Calling All Engines
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Calling All Engines was a semi-sequel to the film Thomas and the Magic Railroad based on the TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. It was released direct to video and DVD and was released in North America on Summer 2005. In the UK and Australia, release was in Autumn 2005.[View photo]
This film, while taking its characters and settings from the TV Series, stands alone in its own right. It was released between seasons 8 and Thomas and Friends - Season 9 of the TV Series, however none of the events from the film have any bearing on the TV series. There is one exception to this - Tidmouth Sheds are rebuilt in this film, to having seven spaces (where there were six previously). The "rebuilt" Tidmouth Sheds were seen in Season 9. However, other events (including the so-called "return" of characters such as Daisy and Derek, and the treaty between steam and diesel engines) had no bearing on the TV series whatsoever.
Calling All Engines is about a new airport being built on the Island Of Sodor, and its construction leads to the rivalry between the steam engines and diesel engines reaching boiling point. However, a storm slows work down, and soon the steam engines and diesels have no choice but to work together to complete the airport.
Characters of the film
- Thomas the Tank Engine
- Lady (from the Magic Railroad film)
- Diesel 10 (from the Magic Railroad film)
- Edward the Blue Engine
- Henry the Green Engine
- Gordon the Big Engine
- James the Red Engine
- Percy the Small Engine
- Toby the Tram Engine (non speaking role)
- Harvey the Crane Engine (non speaking role)
- Mavis
- Diesel
- 'Arry and Bert
- Harold the Helicopter
- Annie and Clarabel
- Daisy (activity role)
- Emily
- Rusty (cameo)
- George the Steamroller (non speaking role)
- Butch Lorry (cameo)
- Henrietta (cameo)
- Derek the diesel (music video cameo)
- Cranky (Only leg cameo)
- Bill and Ben (music video cameo)
- Salty (music video cameo and activity role)
- Bertie the Bus (cameo)
- Caroline the car (cameo)
- Trevor the Traction Engine (cameo)
- The Fat Controller
- Farmer McColl (cameo)
- The Airport Manager
- Workmen
- The Children
Notes
- The songs featured are "Busy", "Try To Do Things Better", "Together We Made It Happen", "The Dream Song", and the "New Engine Roll Call".
- Diesel 10 no longer refers to his grabber as 'Pinchy'.
- Lady is now a "special engine who works high in the mountains". No magical qualities are mentioned.
- Toby appears in this movie alongside Henrietta, but neither has dialogue.
- First appearance of the Sodor Suspension Bridge, the new Tidmouth Sheds, and the Sodor Airport (including Terminal, Tower, and Runway).
- There used to be an accesory for the Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway called a Suspension Bridge.
- Despite not speaking, Harvey plays an important role in the film and has numerous 'background' cameos.
- Daisy and Derek made appearances in this film ,however they had not appeared in the TV Series for some time prior, and have made no appearances since the release of this film.
- Despite not speaking, George plays an important role in the film, his first since "Bye George!" in Season 5.
- First appearance of Bill and Ben since Season 7.
- Toby is the second engine to go up the tippers loading ramp. (The first was Percy in Middle engine).
- First appearance of Rusty since season 7.
- A seventh space is added to Tidmouth Sheds, for Emily. This set change carries on into Season 9.
Trivia
- As Thomas makes his way to consult Diesel 10 about the meeting, a fish can be seen sitting on his boiler. It is likely that this shot was an outtake from the Series 8 story 'Fish'.
- In an overhead shot of Thomas and Percy shunting, one of Thomas' trucks lurches to the side for a split-second.
- The engines seem to be moving around in front of the airport in the final act with no easy and quick way of doing so.
- Percy is wearing goggles in his dream about being on a roller coaster.
- This film shows 'Arry and Bert's first accidents. It happens when the steam engines and diesel engines are fighting.
- When Thomas bumps into Bert's freight car, if you look closely at Thomas' wheels, you'll notice that they are sliding backwards.
- When the paint can hits Thomas's cab after Diesel biffed the flatbed, his cab roof bounces for a split-second.
Deleted scenes
- Thomas and Percy being bumped by Arry and Bert at the airport construction site.
- Thomas being teased by Arry and Bert whilst waiting at a signal with the bridge section.
- Thomas discovering the damaged windmill in the morning after the storm. (Not on the American DVD)
External links
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