Thomas and the Magic Railroad

• Alec Baldwin as Mr. Conductor
• Peter Fonda as Burnett Stone: Lily's grandfather and Lady's driver.
  • Jared Wall as young Burnett
• Mara Wilson as Lily Stone: Burnett's granddaughter.
• Michael E. Rodgers as Junior: Mr. Conductor's lazy cousin.
• Cody McMains as Patch
  • Robert Tinkler as older Patch (scenes deleted)
• Didi Conn as Stacy Jones: Matt and Dan's aunt, and the manager of Shining Time.
• Russell Means as Billy Twofeathers: William's grandson, Kit's uncle and Tucker's cousin. He was previously played by Tom Jackson on Shining Time Station.
• Lori Hallier as Mrs. Stone: Lily's mother and Mr. Stone's wife.
• Laura Bower as Tasha Stone: Burnett's late wife and Lily's deceased grandmother.
• Doug Lennox as P.T. Boomer: Burnett's rival and an emotionally muddy biker man. (Uncredited; cameo and some scenes deleted.)

• Eddie Glen as Thomas: a friendly, blue tank engine who runs his own branch line.
• Britt Allcroft as Lady: a beautiful lost magical tank engine, owned by Burnett Stone who runs the Magic Railroad.
• Neil Crone as
  • Diesel 10: an evil Diesel locomotive which a hydraulic claw, who hates steam engines and wants to destroy them.
  • Splatter: a bumbling purple and grey diesel and Dodge's twin.
  • Gordon: a big blue tender engine who does the main line express and is the Flying Scotsman's brother.
  • A tumbleweed with a Southern-American accent.
• Kevin Frank as
  • Dodge: a bumbling olive and grey diesel and Splatter's twin.
  • Henry: a big green mixed-traffic tender engine.
  • Bertie: a small red bus who likes to race with Thomas.
  • Harold: a white rescue helicopter who flies around Sodor.
• Linda Ballantyne as Percy: a green saddle tank engine who takes the mail and is Thomas' best friend.
• Susan Roman as James: a boastful red splendid mixed-traffic tender engine.
• Colm Feore as Toby: a brown tram engine who sometimes takes Henrietta.
• Shelley-Elizabeth Skinner as Annie and Clarabel: Thomas' branch line coaches.

In the early 1990s, the character of Thomas the Tank Engine – adapted from the Rev. W. Awdry's Railway Series into the TV series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, created by Britt Allcroft – was at the height of his popularity following three successful series. At the same time, Shining Time Station – an American series that combined episodes from the previous series with original live-action characters and scenarios, also created by Allcroft along with Rick Siggelkow – was made, and also successful. As early as 1994, prior to the launch of Thomas's fourth series, Britt Allcroft had plans to make a feature film based on both of these series, and would make use of the model trains from Thomas and the live-action aesthetic of Shining Time Station.[3]

In February 1996, Britt Allcroft was approached by Barry London, then vice-chairman of Paramount Pictures, with an idea for the Thomas film. Britt signed a contract to write the script for the film with the working title Thomas and the Magic Railroad. London's interest is thought to have stemmed from his three-year-old daughter, who was enthralled by Thomas. According to a press release, filming was to take place at Shepperton Studios, in the United Kingdom and the United States, with the theatrical release date set for 1997. However, later that year, after London left the company, Paramount shelved the plans for the film. This left Allcroft to seek other sources of funding. Discussions with PolyGram about the film were held, but not for long, because of the company being in the middle of a corporate restructuring and sale.[3]

In the Summer of 1998, during Series 5 of Thomas's production, Allcroft saw an Isle of Man Film Commission advert. They were offering tax incentives to companies wanting to film on the Island. Allcroft visited, and felt that the location was perfect. During that year, Barry London became Chairman of the newly founded Destination Films (owned by Sony Pictures). He renewed his interest in the project, and Destination Films became the main financial backer and studio for the film.[3]

John Bellis was originally attached to voice Thomas, but was replaced by Canadian actor Edward Glen. Ewan McGregor and Bob Hoskins had also expressed interest for the role.[7] Michael Angelis was original cast to voice James and Percy, but was later replaced by voice actresses Susan Roman and Linda Ballantyne. Keith Scott was originally planned to voice Diesel 10, but was later replaced by Neil Crone in the final film. Patrick Breen was originally set to voice both Splatter and Dodge, but was eventually replaced by both Kevin Frank and Neil Crone.

Principal photography began on August 2, 1999, and wrapped on October 15 of that same year.[8] The movie was filmed at the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, Pennsylvania (United States), as well as in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and on the Isle of Man. Castletown railway station on the Isle of Man Railway formed part of Shining Time Station and the goods shed at Port St Mary railway station became Burnett Stone's workshop. Running shots of the "Indian Valley" train were filmed at the Strasburg Rail Road location. The large passenger station where Lily boards the train is the Harrisburg Transportation Center. Norfolk & Western 4-8-0 475 was repainted as the Indian Valley locomotive. Sodor was realised using models and chroma key. The models were animated using live action remote control, as on the television series. The model sequences were filmed in Toronto instead of Shepperton Studios, the "home" of the original TV show; however, several of the show's key staff were flown over to participate. The Magic Railway was created using models, CGI, and water-coloured matte paintings.

