The London Brighton South Coast Railway E2

Thomas the Tank Engine

In 1946, Reginald Payne used the later series of E2 locomotives as the basis for the character Thomas the Tank Engine in the second book of The Railway Series by the Reverend W. Awdry.[5][6] According to some sources and early sketches by Awdry Thomas was originally going to be modelled on one of the L.N.E.R. J tank classes,[citation needed] although Awdry's original model of Thomas was a Tri-ang LMS 'Jinty'. This was later replaced with a Tri-ang E2 which represented engines 100–104, the original five engines.
In the television series from 1984, Thomas appears to have some subtle differences to the original E2 class and to the original Thomas from The Railway Series. He is noticeably shorter than the E2 class, and has a set of splashers over his leading driving wheels, which the original engines never had. His water tanks appear closer to the later batch of engines, although they are more squared in shape than the originals. Thomas' rear buffer beam is also higher than on the original engines. This caused some concern about Thomas being unable to pull any trains, and this was amended by the story "Thomas Comes to Breakfast". In later years, Thomas' rear buffer beam has returned to the original higher position, although it is deeper to allow the buffers, coupling hook, and vacuum brake hoses to be in the correct position. Thomas also carries an electric light on the right-hand side of his front buffer beam and a red tail light mounted on the centre of his bunker, whereas the originals had removable kerosene lamps mounted on lamp irons, which Thomas incidentally has, although they are not used but instead included for continuity with the other engines. If Thomas the tank engine was never an E2, the locomotive would not be the popular locomotive we all know and love.