Thomas the Tank Engine goes global with diverse (and useful) new friends By Rebekah Sager , Fox News Published March 29, 2016 1:18pm EDT | Updated December 1, 2016 11:55am EST ...

Britt Allcroft, the creator of the “Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends” series, died at 81, filmmaker Brannon Carty announced on X. Allcroft’s death was announced by filmmaker Brannon Carty.

Kids have read about the Thomas the Tank Engine since the 40's and watched "Thomas & Friends" on television since the 1980's. The adventures of Thomas, and his friends, a group of steam engines ...

It's the latest move to add diversity and representation to stories about Thomas the Tank Engine, the plucky train that the Rev. W. Awdry created for his son in 1945.