Front Page · Story 5

Confusion and delay

A widely upvoted meme references the original 1951 *Thomas the Tank Engine* book, in which the character Henry was initially painted green—a color associated with a racially segregated train. The post highlights how the story was later revised to remove this historical racial context.

The discussion underscores how classic children's media can contain embedded racial references reflective of their era, and it shows how online communities grapple with uncovering and interpreting uncomfortable historical details in beloved works.

Key details

• The meme, posted on r/memes, has 57,175 upvotes and 868 comments as of May 19, 2026.
• Top commenters provide context: an original 1951 book page shows Henry painted green with train cars labeled for 'black' and 'white' passengers.
• The original *Henry the Green Engine* story was subsequently revised by the Rev. W. Awdry to remove the racial reference.
• A user calculates the 27,342-day span (referenced in the meme) equals roughly 75 years, dating the original publication to 1951—the classic Rev. Awdry era.

Discussion angles

• Users confirm the meme's implication: the original Henry story explicitly referenced segregated train cars for black and white passengers.
• The revision history of the book is noted, with commenters pointing out that later editions toned down or removed the racial imagery.
• One commenter frames the detail as unsurprising given the 1950s context of legal segregation in the U.S., while another draws a blunt metaphor: 'the trains that go through the south don't always carry willing passengers'
• The discussion focuses on historical accuracy and cultural reckoning rather than defending or condemning the original text.