Britt Allcroft, the visionary creator of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, has passed away at the age of 81, her death was announced by filmmaker Brannon Carty on X, according to the New York Post.
Best known for producing beloved children’s programming, Allcroft brought Thomas the Tank Engine to life in the 1980s after securing the rights to adapt Reverend Wilbert Awdry’s Railway Series.
The series premiered in 1984 under the title Thomas & Friends before later becoming Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, captivating generations of young viewers worldwide.
“Over the years of knowing Britt, we developed a close connection,” Carty posted. He directed the documentary “An Unlikely Fandom: The Impact of Thomas the Tank Engine.”
“It was truly a privilege to have her as both a mentor and a friend, and I’m so glad that so many fans were able to meet her at the New York screening of ‘An Unlikely Fandom.’ It was an absolute honor to have her in our documentary, and she has since remained a vocal supporter of our cause.”
“I think I can speak for the entirety of the fandom when I say that all of us will deeply miss her. Without her, so many of us would never have met,” Carty said.
Britt Allcroft, born Hilary Mary Allcroft on December 14, 1943, in Worthing, England, was a visionary storyteller. Best known as the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, she transformed Reverend Wilbert Awdry’s Railway Series books into a beloved global phenomenon.
Allcroft’s early career began in British broadcasting, where her talent as a writer and producer quickly gained recognition. In the early 1980s, she encountered Awdry’s Railway Series and was captivated by its timeless charm. Determined to bring these stories to a wider audience, she secured the rights to adapt the books into a television series
Britt Allcroft and her then-husband, variety show producer Angus Wright, collaborated to create the production company that launched Thomas & Friends in 1984. The groundbreaking series, narrated by Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and later by comedian George Carlin, quickly became a hit. In 1989, the show crossed the Atlantic to feature in segments of the PBS series Shining Time Station, further boosting its international success. Over time, the show’s title evolved to Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.
Allcroft and Wright were married for 20 years before divorcing in 1997, just one year before the original run of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends concluded. Despite their separation, both remained credited as producers on various spinoffs, even as Wright retired from the industry in the late 1990s. Wright passed away in 2012. The couple shared two children according to the New York Post.
In 1989, Allcroft founded Britt Allcroft Company (later Gullane Entertainment), which oversaw the global merchandising and production of the Thomas franchise. Her innovative approach to branding turned Thomas into a cultural icon, with books, toys, theme parks, and theatrical productions ensuring his enduring popularity.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Allcroft explored directing, helming four projects, three of which were spinoffs of the iconic children’s series. The Thomas & Friends franchise has expanded significantly, with dozens of spinoffs, specials, and films captivating new generations. The most recent addition, Thomas & Friends ERTL Adventures: The Biggest Christmas Adventure, premiered in December 2024.
Rest In Peace.