Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
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{{Infobox Person
 
{{Infobox Person
 
|title1=Christopher Awdry
 
|title1=Christopher Awdry
|image1=File:ChristopherAwdryin70YearsofFriendship.jpg
+
|image1=ChristopherAwdryin70YearsofFriendship.jpg
|born=2 July 1940<br/>Devizes, Wiltshire, England
+
|born=2 July 1940 <small>(age 83)</small> <br/>Devizes, Wiltshire, England
 
|died=
 
|died=
 
|nationality=English
 
|nationality=English
|occupation=Author, railway enthusiast
+
|occupation=Tax Inspector<br>Author<br>Railway enthusiast
|years_active=1983-present
+
|years_active=1983-2011 {{RWS}}
 
|parent(s)=
 
|parent(s)=
 
* [[Wilbert Awdry]] {{Note|father}}
 
* [[Wilbert Awdry]] {{Note|father}}
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|children=
 
|children=
 
* Verity Awdry {{Note|b. 1971}}
 
* Verity Awdry {{Note|b. 1971}}
* Richard Awdry {{Note|b. 1980}}
+
* [[Richard Awdry]] {{Note|b. 1980}}
  +
}}{{Quote|Dear Christopher,
}}
 
  +
:Here is your friend [[Thomas (RWS)|Thomas the Tank Engine]]. He wanted to come out of his station yard and see the world. These stories tell you how he did it.
'''Christopher Vere Awdry''' (born 2 July 1940) is an English writer who wrote [[The Railway Series|''The Railway Series'']] from 1983 to 2011. He is the son of [[Wilbert Awdry]], the man who originally created ''The Railway Series'', and was partly responsible for the creation of the books.
 
  +
  +
:I hope you will like them because you helped me to make them.|[[Wilbert Awdry|Your Loving Daddy]]}}'''Christopher Vere Awdry''' (born 2 July 1940) is an English writer who is the son of [[Wilbert Awdry]], his father who originally created ''[[The Railway Series]]''. He is best known for co-creating [[Thomas|Thomas the Tank Engine]] with his father, as well as continuing ''The Railway Series'' from 1983 to 2011.
   
