ONE of the inspirations for Thomas the Tank Engine is heading to Meirionnydd next week.

‘Peter Sam’ from the Revd Wilbert Awdry’s Skarloey Railway is returning to the Talyllyn Railway on Thursday 2 June when the railway hosts a very special party.

Called ‘Peter Sam’s Party’ the event will include brake van rides with Peter Sam at Abergynolwyn station and special shuttle trains between Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol hauled by another visitor from the Isle of Sodor, Rusty the diesel.

The popular series of children’s books are often cited as the inspiration for the TV show Thomas and Friends.

It was Tom Rolt, one of the pioneers of the Talyllyn Railway and himself a well-known author, who originally suggested to Revd. Awdry that he should think about writing a series of stories in his famous ‘Railway Series’ that featured the Talyllyn’s locomotives.

See the full story in next week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News