Calling All Engines

"Calling All Engines" is a straight-to-DVD feature based on the TV series "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends", utilizing some elements of the film "Thomas and the Magic Railroad". It was released in North America on September 6, 2005 [cite web
url = http://www.filmspot.com/movie/354002/calling-all-engines/index.html?tag=fs_nav;summary&om_act=convert&om_clk=fstabs
title = Calling All Engines!
accessdate = 2007-08-27
archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5RPYFrf1v
archivedate = 2007-08-27 ] . In the UK and Australia, release was in October 2005 [cite web
url = http://www.toonhound.com/calling.htm
title = Thomas and Friends: Calling all Engines!
accessdate = 2007-08-27
archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5RPYux0NZ
archivedate = 2007-08-27 ] .

Plot

It is summer on Sodor, and The Fat Controller informs his engines that they will be aiding the construction of a new airport. While Thomas and Percy are shunting trucks, they quickly begin quarreling with the smelter diesels, 'Arry and Bert. Thomas begins a feud when he derails 'Arry and Bert's train at the timber yards. When Diesel arrives at the docks ordering his train of building supplies, Thomas instead shunts him a train full of bananas. When Thomas and Percy return to Tidmouth Sheds that night, they find that the main shed has been demolished, and the diesels tell them that they were supposed to be delivering supplies to build a new shed.

The steam engines are all forced to stay at separate locations while a storm brews overnight. Strong winds cause the suspension bridge on the main line to collapse, and the next day The Fat Controller sends the engines on tasks to aid in recovery on the island. The steam and diesel engines refuse to cooperate with each other, almost causing work to grind to a halt. After a stern talk from The Fat Controller, the engines all dream of what would happen if they could not prepare the railway for business.

Thomas dreams of being in the mountains, where he meets Lady and Rusty, working side by side. Lady tells Thomas that they always finish their jobs by working together. When Thomas wakes up the next day, he seeks out Mavis, and they agree to coerce the steam and diesel engines to cooperate. The steam and diesel engines rest at opposite sides of the coaling depot, eyeing each other angrily. However, when Thomas pleads with them to pull together for the sake of the railway, the groups decide to set apart their differences and begin to work together.

Ultimately, the airport is completed, and all the engines are gathered for the grand opening. Thomas, while shunting some trucks, accidentally upsets the situation when his trucks derail and cause a tower to collapse, cracking the runway. Desperate to set things right in the last minute, Thomas decides to gather his courage to ask Diesel 10 to clear the wreckage so that George the steamroller can be retrieved to repair the runway. Diesel 10 eventually agrees, and when the steam and diesel engines see him working alongside Thomas, they all decide that they can work together quickly to repair the damage.

Once George has flattened the runway, the incoming airplanes land without difficulty. The engines celebrate their triumph, and the steam engines find that the main shed has been rebuilt at Tidmouth, with an extra berth for Emily. Finally, the engines settle into their new home.

Place Within the TV Series

There are some aspects of the film that do not coincide with the TV series. While the new sheds at Tidmouth and the Sodor Airport appear in the following seasons, the conflict between steam and diesel engines is yet to be permanently resolved in the series. Additionally, Diesel 10 and Lady have never been seen within a story of the TV series apart from a cameo by diesel 10 in the great discovery which is canon to the series as Stanley and Great Waterton are in it and in season 12 of the series, even so there is some debate that they belong to a continuity exclusive to the films, rather than the TV series.

Characters

All the members of "The Steam Team" (the main cast of characters as portrayed since Season 8) make appearances in the film. Diesels with major roles include Diesel, Mavis, 'Arry, and Bert. Various supporting characters make appearances in the feature's music videos and interactive segments. Daisy makes her first appearance in the series since Season 4, and Derek appears for the first time outside of Season 5's "Double Teething Troubles." Two engines introduced in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Lady and *Diesel 10 play minor roles in the film.

ongs

*"Busy"
*"Try To Do Things Better"
*"Together We Made It Happen"
*"New Engine Roll Call"
*"The Dream Song" (DVD Extra)

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)

References