 
==Biography==
 
==Biography==
  +
Christopher Vere Awdry was born on 2 July 1940 to [[Wilbert Awdry|Wilbert]] and [[Margaret Awdry]]. When he was two, his bout of measles, which left him bed-ridden, inspired his father to tell him bedtime stories that eventually made up ''[[The Three Railway Engines]]'', and a wooden toy, also made for him by his father, eventually became [[Thomas]]. When he grew up, he became a tax inspector for the English Government, but he resigned from his job when he decided to continue his father's work writing [[The Railway Series|'' The Railway Series'']], writing books for it from 1983 to 2011. He used to be a vice president of the [[Talyllyn Railway]].{{Ref|[https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/news/tracksiders-may-2021 Talyllyn Tracksiders - May 2021]}}
  +
==Books Written==
  +
{{Scroll box|1====[[The Railway Series]]===
  +
<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
  +
File:ReallyUsefulEnginesCover.png|[[Really Useful Engines]] (1983)
  +
File:JamesandtheDieselEnginesCover.png|[[James and the Diesel Engines]] (1984)
  +
File:GreatLittleEnginesCover.png|[[Great Little Engines]] (1985)
  +
File:NoImagePlaceholder.png|[[Barry the Rescue Engine]] (1980s; cancelled)
  +
File:MoreAboutThomastheTankEngineCover.png|[[More About Thomas the Tank Engine]] (1986)
  +
File:GordontheHigh-SpeedEngineCover.png|[[Gordon the High-Speed Engine]] (1987)
  +
File:Toby,TrucksandTroubleCover.png|[[Toby, Trucks and Trouble]] (1988)
  +
File:ThomasandtheTwinsCover.png|[[Thomas and the Twins]] (1989)
  +
File:JocktheNewEngineCover.png|[[Jock the New Engine]] (1990)
  +
File:ThomasandtheGreatRailwayShowCover.png|[[Thomas and the Great Railway Show]] (1991)
  +
File:ThomasComesHomeCover.png|[[Thomas Comes Home]] (1992)
  +
File:HenryandtheExpressCover.png|[[Henry and the Express]] (1993)
  +
File:WilberttheForestEngineCover.png|[[Wilbert the Forest Engine]] (1994)
  +
File:ThomasandtheFatControllersEnginesCover.png|[[Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines]] (1995)
  +
File:NewLittleEngineCover.png|[[New Little Engine]] (1996)
  +
File:TheThreeRailwayEngine1998edition.png|[[The Three Railway Engines]] (1998; foreword)
  +
File:ThomasandVictoriaCover.png|[[Thomas and Victoria]] (2007)
  +
File:ThomasandHisFriendsCover.png|[[Thomas and his Friends]] (2011)
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
===Companion Volumes===
  +
<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
  +
File:ThomasandtheMissingChristmasTree(story).PNG|[[Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree (story)|Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree]] (1986)
  +
File:ThomasandtheEvilDiesel1987Cover.png|[[Thomas and the Evil Diesel]] (1987)
  +
File:ThomasandtheHurricaneCover.png|[[Thomas and the Hurricane]] (1992)
  +
File:BadDaysforThomasandhisFriends.jpg|[[Bad Days for Thomas and his Friends]] (2001)
  +
File:MoreBadDaysforThomasandhisFriends.png|[[More Bad Days for Thomas and his Friends]] (2001)
  +
File:SodorReadingBetweentheLines.jpg|[[Sodor: Reading Between the Lines]] (2005)
  +
File:ThomastheTankEnginetheNewCollection.jpg|[[Thomas the Tank Engine: The New Collection]] (2007; foreword)
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</gallery>
  +
  +
===[[Annuals]]===
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<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
  +
File:1985Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1985]] (1984)
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File:1986Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1986]] (1985)
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File:1987Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1987]] (1986)
  +
File:1988Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1988]] (1987)
  +
File:1989Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1989]] (1988)
  +
File:1990Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1990]] (1989)
  +
File:1991Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1991]] (1990)
  +
File:1992Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1992]] (1991)
  +
File:1993Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1993]] (1992)
  +
File:1994Annual.jpg|[[Annuals|Annual 1994]] (1993)
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
===Pop-Up Books===
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<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
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File:JamestheRedEngineandtheSignal.jpg|[[James the Red Engine and the Signal]] (1994)
  +
File:ThomastheTankEngineCatchesaThief.jpg|[[Thomas the Tank Engine Catches a Thief]] (1995)
  +
File:ThomastheTankEngineandtheScrambledEggs.png|[[Thomas the Tank Engine and the Scrambled Eggs]] (1995)
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
===Mini/Board/Sticker books===
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<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
  +
File:ThomasandtheLostCat.PNG|[[Thomas and the Lost Cat]] (1988)
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File:Percy and the postman.jpg|[[Percy and the Postman]] (1988)
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File:JamesPullstheCircusTrainJapaneseCover.jpg|[[James Pulls the Circus Train]] (1988)
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File:ThomasandtheBaby.png|[[Thomas and the Baby (book)|Thomas and the Baby]] (1989)
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File:JamesandtheBalloons.jpg|[[James and the Balloons]] (1990)
  +
File:ThomasandtheBirthdayParty.jpg|[[Thomas and the Birthday Party]] (1990)
  +
File:ThomasandtheBadDog.jpg|[[Thomas and the Bad Dog]] (1990)
  +
File:EdwardPlaysFootballJapaneseCover.jpg|[[Edward Plays Football]] (1991)
  +
File:HenryandtheTunnel(MiniBook).jpg|[[Henry and the Tunnel (mini-book)|Henry and the Tunnel]] (1991)
  +
File:ThomasandtheTigerminibookcover.jpg|[[Thomas and the Tiger]] (1991)
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File:ThomastheTankEngine'sEuropeanWordBook.png|[[Thomas the Tank Engine's European Word Book]] (1991)
  +
File:ThomasandtheDinosaur.JPG|[[Thomas and the Dinosaur]] (1992)
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File:PercyandtheKite.png|[[Percy and the Kite]] (1992)
  +
File:HenrygoestotheHospital.jpg|[[Henry Goes to the Hospital]] (1992)
  +
File:TelltheTimewithThomasoriginalcover.jpg|[[Tell the Time with Thomas]] (1992)
  +
File:LearnwithThomas.png|[[Learn with Thomas (book)|Learn with Thomas]] (1993)
  +
File:TrackingThomastheTankEngineandhisFriends.jpg|[[Tracking Thomas the Tank Engine and his Friends]] (1993)
  +
File:ThomasandthePonyShow.jpg|[[Thomas and the Pony Show]] (1993)
  +
File:HenryandtheGhostTrain.jpg|[[Henry and the Ghost Train]] (1993)
  +
File:Duck and the parrot.jpg|[[Duck and the Parrot]] (1994)
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File:AATBoardBookCover.png|[[All About Thomas (1994 board book)|All About Thomas]] (1994)
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File:ThomasandthePrizePig.png|[[Thomas and the Prize Pig]] (1994)
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File:PercytheNightTrain.jpg|[[Percy the Night Train]] (1994)
  +
File:JamesandtheFatController.jpg|[[James and the Fat Controller]] (1994)
  +
File:EdwardandtheBear.jpg|[[Edward and the Bear]] (1994)
  +
File:ThomasandtheGiantCover.png|[[Thomas and the Giant (sticker book)|Thomas and the Giant]] (1994)
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File:ThomasandtheStationCat.jpg|[[Thomas and the Station Cat]] (1995)
  +
File:DowntheLinewithThomas.jpg|[[Down the Line with Thomas]] (1995)
  +
File:ThomasGoestoSchool.jpg|[[Thomas Goes to School]] (1998)
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</gallery>
  +
  +
===[[Thomas Changing Picture Books]]===
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<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
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File:SillyEngines.jpg|[[Silly Engines]] (1994)
  +
File:WeatherJames.png|[[Weather]] (1994)
  +
File:BusyEnginesCPB.jpg|[[Busy Engines (Thomas Changing Picture Book)|Busy Engines]] (1994)
  +
File:Night-Time.PNG|[[Night-Time]] (1995)
  +
</gallery>}}
   