In a 2007 interview with Sodor Island Forums & Fansite, director Britt Allcroft revealed that the theatrical release was drastically changed from what it was originally going to be the way she had written it, with original antagonist P.T. Boomer (played by Doug Lennox) being removed from the film because the test audiences at the Los Angeles preview screenings considered the character "too scary" for young children.[9]

Lily Stone (played by Mara Wilson) was intended to be the narrator of the story.[10] Before filming, Thomas's voice was provided by John Bellis, a British fireman and part-time taxi driver who worked on the film as the Isle of Man transportation co-ordinator and facilities manager. Bellis received the role when he happened to pick up Britt Allcroft and her crew from the Isle of Man Airport in July 1999. According to Allcroft, after hearing him speak for the first time, she told her colleagues, "I have just heard the voice of Thomas. That man is exactly how Thomas would sound!" A few days later, she offered the role to Bellis, and he accepted.[11] However, the test audiences felt that to his voice sounded "too old" for Thomas, so Bellis's voice was dubbed over by that of Canadian actor Edward Glen.

Despite not officially getting to voice Thomas, Bellis was still credited for his work on the Isle of Man, and his voice can still be heard extensively in the original UK trailer. Bellis, crushed and angered by the changes, said he was "gutted", but still wished the filmmakers well. "It was supposed to be my big break, but it hasn't put me off and I am hoping something else will come along." English actor Michael Angelis, the UK narrator for the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends television series for 21 years (1991–2012), was originally cast as the voices of both James and Percy, but the audiences felt that his voice sounded "too old" for both the characters as well, who were subsequently recast with Canadian voice actresses Susan Roman and Linda Ballantyne respectively. Also, Australian voice actor Keith Scott originally voiced Diesel 10 (as evidenced in both the US and UK trailers), but he believes he was replaced by Canadian actor Neil Crone because his portrayal was "too scary" for young children.[9] Additionally, American actor Patrick Breen was the original voice of both Splatter and Dodge, but he was replaced by Crone and Canadian actor Kevin Frank.

Thomas and the Magic Railroad is a soundtrack released on both CD and cassette on August 1, 2000. It features twelve music tracks from the feature film composed by Hummie Mann.

Thomas and the Magic Railroad was released onto VHS and DVD on October 19, 2000 in the United Kingdom by Icon Home Entertainment through Warner Home Video, and on October 31, 2000[15][16] in the United States by Columbia TriStar Home Video.

A re-release of the film on DVD and Blu-ray was planned for June 9, 2020 as a 20th anniversary edition, from Shout! Factory and under license by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.[17] As of June 2020, it is set to be released on September 29, 2020.

The film grossed $19.7 million worldwide.[2] During its second weekend of screening in Britain, it took in £170,000.[18]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 21% based on 68 reviews and an average rating of 3.97/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Kids these days demand cutting edge special effects or at least a clever plot with cute characters. This movie has neither, having lost in its Americanization what the British original did so right."[19] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 19 out of 100 based on 23 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[20] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[21] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film one star out of four, and wrote "(the fact) That Thomas and the Magic Railroad made it into theaters at all is something of a mystery. This is a production with 'straight to video' written all over it. Kids who like the Thomas books might kinda like it. Especially younger kids. Real younger kids. Otherwise, no." While he admired the models and art direction, he criticized how the engines's mouths did not move when they spoke, the overly depressed performance of Peter Fonda, as well as the overall lack of consistency in the plot.[22] Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times gave the film a negative review, saying, "Mr. Baldwin's attack -- there's no better way to put it -- is unforgettable."[23]

William Thomas of Empire gave the film a one out of five stars, he was critical of the films special effects, stating, "But, believe it or not, the true villains of the piece are, in fact, the 'special' effects. Quite how – in today's era of slo-mo and seamless digital wizardry – such a shoddy result can have been achieved is anyone's guess. With clunky bluescreen, spot-a-mile-off matte work and an absolute lack of synergy between real-life and animated action, it all conspires to provide an appropriately amateur sheen."[24] Plugged In stated, "While the animation maintains its simple appearance, the plot is anything but simple. And that's not good news for the many tots who make up the majority of Thomas' audience. Switching back and forth between Shining Time and Sodor, interweaving two relatively complex story lines, may confuse more than it challenges. Parents may well find that their children are squirming in their seats long before Thomas rides his magic rails into the sunset. That said, and the magic notwithstanding, tikes who do manage to grasp the complex story lines, and can sit still for an hour and a half, will learn good lessons about friendship, courage, hard work and being kind."[25] Nell Minow of Common Sense Media gave the film three out of five stars and writing that it "will please [Thomas fans]" but that the plot "might confuse kids".[26]

A video game based on the film, titled Thomas and the Magic Railroad: Print Studio, was released in the United Kingdom. It was published by Hasbro Interactive and released for PC on August 25, 2000.

On July 1, 2000, it was reported that Destination Films began development on a sequel, but it was quietly cancelled.[27]

Calling All Engines!, a 2005 direct-to-video special and a spin off of the TV series, was produced by HIT Entertainment and released in 2005.

HiT said that its theatrical division would be piloted by a Thomas film. Originally targeted for a late 2010 release,[28] in September 2009 this was revised to Spring 2011.[29] As of January 2011, the release date had been pushed back further, to 2012. The initial draft of the script was written by Josh Klausner, who has also said that the film would be set around the times of World War II; Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi also helped write the script.[30] On June 8, 2011, Deadline announced that 9 director Shane Acker would direct the live-action adaptation of The Adventures of Thomas, with Weta Digital designing the film's visual effects.[31]