The Real Life Inspirations for Thomas Stories

Reverend Wilbert Awdry based most of his stories on real life events. Here is a video documenting every inspiration I could find for Awdry's stories and Seasons 5 and 6. Stories/Episodes not shown are ones I found no information about. My main source was the wiki.
This video is for documentary and commentary purposes, particularly for older fans. Children are not the intended audience.

[@t221000]

This is one more reason Thomas is the most realistic tv show for children. I'm stunned that Percy's Promise was based on a real life story and sadly that wasn't a happy ending. This is a truly amazing video.

[@-LLAMA-]

We all know that almost all of the original stories came from real-life events. Other shows have very dark or light hearted origins, but Thomas and Friends *WAS* just inspired by…trains. So simple, and so nostalgic.

[@Daniel_Huffman]

_Was_ just inspired by trains.

[@could_possiblybe_thane07echo]

@@Daniel_Huffman *WAS*

[@brick-x7p]

@@could_possiblybe_thane07echo WAS

[@theremoteanater]

Not anymore it's inspired by chuggington unfortunately, how does that even get so bad

[@-LLAMA-]

Sorry, *WAS*

[@georgespencer8429]

5:26 St Pancras was also an LMS station; Euston had been built by the LNWR (which ran to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Carlisle over Shap) while St Pancras had been built by the Midland Railway (which ran to Leicester, Derby, Sheffield, Leeds and over the "Long Drag" to Carlisle)

[@midnightexpress3604]

The locomotive that smashed the Signalbox was ex-LMS Jubilee N045730 Ocean. And a bit of background on Off the Rails it was submitted by a young reader of the RWS, who got a signed copy of Gordon the Big Engine as thanks. Finally, the picture given to Wilbert that was the inspiration for Super Rescue was from his grandson and his parents, his father having his camera at the time. Fantastic video. Edit: word changes

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

I heard in another video that for "Thomas Comes to Breakfast", there was a real incident involving the tank engine Thomas was based on. Apparently, one was working for a railroad that had a yard on an incline. One night, the tank's crew forgot to put the brakes on the locomotive. As it was on an incline, it naturally rolled out of the yard and crashed into a house belonging to the line's stationmaster. The stationmaster was not home at the time, and there is no record of whether his family happened to be present at any point.

[@UsefulEngine11]

I will say it's the real-life inspiration behind these stories that really make Wilbur and some of Christopher's books very enjoyable reread and the episodes that were adapted to watch as well. I still can't believe that there were some real-life events in season 5 episodes and Beyond. This was a nice video keep up the good work man.

[@alladinmoua]

"Toad Stands By" was more of a social commentary about the negligently horrible quality of some of the wooden private-owner wagons/freight cars in use at the time. When a company ships their goods by rail, it is slightly more expensive to rent out a freight car owned by the railroad company because part of the expense goes toward providing maintenance for that particular freight car. However, they don't have to use the railroad's equipment to ship their goods, and the railroads do allow their customers to provide their own freight cars. This way, the shipper does not have the maintenance cost added to their bill. But since the shipper owns the freight car and not the railroad, it is the shipper's responsibility to take care of their own equipment. This led to some instances of shady and penny-pinching companies handing over sub-par wagons that were cheaply constructed and terribly maintained to the un-suspecting railroad workers when they came to pick up the cars, and then said-wagons experiencing some sort of failure en-route, much to the annoyance of the people operating the trains. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_wagon Scruffy happened to be one of these terribly constructed and horribly maintained private-owner wagons. Real-life private-owner wagons/freight cars both in the UK and the US are often elaborately decorated with flashy and complex paint schemes, and when Sir Topham Hatt examined the scene, he found that Scruffy's owners had used this fact to their advantage to hide the "rotten wood" and "rusty frame" underneath. Even without Oliver, Scruffy was a ticking time bomb that would have eventually fallen apart out on the rails to any other unfortunate engine as his condition got worse with more passing time. Too bad for Scruffy, Oliver and Toad wanted to prove to the ballast wagons that Oliver could handle them without incident and happened to include him in his train.

