Taglines: Take the magic journey.
Mr. Conductor’s supply of magic gold dust, which allows him to travel between Shining Time and Thomas’s island, is critically low. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know how to get more. Meanwhile, Thomas is fending off attacks by the nasty diesel engines. Getting more gold dust will require help from Mr. C’s slacker cousin, his new friend Lilly, and her morose grandfather, plus the secret engine he’s hidden all these years and couldn’t get running.
Thomas and the Magic Railroad is a 2000 British-American fantasy adventure film by Britt Allcroft, its director, producer and writer. Starring Peter Fonda, Mara Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Didi Conn, Russell Means, Cody McMains, Michael E. Rodgers and the voices of Eddie Glen and Neil Crone, the film is based on the British children’s book series The Railway Series by The Rev. W. Awdry, its televised adaptation Thomas & Friends, and the American series Shining Time Station. It was co-produced by Gullane Pictures/The Britt Allcroft Company and the Isle of Man Film Commission. The film was distributed by Destination Films in the United States and Icon Film Distribution in the United Kingdom.
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.
Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)
Directed by: Britt Allcroft
Starring: Peter Fonda, Mara Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Didi Conn, Colm Feore, Russell Means, Cody McMains, Michael E. Rodgers, Linda Ballantyne, Kevin Frank
Screenplay by: Britt Allcroft
Production Design by: Oleg M. Savytski
Cinematography by: Paul Ryan
Film Editing by: Ron Wisman
Costume Design by: Luis Sequeira
Set Decoration by: Jamie Oxenham
Art Direction by: Lucinda Zak
Music by: Hummie Mann
MPAA Rating: G for all audience.
Distributed by: Destination Films
Release Date: July 14, 2000 (United Kingdom), July 26, 2000 (United States)
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