History of the Railway Series... sort of

Here you have it. A detailed history of both 'Thomas & Friends' and the books that inspired it, The Railway Series, as well as a look at some behind the scenes trivia. I learnt quite a bit about both the books and the show when making this video, hopefully you've learned something new too.
Chapter 1, Origins: 0:01:22
Chapter 2, Early Railway Series: 0:07:30
Chapter 3, The BBC's failed pilot: 0:16:43
Chapter 4, Real trains on Sodor: 0:21:55
Chapter 5, The preservation era: 0:31:54
Chapter 6, Global Audience: 0:40:52
Chapter 7, Thomas on TV: 0:44:57
Chapter 8, Little blue engine on the big screen: 0:57:00
Chapter 9, End of the line: 1:06:35
Previous video: • ♫ S.R.T. No. 03: Henry...
For those of you interested in Barry the Rescue Engine then check these videos by WildNorWester
Barry the Rescue Engine
Episode 1, The Lucky Ones: • Sodor the Early Years:...
Episode 2, Testing Times: • Sodor the Early Years:...
Episode 3, Back on Track: • Sodor the Early Years:...
Episode 4, A Troubled Engine: • Sodor the Early Years:...
Episode 5, Doubts: • Sodor the Early Years:...
WildNorWester's channel: / @wildnorwester
The Railway Series: Created by Wilbert, George & Christopher Awdry.
Thomas & Friends: Created by Britt Allcroft
Property of: Mattel
Chuggington: Created by Dick Rothkopf
Property of: Herschend Entertainment
Music by: Mike O'Donnel & Junior Campbell; Ed Welch; Robert Hartshorne; Kevin Roberage, Carl Taylor & Noah berg; Chris McHale & Dave Rivera; Sudrian Afro; Mavis M; NWRNO6Music; Steam Oddity & Elsbridge Studios

[@ChaoticCreations8002]

This is lovely you know. It makes me realize how much respect i have for the awdrys, and the absolute admiration for the railway series

[@jamesthebluecat1263]

8:35-8:41 *flashbacks to BWBA* That one didn’t age quite so well. Also FANTASTIC VIDEO 10/10! You are very underrated.

[@ThomasLover-fr8nh]

If there were a movie based on Awdry's life, it would include information from this video and be titled "Awdry". Cast: Tom Hiddleston as Wilbert Awdry John Cleese as older Wilbert Awdry Kate Winslet as Britt Allcroft Luke Evans as Ringo Starr

[@karaokebackgroundplaylists9878]

1:12:31 it's a disaster....Hurricane Mattel category 10 Hurricane devastates the island of Sodor and changed the tank engines into children like the HiT narrow gauge trains and turn it into the most devastating moments ever .... in 2025 *WE REALLY NEED A COMEBACK OF THE MODEL SERIES....EVEN BY 2030!!!!* and was worse 20% reboot doesn't has a freaking windmill .... (please tell me in the comments when you see a windmill in the garbage of this reboot)

[@andremcgee6698]

This is so accurate to what have Rev. w Audrey would act to seeing the Thomas reboot 1:12:29

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

DELIGHTFUL!

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

EXCELLENTLY EXCEPTIONALLY SPLENDIDLY SPECTACULAR WORK WITH THIS OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR SURE!

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

SPECTACULAR!

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

MARVELOUS!

[@missmanxee]

Well done on this beautiful video looking back on the history and the legacy of my favorite blue tank engine by the great Rev W Awdry and it has been my favorite childhood show since I first watched the classic model series when I was three years old and still love watching it today as well as reading the original books by both the Rev W Awdry and his son Christopher thanks for sharing this 👍❤️🚂

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

GORGEOUS!

[@POTC_Oscarandfriens]

1:06:17 OOOOHHHH FFFFOOOOOOKKKKKKKK!!!!! BURN IT!

[@watershipfalls5520]

This was a beutiful history video sir, Ashame what Awdrys legacy has bean reduced too.

[@TheGingerEngine]

Fantastic video my friend; very interesting and I really love your voice as well. Thank you so much for a great video :)

[@IsleofPigsStudios]

This is such a long history… good grief

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

WOWSERS!

[@superstepno835]

I grew up with Chuggington

[@PercytheSaddleTank]

O_O

[@archermania9314]

From Edward, Gordon, Henry, Alled Greedy, 98462 and 87546 to Thomas, Percy, Diesel, Mary Sue 1 and Mary Sue 2...... WHY?

[@AbbeyYard]

Wasn't Henry in the tunnel during Edward's Day Out?

[@archermania9314]

@@AbbeyYard yea, i guess it was either another engine or Awdry decided to make henry's event come before after the book was done. Continuity is kinda bumpy in the RWS

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

YIPPEE!!!!!

[@lowfurts]

YIPPEE!!!!!

[@bernarda1247]

STOP SPAMMING

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

WELL DONE!

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

❤

[@liamconnollyst]

I do find your version of the T&F timeline to be very good even though some users did a bit better than you.

[@erwincerda4980]

series 17 released in 2013

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

WOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!

[@Jetthehawk1994]

What's with all the smacking and clicking throughout the video? Also I noticed there were several times where a mouse cursor was seen on a picture. AND some of the dates are wrong.Series 17 started airing in 2013, before Kind of the Railway was released. "Whilst he was away." Yet he was still there.

[@elsbridgestudios1885]

Unfortunately I am still refining my editing process. The issue is my tongue often clicks as I speak. Hopefully in my next video I'll be able to edit most of those out. You're right about the dates for Series 17. The only explanation I can think of is a typo.

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

TERRIFIC!

[@javielalvarez5459]

53:40 Uhh,George Carlin was not born in 1947! He was born on May 12th,1937!