==Original Stories==
+
==Episodes Written==
 
===[[Series 2]]===
 
===[[Series 2]]===
 
* [[Thomas, Percy and the Coal]]
 
* [[Thomas, Percy and the Coal]]
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* [[Special Attraction]]
 
* [[Special Attraction]]
 
* [[Mind that Bike]]
 
* [[Mind that Bike]]
  +
  +
===[[Series 6]]===
  +
* [[James and the Red Balloon]] {{Note|original: uncredited}}
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
===''[[The Railway Series]]''===
 
===''[[The Railway Series]]''===
  +
* '''[[Thomas the Tank Engine]]''' - [[Thomas the Tank Engine#Foreword|Foreword]] {{Mentioned}}
 
* '''[[Troublesome Engines]]''' - [[Troublesome Engines#Percy Runs Away|Percy Runs Away]] {{Cameo}}
 
* '''[[Troublesome Engines]]''' - [[Troublesome Engines#Percy Runs Away|Percy Runs Away]] {{Cameo}}
  +
  +
====Companion Volumes====
  +
* '''1996''' - [[Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection]] {{Note|foreword; mentioned}}
   
 
===Documentaries===
 
===Documentaries===
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* [[Secret Journey of Thomas the Tank Engine]]
 
* [[Secret Journey of Thomas the Tank Engine]]
   
  +
== Other Books Written ==
==Voice Actors (Overdubbing)==
 
  +
Christopher Awdry has written various other books, which feature anthropomorphic vehicles.
  +
<gallery position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" bordersize="none">
  +
File:TheChipsExpress.jpg|The Chips Express (1996)
  +
File:HughGoesSliding.jpg|Hugh Goes Sliding (2001)
  +
File:GeneralTakesCharge.jpg|General Takes Charge (2001)
  +
File:RachelAndTheGoose.jpg|Rachel and the Goose (2001)
  +
File:WesternAndTheLostRing.jpg|Western and the Lost Ring (2002)
  +
File:Eastbourne'sWeddingSpecial.jpg|Eastbourne's Wedding Special (2002)
  +
File:OilyKeepsThingsGoing.jpg|Oily Keeps Things Going (2002)
  +
File:OilyAndTheFlood.jpg|Oily and the Flood (2004)
  +
File:LotiAndTheLostLocket.jpg|Loti and the Lost Locket (2005)
  +
File:LotiAndTheEnchantedForest.jpg|Loti and the Enchanted Forest (2006)
  +
</gallery>
  +
 