[@thomastanker0257]

Replying so more people will see this

[@georgespencer8429]

It's why BR replaced them with standard 16-ton steel wagons.

[@coolthefool1]

Nice thesis

[@cabowerks3973]

Glad somebody knows this stuff!

[@jlaws8740]

I think the other reason behind that episode was the Russian engine that was so strong it pulled the trucks behind it apart, that's how strong it was.

[@alanhawley5530]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the hard work that was put into this montage but also the original theme songs added in here that we’ve all enjoyed as well as the stories

[@Douglas57647]

I've always found it fascinating to read about the real-life inspirations behind Awdry's stories, so to see all of them compiled into one video is quite a treat! Thank you for making this, and congratulations on 50,000 subscribers!

[@jamessullivan9048]

Man this video taught me a lot about one of my favortie series. It also taught me that Awdry apparently had his eye on Ireland often.

[@Ryder-a-Blaze]

Get your snacks ready people, because the man has uploaded once more.

[@TylerRakstis]

Probably one of my favorite aspects of the TV episodes based on The Railway Series stories, that most of it was loosely based on real life events. Same can go for most other movies or shows adapted from books, or movies or TV shows that are just created on their own.

[@georgespencer8429]

8:15 It was actually more serious than that; the crank pin on 70052 "Firth of Tay" broke on the descent from Ais Gill summit, and although the driver stopped the train at Garsdale he couldn't find anything (it was snowing in gale-force wind). Unfortunately, north of Settle the broken rod started wrecking the adjacent line just as a goods train passed, which derailed into the passenger train, killing 5 people.

[@ThomasFan3751]

In the case of The Deputation, Henry's incident is based on the story of a passenger train 101, the City of San Francisco, being snowbound due to a harsh winter storm in early 1952. For 6 days, Southern Pacific sent out their arsenal of rotary snow plows to clear the line and rescue the passenger train.

[@darkknight5541]

What I love about the railway series is how so much of its lore started out as just a loving father indulging his children. The entire franchise? Awdry made pictures and a story about a talking engine to cheer up his son when he was sick. Thomas himself? A handmade toy that came into being because he couldn't make a model of any of the existing tender engines. Thomas's branchline? The maps of it were first drawn to prove that Thomas vs Bertie was a fair race.

[@gilbertmartinez57]

I'm really shocked and impressed about the inspiration for Henry and the Elephant.

[@SirThanxalott]

6:16 for Break Van, the engine in question is a Jubilee, which due to similar designs,enthusiasts often got confused for the black fives.

[@GolemAvalanche]

I believe that the fate of Stanley/Smudger was also inspired by events on Wilbert's model sets, similar to Duck's supposed waddle. From what I've heard, the No. 2 for what would become the Mid-Sodor layout was apparently a rough rider that frequently derailed, and Awdry got fed up with it and integrated the engine into the set as a pumping engine.

[@callum110597]

Wow, what a load of inspirations! Wilbert really helped them come to life! (And the transitions, between each story in your video, were a little quick, for me to read.

[@TB76Returns]

Very well done, intricate and detailed

[@NewController01]

6:19 correction, it was actually a Jubilee class that crashed into the signal box

[@gavinomeara]

You know when I read the title for this video I didn’t think you were going to do every Wilbert story + season 5

[@joshuaW5621]

Plus seasons 6. It would be nice to know the inspirations for Christopher’s stories as well

[@matthewhedrichjr.5445]

Some real life stories can inspire fiction stories. Correct me if I’m wrong!

[@armorpro573]

Like Dracula for instance

[@connorflaherty175]

You know what they say, legends can be touched with truth.

[@Imoptimusprimevlogs]

9 years?! Dang bro. Good job!

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

3:54 Lassos were not used in this event. They just coupled up to the engine.

