September 8, 2009 (US)
October 12, 2009 (UK)
Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails is a 2009 CGI-animated direct-to-DVD family adventure film and feature-length special of the British television series, Thomas & Friends. The film was produced by HIT Entertainment, with animation done by Nitrogen Studios. It introduces full CGI animation replacing live-action models, and the addition of a voice cast for the characters alongside the narration to the TV series.
The film features the voice of Ben Small, and Martin Sherman as Thomas the Tank Engine, for the UK and US respectively. It was first released on DVD, and on iTunes on January 12, 2010. To promote the film a "Day Out with Thomas 2010: The Hero of the Rails Tour" was held at locations such as the Illinois Railway Museum, where guests could participate in activities such as arts and crafts or ride on a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine.
A mobile app, Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails, would then be released in May of 2011. The DVD was also released in 2019 in "The Heroic Collection", along with Misty Island Rescue, Day of the Diesels, Blue Mountain Mystery, and Tale of the Brave.
Storyline[]
One summer, Thomas comes across an old abandoned engine called Hiro. Desperately in need of repair, Hiro faces the Smelters Yard, so Thomas and his friends must work together to save poor Hiro from this fate.
Also See[]
Sound Effects Used[]
- Edward Whistle (Used for Edward's whistle in a normal pitch, Percy's in a higher pitch, and Henry's in a lower pitch.)
- Fonic, Steam Locomotive Chugging Sounds (debut)
- Hollywoodedge, Hammer Hitting An Anv TE037904 (Can be heard being mixed with Sound Ideas, TRAIN, STEAM - SIGNAL FALLS for when the signals turn from red to green.)
- Hollywoodedge, Medium Exterior Crow PE140401
- Hollywoodedge, Medium Exterior Crow PE140501
- Hollywoodedge, Metal Creaks Machine FS015801 (Heard in various pitches throughout the film for the engines brakes squeaking/squealing.)
- Hollywoodedge, Metal Creaks Machine FS015802 (Can be heard in a normal pitch, along with a few very low pitched variants.)
- Hollywoodedge, Metal Debris StressC PE285001
- Hollywoodedge, Metal Scrapes 1 SS010301 (Can be heard in a low volume in the background when Thomas is being fixed at the Steamworks.)
- Hollywoodedge, Seagulls No Surf BT022101 (Used in a low volume for the off-screen Seagulls at Brendam Docks.)
- Hollywoodedge, Steam Train Whistle BB030201 (Used as Hiro's whistle in a lower pitch.)
- Hollywoodedge, Train Wheels Squeak AHS018401 (Used thirteen times for Spencer's brakes squeaking/squealing.)
- Hollywoodedge, Transmission Gear Gr PE076301
- James Whistle (Used for James' whistle in a normal pitch, and Gordon's in a high pitch.)
- SKYWALKER, METAL - THOMAS' TRUCKS CLANGED AND SHUNTED
- SoundDogs, Metal, Rip, Crush, Hit, Glass/Sound Ideas, METAL, HIT - METAL IMPACT: SHARP RIPPING CRUNCH 02 (Heard once in a slightly lower volume during the first chase sequence when more parts fall off of Hero, before him, Thomas and Spencer all come to a stop.)
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, SKID - TIRE SKID 01
- Sound Ideas, BIRD, OWL - CALLING, ANIMAL 02
- Sound Ideas, CRASH, METAL - LARGE METAL CLATTER CRASH 01 (The last half is heard once on the right channel when Kevin falls on his side when Hero is being restored.)
- Sound Ideas, FOOTSTEPS, METAL - MALE LEATHER SOLE: WALK (The first footstep is heard once in a low volume when Thomas’ driver walks over a piece of the rails before Percy comes to see Thomas.)
- Sound Ideas, LEVERS - LEVER, LARGE: RAILROAD COUPLER LIFT BAR, SINGLE THROW, SLACK, CLOSE, OPEN, THEN OPEN, THEN CLOSE (Heard once when Spencer falls into the mud after the fenland bridge gives way from his weight.)
- Sound Ideas, METAL, DROP - STEEL GIRDIR FALLING ON CONCRETE, REVERBERANT ROOM 02 (Heard once when Kevin drops an engine part off-screen after Thomas says “Thank you Victor.”.)
- Sound Ideas, METAL, HIT - SHARP METAL HIT AND RATTLE, FOLEY (An edited variant of this sound or a very similar sound is heard once when the valve wheel on Hiro's left cylinder comes off during the first chase sequence.)
- Sound Ideas, METAL, SCRAPE - SHORT, METAL SCRAPE SPRAYING SPARKS 01
- Sound Ideas, METAL, SQUEAK - METAL STRESS 02
- Sound Ideas, SQUEAK, METAL - LARGE METAL OBJECT ROLLING, SCI FI (Parts of this sound can be heard being used for when the engines start braking.)
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, FREIGHT - PASS BY, RUMBLE, SQUEAKY WHEELS (Used in a higher pitch for pieces of rolling stock traveling at high speeds.)
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, RAILYARD - RAILYARD AMBIENCE: CARS BEING SHUNTED, WHEELS SQUEALING, SOME SLIGHT DISTORTION (Used as ambience in the scenes that take place inside the Sodor Steamworks.)
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, RAILYARD - TRAIN, SWITCHYARD, CARS BEING COUPLED, METAL CRASH, VERSION 2, DIGIFFECTS (Heard twice when Thomas hits the end of a line trucks filled with potatoes, and when Spencer hits a truck under the slate hopper at the Sodor Slate Quarry.)
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, RAILYARD - TRAIN, SWITCHYARD, ENVIRONMENT, GRINDING, CLANGING, TRAIN PULLS IN/OUT, DIGIEFFECTS (The grinding/screeching element is heard once in a low volume during the overhead shot of the Sodor Steamworks when Thomas is being fixed.)
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, STEAM - ENGINE WHISTLE (GWR) 01 (Used as Spencer's whistle.)
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, STEAM - SIGNAL FALLS (Can be heard being mixed with Hollywoodedge, Hammer Hitting An Anv TE037904 for when the signals turn from red to green.)
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, STEAM - STEAM TRAIN, 1950, ARRIVING TO STATION, BRAKES GRIND, DIGIFFECTS
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, STEAM - STEAM TRAIN: BRAKING TO STOP, HEAVY BRAKE SQUEAL
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, STEAM - STEAM TRAIN: IDLE, LOUD STEAM RELEASE CHUGS
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, STEAM - STEAM TRAIN, LOCOMOTIVE, BRAKES, STEAM, 3 VERSIONS, DIGIFFECTS
- Sound Ideas, TRAIN, STEAM - STEAM TRAIN: PASS BY CLOSE
- Thomas Whistle
- Unknown Sound Effects Library, Drawbridge Winch Clanking