==Voice Actors==
 
* [[Ryūji Nakagi]] {{Note|Japan; [[Run! Thomas & Friends "Steam Locomotive is Alive"]]}}
 
* [[Ryūji Nakagi]] {{Note|Japan; [[Run! Thomas & Friends "Steam Locomotive is Alive"]]}}
   
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
  +
* Christopher and his wife, Diana Awdry, founded [[Sodor Enterprises]] in 2001 to publish and sell his books.{{Ref|[https://web.archive.org/web/20030811084838/http://www.sodor.co.uk/page2.html About Us] on Sodor Enterprises}}
* Christopher Awdry also wrote a series of books about the engines of the Eastbourne Miniature Railway.
 
 
* Christopher Awdry wrote a book promoting restoration work on the Corris Railway, based on real events called "Hugh Goes Sliding". It was illustrated by railway transport artist Johnathan Clay.
* Christopher has stated that his favourite character is [[Toby]].
 
  +
* In 2015, a year after The Guardian posted an article regarding accusations that Thomas is a "racist", "sexist", "communist" tank engine, an article from The Telegraph stated that he stood in defence of his father's creation against some left-wing parents and academics by responding that "the engines are punished for displaying 'arrogance' and 'naughtiness', not initiative".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240114173045/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11602184/Christopher-Awdry-why-sour-Lefties-are-wrong-about-Thomas-the-Tank-Engine.html Christopher Awdry defends Thomas the Tank Engine on The Telegraph]</ref>
* Christopher Awdry wrote a book promoting restoration work on the Corris Railway, based on real events called "Hugh goes Sliding". It was illustrated by railway transport artist Johnathan Clay.
 
 
* Christopher has stated that his favourite character is [[Toby (RWS)|Toby]].
  +
* Despite Christopher's opposition to the [[Egmont Publishing#The Railway Series|new format versions of the ''Railway Series'']] in 1998, [[Egmont Publishing]] published the books.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070506041432/http://www.aran48.dsl.pipex.com/faqs.htm Frequently Asked Questions] on Awdry Family Website</ref> However, the new format was eventually discontinued and scrapped due to negative feedback.
 
* In [[Sodor: Reading Between the Lines]], he stated that [[Thomas Goes Fishing]], [[Dirty Objects]], [[Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady]] and [[Thomas Comes to Breakfast]] were some of his favourite stories. He also added that Thomas Goes Fishing and Thomas Comes to Breakfast were also some of his father's favourite stories as well.
 
* In [[Sodor: Reading Between the Lines]], he stated that [[Thomas Goes Fishing]], [[Dirty Objects]], [[Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady]] and [[Thomas Comes to Breakfast]] were some of his favourite stories. He also added that Thomas Goes Fishing and Thomas Comes to Breakfast were also some of his father's favourite stories as well.
  +
* Within the Railway Series canon, he has met Percy in person when he was a small boy.
  +
* Sodor Island Fansite (SiF) planned to interview Christopher in August 2011, but he pulled out of the interview, and it was subsequently cancelled.{{Ref|[https://web.archive.org/web/20111001001623/http://www.sodor-island.net/thomasnews.html Chris Awdry pulls out of SiF Interview] on SiF's News}}
  +
* On a 2020 livestream, Luke Ryan, Head of Media at [[Talyllyn Railway]], revealed that Christopher is rather "shut-in" as of now.<ref>[https://rumble.com/v2lawq4-model-trains-with-faces-the-stream-featuring-sudrian-railway-modeler-and-lu.html?start=8060 Model Trains with Faces: The Stream - Featuring Sudrian Railway Modeler and Luke Ryan (2:14:20)]</ref>
  +
** In 2021, Twitter user @LostEngines bought a book signed by Christopher and was able to ask him two questions. The questions being; "Has Richard Topham taken over the railway yet?" and "How did the engines cope with COVID?" Christopher's response for the first question was "No," and his answer for the second question he responded was: "They've been well isolated."<ref>[https://twitter.com/LostEngines/status/1468585297667493888 @LostEngines on Twitter]</ref>
  +
  +
==References==
  +
{{Reflist}}
   