[@arober9758]

Very good job fellows!! Thank you for making this, and congratulations on 50,000 subscribers!

[@amitysluzara2022]

I thought there was no way some stories couldve been inspired by real life events but this proved me wrong I'm astonished

[@gilbertmartinez57]

(I'm probably repeating what other people have said but I don't care. This needs to be said.) This right here folks is the prime example of why we love Thomas The Tank Engine all these years after childhood (A show that's not just for kids)!!. We love the smiling happy trains but it's the world they live in that felt like a real place and was grounded in reality. I mean Come on what other show like this uses this much real life inspiration for its stories? Thomas was also a show that dealt with teaching morals, having serious and dark tones, and probably most important never talked down to it's audience or treated said audience like they were stupid! Thomas The Tank Engine is a show that sticks out among others and one we'll always love. Bravo Bravo!!👏👏

[@terrierproductions2648]

11:54 I love how it’s the fat controllers theme while the trucks are falling to there death

[@StocktonSubber]

That snowdrift that inspired the one in The Deputation was the snowdrift that stopped Southern Pacific’s City of San Francisco. That was during the winter season of 1951-1952. I have a DVD that went more into detail about it.

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

Other possible real-life events for Thomas season 5: * Cranky Bugs - Ships running aground and causing wreckage. * Horrid Lorry - Common road vehicle accidents. * Bye, George! - Possible train crash in a barn. * Put-upon Percy - Rock slides on railroads. * Haunted Henry - Train crash in ravines. * Thomas, Percy, & Old Slow Coach - Trains catching on fire. * Something In The Air - 1958 Newark bay accident. * Oliver’s Find - Sorta similar to Oliver’s accident in the turntable well. * Thomas & The Rumors - Possible tunnel crash. * Sir Topham Hatt’s Holiday - Boats stuck in mud and plane crashes. * Snow - 1910 avalanches.

[@camwhitehall]

I've always kept my childhood copy of the complete collection of The Railway Series books. A bit warn out now like any aged book would be, but still love rereading them from time to time.

[@Thomas1Edward2Henry3]

I still have mine too! It’s probably a lot more worn than yours (the cover is about to rip off) but I’ll never be getting rid of it!

[@randomnessetc5600]

@@Thomas1Edward2Henry3 Outside of the Miniature Railroad saga why not Seasons 7-24 footage?

[@joshuaW5621]

@@randomnessetc5600 or even the stories by Christopher?

[@randomnessetc5600]

@@joshuaW5621 Yes, them too.

[@connorflaherty175]

2:10, the wreck of Casey Jones in 1900 was another rear end scenario involving excess speed and signal reading. However, Casey either deliberately miss the warning from a flag man or didn’t see the warning properly instead of signal failure.

[@blairterry9435]

For the Deputation episode was inspired by the stranding of the Union Pacific/Southern Pacific/Chicago and Northwestern Streamlined Passenger train the City of San Francisco in 1952 on Donner Pass. There’s a SP promotional film called Snow On the Run features that incident and the equipment that SP used to make sure the tracks stay open.

[@JoesAnimationHub]

there is one missing I noticed... Passengers and Polish, which WAS a real event which occurred in 1961, from what I read in the book "Talyllyn Revived", apparently one of the two Glyn Valley Tramway coaches derailed with a broken spring in the centre of the consist of the 1.15 train, No.6 "Douglas" was in steam and was sent from Pendre with gangers to help restore order, while the front of the train had left for Abergynolwyn, the derailed coach was hand shunted while Douglas took the rear coaches back to Wharf (causing further delays to the days services [including delays to the service headed by No.4 "Edward Thomas"] leading to two later services becoming the 3.55), Douglas left wharf as 3.55 on time but shy of steam stalled on Dolgoch Viaduct, leaving No.1 "Talyllyn" to help pilot the train to Abergynolwyn...

[@Hendrixfan1]

I didn't know that the inspiration for James and the top hat was in my home country. Thanks for the information.

