Exclusive: The Railway Series unlikely to be continued

Future titles for The Railway Series are unlikely to be published in the near future.

The Wilbert and Christopher Awdry collection of Thomas' beginnings saw its last entry released in 2011 with the 42nd book, Thomas and His Friends.

During the Tale of the Brave premiere in London's Leciester Square last month, Roll Along Thomas caught up with Alf Fortnam, widow of the late Hilary Fortnam, about its continuation.

No, [Christopher] is finished with it. He feels that the last one was the real closing chapter. It did say "THE END" at the last page.

He likes to keep a low profile [in the public eye] and wants it to stay that way.

Fortnam also discussed how his late wife Hilary was very serious about her Christianity and fought about the TV series' handling of the winter holidays debate, something that Hilary felt very strongly to correct.

Unlike the books, audio adaptation series The Railway Stories is in development for a return in the future, with new owners Random House Audio taking on the reigns of production.

Exclusive: Sam Blewitt on 'Tale of the Brave' and more

Sam Blewitt has detailed on his involvement in the Tale of the Brave feature-length special.

The veteran vocalist of the CGI era of the TV series returned to sing Tale of the Brave.

Earlier this month, Roll Along Thomas spoke to Blewitt about how his song came to being.

In the usual manner, Hit contacts [composer] Robert Hartshorne to put a song together, he contacts me to see when I can sing it, then we get together at his studio and start working. 

We actually recorded two versions of the song. The first one was great, but we (the producers and us) all felt on listening to it that it was a little bit too mature sounding for Thomas the Tank Engine...

It didn't quite fit. So Robert and I recorded another version, which is the one you hear now. 

The song of the same name as the story was used briefly in the special but didn't appear in its full form as an extra on DVD. Blewitt has since reacted to this.

I wasn't aware if it not being used as an extra on the DVD or that it was a shortened version.

The producers used a different type of song by another writer and producer [Eggplant LF] for the end title song [Let's Be Brave], I know nothing about that to be honest.

I'm not aware of any plans of it to be released in full, of course I would like to see that happen.

Lending his voice to more than ten songs in the franchise, the singer commented on the reception he has received.

The feedback has been fantastic. I'm very proud to have been associated with Thomas the Tank Engine, it's part of our heritage in a way. I'm honoured that the fans think so much of my work, I really enjoy working on the songs.

I do keep the songs. [I] also have some of the films and DVDs we've worked on. I need a few more DVD's, so I'll hopefully get the collection up to date soon.