==External Link==
+
==External Links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080417064337/http://www.awdry.family.name/ Awdry Family website]
+
* Awdry Family Website (''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060216174710/http://www.aran48.dsl.pipex.com 2004-2006], [https://web.archive.org/web/20090324064559/http://www.awdry.family.name 2007-2009]'')
   
 
{{The Railway Series}}
 
{{The Railway Series}}
  +
{{Reflist}}
  +
[[de:Christopher Awdry]]
 
[[es:Christopher Awdry]]
 
[[es:Christopher Awdry]]
 
[[he:כריסטופר אודרי]]
 
[[he:כריסטופר אודרי]]

Latest revision as of 15:51, 6 March 2024

Main Page

“Dear Christopher,
Here is your friend Thomas the Tank Engine. He wanted to come out of his station yard and see the world. These stories tell you how he did it.
I hope you will like them because you helped me to make them.”
Your Loving Daddy

Christopher Vere Awdry (born 2 July 1940) is an English writer who is the son of Wilbert Awdry, his father who originally created The Railway Series. He is best known for co-creating Thomas the Tank Engine with his father, as well as continuing The Railway Series from 1983 to 2011.

Biography

Christopher Vere Awdry was born on 2 July 1940 to Wilbert and Margaret Awdry. When he was two, his bout of measles, which left him bed-ridden, inspired his father to tell him bedtime stories that eventually made up The Three Railway Engines, and a wooden toy, also made for him by his father, eventually became Thomas. When he grew up, he became a tax inspector for the English Government, but he resigned from his job when he decided to continue his father's work writing The Railway Series, writing books for it from 1983 to 2011. He used to be a vice president of the Talyllyn Railway.[1]

Books Written

The Railway Series

Companion Volumes

Annuals

Pop-Up Books

Mini/Board/Sticker books

Thomas Changing Picture Books

Episodes Written

Series 2

Series 4

Series 6

Appearances

The Railway Series

Companion Volumes

Documentaries

Other Books Written

Christopher Awdry has written various other books, which feature anthropomorphic vehicles.

Voice Actors

Trivia

  • Christopher and his wife, Diana Awdry, founded Sodor Enterprises in 2001 to publish and sell his books.[2]
  • Christopher Awdry wrote a book promoting restoration work on the Corris Railway, based on real events called "Hugh Goes Sliding". It was illustrated by railway transport artist Johnathan Clay.
  • In 2015, a year after The Guardian posted an article regarding accusations that Thomas is a "racist", "sexist", "communist" tank engine, an article from The Telegraph stated that he stood in defence of his father's creation against some left-wing parents and academics by responding that "the engines are punished for displaying 'arrogance' and 'naughtiness', not initiative".[3]
  • Christopher has stated that his favourite character is Toby.
  • Despite Christopher's opposition to the new format versions of the Railway Series in 1998, Egmont Publishing published the books.[4] However, the new format was eventually discontinued and scrapped due to negative feedback.
  • In Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, he stated that Thomas Goes Fishing, Dirty Objects, Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady and Thomas Comes to Breakfast were some of his favourite stories. He also added that Thomas Goes Fishing and Thomas Comes to Breakfast were also some of his father's favourite stories as well.
  • Within the Railway Series canon, he has met Percy in person when he was a small boy.
  • Sodor Island Fansite (SiF) planned to interview Christopher in August 2011, but he pulled out of the interview, and it was subsequently cancelled.[5]
  • On a 2020 livestream, Luke Ryan, Head of Media at Talyllyn Railway, revealed that Christopher is rather "shut-in" as of now.[6]
    • In 2021, Twitter user @LostEngines bought a book signed by Christopher and was able to ask him two questions. The questions being; "Has Richard Topham taken over the railway yet?" and "How did the engines cope with COVID?" Christopher's response for the first question was "No," and his answer for the second question he responded was: "They've been well isolated."[7]

References


External Links