[@1_railfan]

Wow...you've done some serious research. I'm impressed. Some of the inspirations I know, while others I hear for the 1st time. Fantastic work man!

[@jplover7646]

6:15 I think that locomotive is a Stanier Jubilee instead of a Black Five. Notice that it has splashers above the wheels? Black Fives don't have those but Jubilees do.

[@Trollingdemon_07]

Glad to see your still posting T1E2H3

[@Bussid_gamer100]

Fun fact: Rev W Awdry was in a railway he used to work on and in some cgi movies and episodes you can see him standing and also in a bike

[@mattevans4377]

"Baa!" being a real event makes it even funnier than I first thought. It's nice to know some real vandals got their comeuppance.

[@Scythetrapstudios]

By the way T1E2H3 what your opinion on a close shave now after watching the rws books ranked from unlucky tug?.

[@lukemendel8197]

Stanley's story was also based on Awdry's Mid-Sodor Layout.

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

Trusty Trunky is based on a real life event in Australia where 2 elephants pushed a derailed train back onto the tracks.

[@thusgordonplot4721]

Nice

[@Chevykid11]

I will be very sad if Gordon draws his last smoke out of his firebox. I truly know and believe he is a great person. I consider him a person and he is my all time favorite. I have him on my desk right now.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

12:23 The New York Central railroad actually had a jet-powered train, the "Black Beetle" which was two jet engines from a B-52 bomber attached to a diesel railcar (similar to Daisy) with a streamlined nose. It reached 182mph. This could also be a possible inspiration.

[@saltbombcreations8336]

It’s also worth noting that the jet engines are cancerously loud.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

@@saltbombcreations8336 yeah no shit

[@Henryfan1Productions]

In Thomas And The New Engine, Neville’s accident was also based on a real event

[@HenryGresleySwiftBlueStar]

Nice, all this is nice

[@bm6chime]

The engine that crashed into the signal box was a Jubilee (i forget the specific number) and the train that inspired Henry getting stuck in “The Deputation” was the Southern Pacific’s “City Of San Francisco” which got stuck in a snowdrift on Donner Pass in Northern California, and it took around 6 or 7 days (if memory serves) for crews to get to the train and rescue it.

[@blairterry9435]

The City Of San Francisco was headed by two ALCO PA diesels in Southern Pacific Daylight colors. In the lead was a SP ALCO PA-A unit while the trailing unit was a ALCO PA-B or Booster unit. None of the SP ALCO PA either A or B units survived into preservation, but several former Santa Fe ALCO PAs did survive and 1 is being restored back to running condition as NKP 190. Another is being restored back into its original Santa Fe Warbonet paint scheme and back to running condition too. There is also a surviving ALCO PA B unit from Denver & Rio Grande Western that was used for the Ski Train out of Denver Union Station.

[@fridaynightfunkinfan5627]

2:50 I, AM MRS., NESBIT! That’s a Toy Story reference, for those of you who know. And maybe we know her first name now. Also, did you notice that you left so many typos in this video?

[@LittleOwl2003]

Mavis was also one of the engines on Awdrys layout, and so Tramway Engines gave him a chance to introduce her

[@connorflaherty175]

Recently, I have come to believe that the ghost story Percy tells at the start of “Percy’s Ghostly Trick” was actually inspired by the infamous Tay Bridge disaster of 1879, despite his driver mentioning it was just a fake story on tv.

[@jlaws8740]

6:21. That's a Jubilee, actually. Basically the passenger only version of the Black Five.

[@user-22744]

Man, this is what you and Awdry have in common

[@blasterblaster1221]

I knew about palmerston being a temporary stationary engine but i though the stanley being turned into a pumping engine was based on 590 being turned into a stationary boiler after the lines closure before being scrapped

[@mateboronkay2697]

T1E2H3: give out a video Me who lives in Europe: It's after midnight, I should sleep. Also Me: I don't think so...

