Calling All Engines
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Calling All Engines is a full-length feature special 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.
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.
There is speculation among fans as to whether this film can be considered canonical with the TV series. It was released between seasons 8 and 9 of the TV Series, but few of the events of the film have had any bearing on the TV series. Tidmouth Sheds are rebuilt in this film, to having seven spaces (where there were six previously). The "rebuilt" Tidmouth Sheds were seen in the TV series from Season 9 onwards. The Sodor Airport, constructed in this episode later appeared in Season 10. However, the so-called "return" of characters such as Daisy and Derek does not appear to have had any effect on the TV series, and nor did the treaty between the steam and diesel engines until Season 10.
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[edit] 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 (non-speaking role)
- George the Steamroller (non-speaking role)
- Butch (cameo)
- Henrietta (cameo)
- Derek (music video cameo)
- Cranky (Cameo)
- Bill and Ben (music video cameo)
- Salty (music video cameo and activity role)
- Bertie the Bus (cameo)
- Caroline (cameo)
- Trevor the Traction Engine (cameo)
People of the film:
- The Fat Controller
- Farmer McColl (non speaking role)
- The Airport Manager
- Workmen
- The Children
[edit] 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.
- First appearance of the Sodor Suspension Bridge, the new Tidmouth Sheds, and the Sodor Airport (including Terminal, Tower, and Runway).
- Elsbridge Station returns since Season 4.
- There used to be an accessory 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.
- Despite not speaking, George plays an important role in the film, his first since "Bye George!" in Season 5.
- Toby is the second engine to go up the tipper's loading ramp. (The first was Percy in "Middle Engine" in Season 6).
- A seventh space is added to Tidmouth Sheds, for Emily. This set change carries on into Season 9.
- Even though Lady and Diesel 10 appear in the film, Splatter and Dodge are still absent.
- This film marks the return appearances of Rusty (last seen in season 7), Daisy (last seen in season 4), George (last featured in season 6), Lady and Diesel 10, (last seen in Thomas and the Magic Railroad), Derek (last seen in season 5), and Bill and Ben (last seen in season 7).
- Rusty's old model is used for the first time since season 5.
- We see Emily and Edward's eyes-shut faces for the first time in this film.
- We see Diesel 10 smiling happily instead of evilly for the first time in this film.
[edit] Trivia/Goofs
- 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.
- This film shows 'Arry and Bert's first accidents - when the steam engines and diesel engines are fighting.
- When Thomas bumps into Bert's truck, Thomas' wheels are sliding backwards.
- When the paint can hits Thomas's cab after Diesel biffed the flatbed, his cab roof bounces for a second.
- As the narrator says "But Harvey was on the other side of the island", Harvey's face slides down for a split-second.
- When Diesel 10 clears the line, a piece of wood slides out of his grabber and slips off onto his face.
[edit] Deleted scenes
- Thomas and Percy being bumped by ’Arry and Bert a second time 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.
