Calling All Engines

Calling All Engines is a full-length feature movie 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 September 6, 2005. In the UK and Australia, release was in October 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. Of course, this is not an easy task, and the engines must work hard to fix the many damages caused by the storm, especially at the airport construction site, where the most damage was made.

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.

Characters of the feature length special

Steam Engines

  • Thomas the Tank Engine
  • 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)
  • Emily the Beautiful Engine
  • Harvey the Crane Engine (non-speaking role)
  • Lady (from the Magic Railroad film)

Diesels

  • Diesel
  • Mavis
  • 'Arry and Bert
  • Daisy (cameo & active role)
  • Diesel 10 (from the Magic Railroad film)

Other Characters

  • Rusty (non-speaking role)

Rolling STOCK

  • Annie and Clarabel (non-speaking role)
  • Troublesome Trucks (non-speaking role)

Non Rail Characters

Cameos

People

  • The Fat Controller
  • The Workmen
  • The Children
  • The Airport Manager
  • Farmer McColl (non speaking role)

Notes

  • The songs featured are Busy, Try To Do Things Better, Together We Made It Happen, The Dream Song, and New Engine Roll Call.
  • 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.
  • 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 Daisy (last seen in season 4), George (last featured in season 8), 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).
  • We see Emily and Edward eyes-shut face for the first time in this film.
  • Calling All Engines features the last appearances of Daisy, Derek, Lady and Diesel 10 (to date).
  • Rusty's small gauge model is the first to return into the New Era of Thomas and Friends (to date).

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. (Only on the UK/AU version)

See Also

Storytime with Thomas

Storytime with Thomas was a children's television series that aired on Fox Family in 1999 that was...