[@TomedysTrains]

So the story of Percy & Harold was not [directly] inspired by the Lindbergh run from Washington to New York between a Pennsylvania Railroad train and an airplane both carrying film of Charles Lindbergh's welcome home party? Those stories are very similar.

[@The_Autistic_Prime]

Clicked faster than John Wick when he lost his puppy

[@generalprincecodyhedgewolf2944]

10:59 Gordons crash was also a reference to a federal Express train involving a GG1 Passenger express train It crashed in the station and fell into the basement Days before US President Eisenhower was nominated Thunderbolt 1000 had a video about it sadly though That happened AFTER a better view for gordon was released

[@rmgilyard]

It also inspired the crash of the famous Silver Streak of 1976

[@generalprincecodyhedgewolf2944]

@@rmgilyard that too

[@sbc9127]

9:41 Palmerston was used as a stationary boiler , not a generator

[@MarvelMTs]

“Boweled” Out? You mean did Class 40’s driver have Taco Bell? 🤣😂😆

[@malcolmwhite2420]

Donald's Duck was actually based on a real event that a bird once nested in a Tender based from the Railway Gazette.

[@LonleyScrapIron]

after all these years i'm surprised nothing like the Harrow And Wealdstone Disaster, Or The Clapham Junction Incident Was Adapted in the show, And I Feel Its Something Season 5 Would Do.

[@georgespencer8429]

6:16 Close, but it was a Jubilee (a 3-cylinder Black 5 built for passenger working), 45730 "Ocean".

[@Zombiehunter2_0]

Can you please do Christopher's books next?

[@thomasfan2054]

So Awesome

[@ellieandronansvlogs7081]

I’m a child I know children (kids) are not the intended audience (as with most of T1E2H3’s videos), but I’m basically the Thomas Wiki itself. Your main source for information would probably most likely be me. I’m a nostalgic fan (yet I’m not an adult yet), but yeah, I still love this stuff and I love history. (Social Studies in class is pretty boring, though.)

[@callumhaigh8233]

Can I just ask: What is your opinion on Thomas, Percy and the Dragon?

[@loganwirth4146]

Well done liked the bonus at the end too lol

[@rhyusbrand8311]

7:26 the bottom left illustration looks pretty much exactly the same (color differences of course).

[@harrisonallen651]

Awdry wanted to make his stories as real as possible

[@t221000]

Which is why he made the greatest show possible

[@FerdinandProductions2021]

If that’s the case, why does All Engines Go exist?

[@harrisonallen651]

@@FerdinandProductions2021 the American market

[@cesol1768]

​@@harrisonallen651 What?

[@sbc9127]

8:35 on the Romney hythe and dymchurch railway , and engine named green goddess pulling a passenger train derailed and looked eerily similar but this accident happened in 2005

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

Anymore information for Bluebell Of England and Stepeny’s Special?

[@jackmaksymowicz5387]

Do your Wilbert Awardy books ranked from worst to best.

[@joshuaW5621]

Entire Railway Series ranked

[@CassiusSharp]

9:40 It was also inspired by a model Awdery has, which he turned into a pumping engine because it would derail too.

[@georgespencer8429]

6:26 1952, City of San Francisco on the Donner Pass.

[@blairterry9435]

I agree. Watch Snow on the Run.

[@thusgordonplot4721]

Please, let us know if there were any other events for some stories like Edward’s day out, the sad story of Henry, Edward Gordon and Henry, Thomas and bertie, trouble in the shed, coal, and Gordon’s whistle, and ones for Thomas’s Christmas party, Henry’s sneeze, dirty objects, Thomas and the trucks, troublesome trucks, James and the express, Thomas Terrance and the snow, Thomas in trouble, and many other stories.

[@R3bisthesmallestbird]

You got 50K you know that!

