Wilbert Awdry


 * “Thomas is the eternal child! Thomas is given a prohibition; naturally, as all children do when they’re told not to do something, they want to know why, and they find out why by doing it.”
 * ―Wilbert Awdry, on Thomas' lasting popularity

Wilbert Vere Awdry OBE (15 June 1911 - 21 March 1997) was an English Anglican clergyman, railway enthusiast, and children's author. He was best known for creating The Railway Series and its characters, as well as writing the first twenty-six books in the series from 1945 to 1972. His series and several of his original stories were later adapted for the television show Thomas & Friends by Britt Allcroft.