The Real Life Inspirations for Thomas Stories
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- 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.
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.
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)
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.
_Was_ just inspired by trains.
@@Daniel_Huffman *WAS*
@@could_possiblybe_thane07echo WAS
Not anymore it's inspired by chuggington unfortunately, how does that even get so bad
Sorry, *WAS*
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
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!
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
Get your snacks ready people, because the man has uploaded once more.
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.
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.
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.
3:54 Lassos were not used in this event. They just coupled up to the engine.
6:19 correction, it was actually a Jubilee class that crashed into the signal box
Very well done, intricate and detailed
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.
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.
9 years?! Dang bro. Good job!
I'm really shocked and impressed about the inspiration for Henry and the Elephant.
I thought there was no way some stories couldve been inspired by real life events but this proved me wrong I'm astonished
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.
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.
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.
Very good job fellows!! Thank you for making this, and congratulations on 50,000 subscribers!
11:54 I love how it’s the fat controllers theme while the trucks are falling to there death
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.
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.
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!
@@Thomas1Edward2Henry3 Outside of the Miniature Railroad saga why not Seasons 7-24 footage?
@@randomnessetc5600 or even the stories by Christopher?
@@joshuaW5621 Yes, them too.
I didn't know that the inspiration for James and the top hat was in my home country. Thanks for the information.
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!
Stanley's story was also based on Awdry's Mid-Sodor Layout.
Trusty Trunky is based on a real life event in Australia where 2 elephants pushed a derailed train back onto the tracks.
Nice
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?
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
It also inspired the crash of the famous Silver Streak of 1976
@@rmgilyard that too
In Thomas And The New Engine, Neville’s accident was also based on a real event
9:41 Palmerston was used as a stationary boiler , not a generator
6:21. That's a Jubilee, actually. Basically the passenger only version of the Black Five.
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
6:26 1952, City of San Francisco on the Donner Pass.
I agree. Watch Snow on the Run.
So Awesome
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.
7:26 the bottom left illustration looks pretty much exactly the same (color differences of course).
Mavis was also one of the engines on Awdrys layout, and so Tramway Engines gave him a chance to introduce her
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.
Awdry wanted to make his stories as real as possible
Which is why he made the greatest show possible
If that’s the case, why does All Engines Go exist?
@@FerdinandProductions2021 the American market
@@harrisonallen651 What?
11:15 Wasn’t there even another incident with a train crashing into a barn?
Well done liked the bonus at the end too lol
Donald's Duck was actually based on a real event that a bird once nested in a Tender based from the Railway Gazette.
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.)
Do your Wilbert Awardy books ranked from worst to best.
Entire Railway Series ranked
You got 50K you know that!
Can I just ask: What is your opinion on Thomas, Percy and the Dragon?
Now this is why Thomas the tank engine was best by taking inspiration to make sodor realistic and believable.
Nowadays it’s so obvious it’s pure fiction from the reboot
@@armorpro573 yeah the older days put so much care while newer stuff just doesn't put enough effort into what the original did
@@tomytrains8680 Tbh if they had just cancelled the show before the CGI era, I probably wouldn’t have even complained
@@armorpro573 Man if the show ended after The Great Discovery would the fandom still continue like Bronies?
@@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.
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.th-cam.com/video/xFn5DDPXyRM/w-d-xo.html
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.
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 TH-cam to watch the good stuff and also the railway series
Anymore information for Bluebell Of England and Stepeny’s Special?
There's going to be some real-life stuff
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…
nice
The accident with Donald and the Signal box was caused by a stainier jubilee (basically just a black 5 for express trains)
Wow so cool
I wager a signalman ahead of the locomotive number 4866 probably turned the points to the trap points derailing the runaway engine
“Boweled” Out? You mean did Class 40’s driver have Taco Bell? 🤣😂😆
Whats the name of that 1890s train book where the opening rhyme for Sad Story Of Henry?
hmmm trainboy would probably really enjoy looking mode into the inspiration for busy bee james
The engine in the photo for break van is an image of Stanier jubilee
6:18 close, it was a lms jubilee class, which was the dedicated passenger version of the black 5, Power class 6p/5f
Yep, it has the signature wheel splashers that the Black 5 doesn't have... except Henry had them by the time Season 2 aired.
I was hoping there'd be inspiration for Thomas and Gordon also where did you find the inspiration for the story
I can’t find any footage on the Scotsman v plane race can you tell me where I might find that
Whoa amazing
Where on the Sodor island fansite did you find this article at 11:46?
0:00 Name of Song
What is a steam engine I should check out besides all the LNER's?
Wow 😯 cool 😎
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.
0:24 What book is that? The one from 1890s I mean. If anyone knows it, can they tell me?
Do you happen to know the name of that 1890s children's book?
Please, list the events of the Talyllyn’s early days
6:16 The locomotive is a Jubilee, but Black Five was close
This Is Spinal Tap for trainspotters.
You forgot about Thomas & The Trucks and a few other stories/Videos
Nice
I feel like Percy and the Trousers had nothing at all to do with “Henry the Green Engine”, other than the fact that Henry had 2 cameos in the show. I also feel like that should have been the British dub’s name for A Scarf for Percy. And Double Header should’ve been the name of their dub of Time for Trouble. But would Domeless Engines have been a good British name for Gordon and the Famous Visitor?
I remember them
Inspired by True Events
Like Unstoppable
50k!!!
Cool
"Thomas and the Guard" & "Mavis" are both accidentally shown twice.
9:15 - What? I didn’t know Oliver owns up has a different title in the RWS. Well, we live and learn.
Thought TBH I prefer the TV Series title than the RWS line
Very good video, Thomas1Edward2Henry3 :D
What’s the inspiration to bulstrode
I would think "Thomas the jet engine" would more be based on when New York Central streamlined a Budd RDC and mounted the jet engines from a B-36 on the roof. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-497_Black_Beetle
The engine the photo for brake van is a jubilee class
12:32 *Stanier Jubilee.
0:57 looks like Sir Topham Hatt’ head is falling off
I think the reason why Wilbert named Edward, from what I remember, its because he had a brother called Edward, who died in WWI
I do know he did have a brother but can’t find anything to say that was the main cause
Could still be tho
I’d like to known some TV episode’s real events
i just realized Donald’s duck- is reference of Donald Duck
Percys promise has a basis?!
6:17 Stanier Jubilee
Is cool
Thomas fandoms:
🤯 OH MY SH*T!?
THE STORIES ARE TRUE!!!!!!!
Hmm. Interesting