Thomas the tank engine: a British Mickey mouse

Hello all, little bit of popular culture from me. Is there a way for Thomas the Tank engine to become so well known that the character becomes in some way an ambassador of British culture? The pod would have to be at least 1945.
 
The main issue I see is that its a British railway series. It may not sound like an issue but remember, the US and UK railways operate differently. Thus it might not get the support of railway men that it did in the UK.
 
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