Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
From: The Railway Series by Rev. W. Awdry.
First appeared: 1943
Rev Awdry wrote the first book in The Railway Series, The Three Railway Engines, to entertain his son, Christopher, who was suffering from measles. This introduced Edward the Blue Engine, Gordon the Big Engine, and Henry the Green Engine on the fictional Island of Sodor. Many other characters followed with the later books, including of course the ever popular Thomas, and the world of Sodor expanded to include a narrow gauge line, and guest appearances by real-world engines and lines. His final Railway Series book appeared in 1972, although the series was continued by others and has also become a popular TV series.