Thomas & Friends Trivia or Fun Facts Game

Here's a good question:
What year was Thomas the tank engine created?

Best guess is that Wilbert Awdry probably made the first wooden model of Thomas in 1943 or 1944, but the year is far from certain. It appears to have been after 'Three Railway Engines' which was written in 1943 (and published 1945) and obviously before 'Thomas the Tank Engine' was published in 1946.