The Railway Series
Despite the series moving away from Railway Series adaptations by the time of this episode's release, it is notable for having a striking similarity to the Railway Series story, "Mike's Whistle," from the book Small Railway Engines.
What is "Faulty Whistles?"
This Japanese toy line featured sets based on certain episodes, each containing three engines, and a playmat with track and stills from the episode on it. Episodes adapted into sets include "Buzz, Buzz", "Bad Day at Castle Loch," and "Emily Knows Best".
What is Tomica?
The Dean Forest Railway is home to Wilbert, an engine of this class, who was officially named in honor of Wilbert Awdry, and who has appeared in the Railway Series in the book "Wilbert the Forest Engine"
What is the Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST?
A Bachmann Thomas, alongside Annie, Clarabel and Emily's Coaches, was prominently featured in the climax of this movie. According to the director, they got permission from Mattel to use Thomas only on the condition that Thomas not do anything "evil."
What is Ant-Man?
This engine's prop never had a motor, and thus was never shown moving on-screen. After their debut episode, however, their model was no longer needed, and thus was turned into a scrap engine shell, later to be used as set dressing for scrapyard sets.
Who is City of Truro?
This Railway Series book, written by Christopher Awdry, was requested by producers of the TV Show in order to have more Thomas-related material to adapt, as all episodes at that point had to be adapted from Awdry-written material.
What is "More About Thomas the Tank Engine"?
In 2002, Learning Curve launched the Take Along line of die-cast toys. Most of these engines were TV Series regulars, but this character was the only Railway-Series character in the line, until more were added a few years later.
Who is Mike?
This preservation railway in England has the real life Thomas the Tank Engine, with the name officially christened by Wilbert Awdry himself in 1973.
What is the Nene Valley Railway?
Despite Bachmann having discontinued this character, for a time they could still be purchased, but only as individual parts from Bachmann's part store, needing to be assembled together manually.
Who is Salty?
According to early concept art, the Season 7 episode "Rheneas & the Roller Coaster" was originally planned to feature this character as the lead, but they were replaced by Rheneas in the final episode.
Who is Peter Sam?
Originally, George the Steamroller was meant to be a one-off character, only appearing in the story "Steam Roller". However, this book marks his only other appearance, in which he meets Daisy.
What is Thomas Comes Home?
In 2004, ERTL ended its line of Thomas & Friends models, to be replaced by Learning Curve's Take Along. This character was the last model ERTL produced in its range before it ended.
Who is Jock?
Who are Bluebell, Primrose, Adams, Cromford, and Captain Baxter?
As a tie-in with this special, Hornby produced a line of buildings based on the ones seen in the actual special, including station buildings, sheds, shops, and other miscellaneous railway fixtures.
What is The Great Discovery?
While many close-up scale props of the engines were saved, either by fans or by Mattel themselves, the model of this character was thrown away in the early 2010's, due to it having badly deteriorated over the years.
Who is Duke?
This Railway Series book is unusual, as it contains five stories instead of the usual four, including one not lead by the titular engine of the book.
What is "Henry the Green Engine"?
What are "Jack Jumps In," "Faulty Whistles," and "Percy & the Carnival"?
An engine of this character's class, preserved at the Strasburg Railroad in the United States, was actually converted into a working replica of Thomas.
Who is Porter?
In 2024, this Model Railroading company released an All Engines Go-themed Battery Operated Thomas. Interestingly, despite being based on All Engines Go, this Thomas featured voice clips from CGI voice actor Joseph May, as well as the original Season 8-18 Engine Roll Call.
What is Lionel?
Until one was added in Season 10, this character did not have a powered eye mechanism. When a scene called for their eyes to move, it had to be edited in post.
Who is Bertie?
A photo of the modelmaking studios taken during the production of Season 2 features this Railway Series book, likely used as reference for one of the characters that would be built that season.
What is "Edward the Blue Engine"?
Between 1998 and 1999, ERTL released a handful of metallic-colored engines, most of which are of main or secondary characters from the TV Show. This character, however, was the only Railway-Series only character to get a metallic model.
Who is Lord Harry / Patrick?
While he has no number in the show, concept art shows Arthur was originally going to carry this number. Interestingly, this number is the same as a preserved member of his class, located on the Keighley & Worth Valley railway, which was likely used as inspiration for Arthur's design.
What is 41241?
As of 2026, this character is the only one to be made in Bachmann's Large Scale line that isn't in their HO Scale line. All other characters were introduced in HO years before their Large Scale equivalents.
Who is Winston?
This prop from TUGS was reused in Thomas & Friends, notably in the Series 5 episode Gordon & the Gremlin. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in shipping during the production of Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
What is the Fulton Ferry?