List of Thomas the Tank Engine References in Real Life

The following is an alphabetical list of Thomas the Tank Engine-related sightings and references outside of print, television, film or other media.

Albert Crescent, Bristol

• Three oil tankers in Albert Crescent, Bristol, England, United Kingdom, are painted to resemble Thomas, James and Percy, along with a storage tank featuring Sir Topham Hatt alongside the silhouettes of Thomas, Annie and Clarabel. William Heinemann provided references for the characters while Christopher Awdry attended the dedicated on 29 June 1992, reading stories and adding his signature to the structures.

Emneth Parish Church

• A stained glass window of Thomas from The Railway Series can be seen in the parish church in the village of Emneth, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, as a tribute to Wilbert Awdry, who served there between 1953 and 1965.

Fat Controller (grill and oven pads)

• Planit Products Ltd, under their division Toastabags, produce grill and oven pads called Fat Controller. There is also other Fat Controller grill and oven pads produced by Aldi, under their private label brand, Alio. They are sold in the UK and Ireland.
  • On 11 December 2020, it was reported in The Sun that a mother accidentally ordered the grill and oven pads for her toddler son.

Ferry Meadows Miniature Railway

• The Ferry Meadows Railway in Peterborough, England, United Kingdom, operates a 10.25-inch gauge diesel-hydraulic locomotive named Charles, designed with the appearance of a traditional steam engine. Notably, Charles has a face reminiscent of the anthropomorphic steam engine characters from The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends.

Gillingham Railway Station (Dorset)

• As part of a commemorative Railway 200 display at Station Road in Gillingham, Dorset, England, United Kingdom in 2025, a model of Thomas, constructed from recycled materials, was built by the grounds team.

Great North Eastern Railway

• The former British train operating company, Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) named one of its class 91 locomotives, 91124, after Wilbert Awdry and bore his name until 2007, when GNER's operations were taken over by National Express East Coast.

Holy Trinity Church

• A Great Eastern Railway bench themed around Elsbridge is installed in the back of the church in the village of Elsworth, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom, as a tribute to Wilbert Awdry, who served there between 1946 and 1953.

Kings Norton, Birmingham

• A mural of Wilbert Awdry and Thomas is painted on a bridge at Kings Norton railway station, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, honouring the Reverend's time serving as curate at St. Nicolas' Church.

Locke Park

• In Locke Park, located in the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, there is a carved Thomas on a tree stump.

Mallow Railway Station

• On Platform 1 of Mallow Railway Station in County Cork, Ireland, statues of Thomas and James from Thomas & Friends can be seen either side of a home signal.

The Matlock Raft Event

• A raft based on Thomas the Tank Engine competed in the 36th Annual Matlock Raft Event on 26 December 1997 in the River Derwent, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom.

Norfolk

• In the villages of Upwell and Outwell, located in Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, two memorial signs for the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway feature Toby on them. These projects was done by local historian and author Bill Smith around 2016.

• • In Upwell, the memorial sign is up on display outside the Upwell Health Centre. It mentions how the tramway became internationally famous through the "Thomas the Tank Engine" books, as it was the inspiration for "Toby the Tram". An edited image of Toby from the Thomas & Friends episode, Toby and the Stout Gentleman from the first series and an edited CGI Thomas & Friends image of Mavis are used on the memorial.

• • In Outwell, the memorial sign mentions how the tramway served as the inspiration for "Toby the Tram" for Wilbert Awdry who was a one time vicar of the nearby village of Emneth.

Oakfield Park

• Oakfield Park, located in Raphoe, County Donegal, Ireland, features the Difflin Lake Railway, a 4.5-kilometre narrow-gauge track. Among its locomotives is 'The Earl of Oakfield', a blue diesel engine modified to resemble Thomas from Thomas & Friends, by adding a Thomas face and a funnel.
  • Originally, the Thomas face was based on 2000s promotional images but has later been based on the CGI-style Thomas face.

Oxford Railway Station

• In 2021, the city of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England, was named the "UK's friendliest city", and a sign reading "Twinned with the Island of Sodor" was put up at the town's railway station, featuring Thomas and Nia.

Preserve South, Columbus

• Numerous roads in the Preserve South district of Columbus, Ohio, United States within the Albany Chase apartment complex, are named after towns on Island of Sodor in both The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends, including Arlesdale, Brendam (spelt as Brendham), Elsbridge, Hackenbeck, Kellsthorpe, (spelt as Kellesthorpe), Knapford, Marthwaite, Tidmouth, Ulfstead, Vicarstown and Wellsworth, in addition to the Island itself.

Red Bull Soapbox Race

• In 2015, a soapbox entry based on Trevor from Thomas & Friends competed at the Red Bull Soapbox Race in London, England, United Kingdom. (YouTube) It returned to compete at the Bideford Soapbox Derby in 2022.

Reverend Awdry's Ale

See: Reverend Awdry's Ale

Rodborough Parish Church

• Part of a stained glass window at Rodborough Parish Church in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom, depicts the Rev. W. Awdry closing the door to Thomas' shed. This window was commissioned in 1996 and installed in 1998 and commemorates both Wilbert and Margaret Awdry.

Rose of Tralee

• In the 2024 festival parade held at Tralee, Kerry, Ireland, a float based on Thomas from Thomas & Friends was used. (YouTube)

St. Ives Guildhall

• There is a floral arrangement of Thomas outside St. Ives Guildhall in Street An Pol, St. Ives, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.

Strumpshaw Museum

• The narrow gauge railway at the Strumpshaw Hall Steam Museum in South Norfolk, England, United Kingdom features a locomotive that bears a striking resemblance to James from Thomas & Friends. The locomotive is named "Jimmy" (a diminutive form of James), and carries a red livery, number 5, and even a face inspired by James'.

Thomas Perry

• American football player Thomas Perry is nicknamed "Thomas the Tank".

Tottenham Hotspur

• In 2025, Thomas Frank became the new manager of British football team, Tottenham Hotspur, and fans have been jokingly referring to him as "Thomas the Frank Engine"

Two Harbors, Minnesota

• Sir Topham Hatt was honoured with the key to the city in Two Harbors, Minnesota, United States by Mayor Lew Conner in 2024. The honour was given in recognition of the Day Out with Thomas events helping to boost the city's economy the previous year.

References

Thomas the Tank Engine in Culture

---