Thomas the Tank Engine should have died a long, long time ago. He begged for death, but death would not, could not come. We needed him. In the midst of the desolation of post-apocalyptic Sodor, we needed Thomas to maintain a transportation infrastructure.
First, Y. Nakajima gave him robotic legs because we couldn't keep the rail lines stable. But as Thomas's components continued to break down and the madness devoured him, we were eventually left with just his face.
Y. Nakajima made do with what was available. But we're all responsible. God forgive us for what we did to Thomas.
-via Rocket News 24