Once upon a time...

Edward, Gordon and Henry from the first edition of
the Rev. W. Awdry's The Three Railway Engines
in 1945 as illustrated by William Middleton.

     70 years ago, a clergyman wrote some stories for his sick son about a little old engine who wanted to be useful again; a stuffy big engine who got his comeuppance when when he became stuck on a hill with a line of dirty trucks; and a green engine who hid in a tunnel so his lovely green paint and red stripes would not be spoiled by the rain. What followed were 26 books telling more about these "three railway engines"... and of course a certain blue tank engine who has become a symbol of the series. These stories will always have a special place in my heart and it gives me great excitement for the things to come this year knowing that these books are still holding strong as they celebrate their 70th anniversary.

-Joey