Sodor Reading Between the Lines

Why is Thomas Blue?

What did the Rev'd Awdry think of the TV Series?

Which Story does Percy first appear in?

These are just three of the many questions, which are asked regularly, and the answer to these and many others are here. Reading Between the Lines builds on the popular book published by the Rev'd W Awdry and his brother George in 1987 and now out of print. While covering some of the history of the Island of Sodor, home of Thomas the Tank Engine and his many friends, and listing the friends created by the Awdrys, father and son, this new book concentrates mainly on answering those questions and setting out, story by story, the location, origin and story out-line for every tale so far published in what has become a "Classic" series of children's books.

Christopher Awdry, with his father's encouragement, took over the writing of the best-selling Railway Series in 1983. By 2011 he had completed 16 titles, in addition to many Thomas spin off books as result of the TV series, before the publisher, as you will read here, decided to change direction. The author is greatly saddened that he can currently point to only three of about 42 books, which might be available for an author's signature. In 2005 he continued to tour at home and abroad, however, visiting Days Out with Thomas and other events, hoping to help to restore the classic Thomas stories to a new generation of fans before retiring in 2013.

First published in 2005 this new '20th Anniversary' edition expands upon that popular book, including never seen before documents and letters from the authors, allowing the reader a unique peek behind the curtain into what the series creator Reverend Awdry was thinking at the time.

A must read for all fans of The Railway Series both old and young.