The enduring charm of Thomas the Tank Engine, the talking train created by the Rev Wilbert Awdry, will be passed on to a new generation of children with the opening of a theme park in Staffordshire.

Thomasland, aimed at children aged from 12 months to 5 years, will be the second theme park based on the adventures of the blue tank engine and his friends. A similar venture in Japan proved to be lucrative.

Awdry’s characters, which he invented more than 60 years ago to entertain his son who was suffering from measles, have also helped to sell more than 200 million books and 50 million DVDs. Television programmes of the stories have been broadcast in 150 countries.

The multimillion-pound theme park will be created at Drayton Manor, a 280-acre site near Tamworth. It is already home to thrill rides and children’s attractions, but Thomasland will get its own facilities, including a hotel with 145 Thomas-themed bedrooms, 40 log cabins and space for 300 caravans. Construction has begun on the first rides.

The imaginary island of Sodor is being brought to life for toddlers. From the spring they will encounter talking trains such as Thomas, the cheeky tank engine who often gets into scrapes, Percy, who has no particular desire for adventure, and Henry, who is highly strung. For girls, there are some new female engines, including a delicate pink one with freckles.

A Thomas and Percy ride will travel one third of a mile before stopping off at Farmer McColl’s farm. Mrs Kindly’s Kitchen, where visitors can tuck into local farm produce, and the Drayton Manor zoo, where they will encounter monkeys, penguins and tigers. Street performers will bring toddlers face-to-face with The Fat Controller.

Although the Thomas stories celebrate the golden years of steam, they also offer timeless lessons about discovery, friendship and community spirit. Teri Ruffley, a director of HIT Entertainment, which publishes the Thomas books and produces the DVDs and TV adaptations, said: “Parents and grandparents have a nostalgic connection. It’s something they grew up with. There are also a lot of traditional values there – such as problem-solving and social responsibility for helping each other out – which parents want to keep.”

Colin Bryan, who heads Drayton Manor, said: “There’ll be a thrill, but it’s all suitable for children.” The sad thing, he added, was that no British manufacturer could be found to make these rides. Instead, they were being made in Germany, Italy and Sweden.

Adult tickets to Drayton Manor will cost about £23, while a shop will offer thousands of Thomas products, including pencils, bed linen, pedal cars and, for the child who has everything, electric trains for the garden.

Long after recovering from the measles, Awdry’s son, Christopher, went on create railway stories for his own young son. A spokeswoman for HIT said that Mr Awdry continued to receive royalties from his father’s stories, but declined to comment on the financial arrangement with the theme park. His publisher, Random House, was unable to contact him yesterday.

Riding high

1. Blackpool Pleasure Beach 6 million visitors a year. On-site accommodation includes the Big Blue Hotel

2. Alton Towers 2.4 million visitors a year. They can choose from two themed hotels: Splash Landings Hotel in a Caribbean beach hut style, and Alton Towers Hotel, based on the world of traveller and inventor Sir Algernon Alton

3. Thorpe Park 1.7 million visitors a year. No on-site accommodation

4. Legoland 1.48 million visitors a year. No on-site accommodation

5. Drayton Manor 1.2 million visitors a year. No on-site accommodation

Source: TEA/ERA Theme Park Attendance Report 2006; blackpoolpleasurebeach.com; themeparks-uk.com

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