Thomas the Tank Engine Railway Map Island of Sodor

The home of Thomas the Tank Engine.

“The Island of Sodor is where Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends live and work. The Fat Controller runs the railway and his engines have many exciting adventures here. This map has a key to over one hundred and twenty places and events you can read about in the storybooks.” – Text, upper left.

Situated off the western English coast, in the Irish Sea, lies the fictional Island of Sodor. It is the home of the beloved character, Thomas the Tank Engine, created by Reverend Wilbert Awdry and first introduced in The Railway Series in 1945. The first railway map of Sodor appeared in 1949, with numerous subsequent editions updating the geography according to the adventures of Thomas and his friends.

This colorful topographic map was copyrighted by William Heinemann Ltd. in 1992 and printed in England by Westway Offset Limited. The straightforward and practical topographic map of Sodor in the center appears as though it was intended for an adult audience, though scenes in the border showcase many of the iconic characters, including Thomas, Percy, and James. 131 numbered locations reference events in the 37 official Thomas the Tank Engine books.