Rev. W. Awdry

Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE (born 15 June 1911 – died 21 March 1997) was an English Anglican cleric, railway enthusiast, and children's author. Better known as the Reverend W. Awdry, he was the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, the central figure in his The Railway Series. His son Christopher Awdry (born 2 July 1940) has continued writing the series. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbert_Awdry