Thomas first appeared in 1946 in the second book in the series, Thomas the Tank Engine, and was the focus of the four short stories contained within.
All of the vehicles in The Railway Series were based on prototypical engines Thomas's basis is the LB&SCR E2 class. Thomas is a blue steam engine and has a number 1 painted on his side. He became the most popular and famous character in the series, and is the titular protagonist in the accompanying television spin-off series Thomas & Friends. Thomas the Tank Engine is a British anthropomorphised fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher, published from 1945.
