"Britt Allcroft, Thomas the Tank Engine series creator, dies aged 81" (article) (https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/britt-allcroft-thomas-the-tank-engine-dead-b2673177.html)
TV producer was behind the launch of the 1984 series 'Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends'

When my two nephews and niece were young, they were into Thomas the Tank Engine. A "Peep peep" goes out to the memory of the show's creator Britt Allcroft.

(note: date of death in this article)

"Britt Allcroft, Who Brought Thomas the Tank Engine to TV, Dies at 81" (article) (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/arts/britt-allcroft-thomas-tank-engine-dead.html)
Britt Allcroft, a British producer, director and writer who adapted the antics of a cheerful, impetuous locomotive into a TV series, “Thomas & Friends,” which became a sprawling franchise and a longtime favorite of children and adults, died on Dec. 25 in Los Angeles. She was 81.

When Thomas The Tank Engine made his debut in 1984 as a character in the Railways book series little did we know that this character would soon turn into a hot property in America and when Thomas The Tank Engine made his debut in America in Shining Time Station in 1989 people were anxious to see how popular he would become in America. And with Shining Time Station a hit children's show in the 90's Thomas The Tank Engine's popularity continued to grow and even after Shining Time Station's end in the 90's Thomas The Tank Engine soon became hot. And when you get the general picture Thomas The Tank Engine is probably the 4th successful children's TV character second to Barney Big Bird and Elmo and you cannot walk into any store without seeing little boys carrying Thomas The Tank Engine toys and I think Britt Allcroft knew that Thomas The Tank Engine would become a hit character. And with an impressive resume of movies TV shows toys Thomasland amusement parks and his own Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon it's no secret why Thomas The Tank Engine is still one of the most successful children's characters in TV and continues to be strong today