[@joshuaW5621]

I wonder if the engine that was bricked up in the Sad Story of Henry’s inspiration was eventually let out. 5:47 there’s the real life Diesel, 13236. Btw, you forgot to mention the real life story that Thomas Comes to Breakfast m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnfRZnd6hb2siK8 I’m honestly a bit surprised by how many real life events took place in my country, that being Ireland. Flying Scotsman was also the only steam locomotive that was allowed to run on the main line after the end of steam, until the ban was broken by GWR King Class No. 6400 King George V. 9:32 the top middle picture looks like the buses I see, I don’t know if this is from Ireland though. It would have been nice to also see the inspirations behind Christopher’s stories, but maybe another time.

[@Thatspuremental]

I can’t find any footage on the Scotsman v plane race can you tell me where I might find that

[@sudrianrailwaystudios676]

Seems interesting. Though I did know a lot about the events of Down the Mine, Percy's Promise and Resource and Sagacity/Oliver Owns Up…

[@break-van-man9400]

The accident with Donald and the Signal box was caused by a stainier jubilee (basically just a black 5 for express trains)

[@Mim69420]

Some of these I knew and I didn’t but I’m a kid and here to say I’m the biggest kid fan watching the show. By KZbin to watch the good stuff and also the railway series

[@supremegalaxycentral]

What is a steam engine I should check out besides all the LNER's?

[@fridaynightfunkinfan5627]

You really put “Thomas and the Guard” where Thomas and Bertie was shown. I’m assuming that that was an accident? Also, Thomas Ter-ence and the Snow must’ve just been based on a real-life engine getting stuck in a snow bank. & maybe the second crash in Brake Van might have been based on a Stanier Black 5 engine destroying one in real life.

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

Where on the Sodor island fansite did you find this article at 11:46?

[@ZacharyCrawford-w3m]

YES ❤😂😊😅🎉

[@LBSC70]

I was hoping there'd be inspiration for Thomas and Gordon also where did you find the inspiration for the story

[@chandlerbranchrailfanprodu5928]

Inspired by True Events Like Unstoppable

[@skunkman9815]

That guard in the talyllyn railway incident is none other then wilburt awdry

[@aqilamazlan2976]

Whats the name of that 1890s train book where the opening rhyme for Sad Story Of Henry?

[@tomytrains8680]

Now this is why Thomas the tank engine was best by taking inspiration to make sodor realistic and believable.

[@armorpro573]

Nowadays it’s so obvious it’s pure fiction from the reboot

[@tomytrains8680]

@@armorpro573 yeah the older days put so much care while newer stuff just doesn't put enough effort into what the original did

[@armorpro573]

@@tomytrains8680 Tbh if they had just cancelled the show before the CGI era, I probably wouldn’t have even complained

[@tomytrains8680]

@@armorpro573 Man if the show ended after The Great Discovery would the fandom still continue like Bronies?

[@armorpro573]

@@tomytrains8680 Of course they would. I've seen tons of bronies online even in 2022. Fandoms never die off easily unless the majority happen to lose interest, which is pretty unlikely. One thing I always loved about the model series was the set designs. The producers really put a lot of detail primarily in season 3 and 4.

[@TTTEFan84]

There's going to be some real-life stuff

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

11:15 Wasn’t there even another incident with a train crashing into a barn?

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

Wasn’t there ever a mix-up with Alfred and Judy’s clay trucks with another engine’s?

[@hunterneitzel3012]

6:18 close, it was a lms jubilee class, which was the dedicated passenger version of the black 5, Power class 6p/5f

[@TheLazyFusspot_3428]

Yep, it has the signature wheel splashers that the Black 5 doesn't have... except Henry had them by the time Season 2 aired.

[@parker-boy98]

0:24 What book is that? The one from 1890s I mean. If anyone knows it, can they tell me?

[@thattankengineguy]

Awdry wanted his book series to be realistic as possible, so what better way to do that than base many stories on real life event.

[@Leonardo-cw1dd]

hmmm trainboy would probably really enjoy looking mode into the inspiration for busy bee james

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Was the Missing Coach inspired by anything?