

In the United States, it was first broadcast along with the spin-off series Shining Time Station on PBS' PTV Park block in 1989. They work for the Fat Controller, who always wants his engines to be "really useful engines". The series follows the adventures of Thomas, an anthropomorphised blue steam locomotive on the fictional North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor, and several other anthropomorphised locomotives on the North Western Railway, including Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby. Awdry and his son Christopher, the series was developed for television by Britt Allcroft. Based on The Railway Series books by Rev.
Thomas & Friends (originally known as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and later Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!) is a British children's television series that aired across 24 series from 1984 to 2021.
