The COMPLETE History of Hiro, the Master of the Railway - Sodor's Finest

[@DanGamingFan2406]

It's my head canon that Hiro came back to Sodor so quickly, because by then, Japan had already taken steam engines out of service and replaced them with electric trains. His old friends, human and engine, would have been long gone. He probably never even got off the boat. Sodor was the only place left for him. Then when Kenji arrived, railroad preservation had started in Japan, and so he could actually go back.

[@jessicaruizcollazo2372]

That actually makes sense

[@emersoninfinitystone5785]

100% agreed.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that happened. I mean, it did happen in the real Japan

[@AtkataffTheAlpha]

That's exactly what I was thinking

[@chukowiley3823]

That’s so good, I can see it as a fan-made episode

[@YurtFerguson]

Talking about Togo Igawa's delivery as the voice of Hiro is very spot on. In a time when the characters in Thomas deliver their lines in kind of a flat or blatant way hearing the way this old Japanese engines spoke felt so much more grounded, not to mention just the amount of emotion he could put into the lines. Like hearing him call for Thomas during the big chase scene with Spencer still gives me chills, you can hear the outright fear in Hiro with the belief that if he stops or if he's caught it's all over for him.

[@bradydicarlo9143]

I agree. Igawa’s performance is one of my favorite things about Hiro. It’s so perfect.

[@FunAngelo2005]

Hiro's voice actor swearing in other shows and it being edited into the show is the same thing they did with George Carlin

[@nightspawnson-of-luna4936]

Was just about to say it

[@vanguardRailgun924]

It’s like poetry it rhymes.

[@stingky3689]

"Right, that's it. No more 'Mr nice engine'. *I am MASTER of the Railway"* 🥶🥶

[@Sunnyhatesthesun]

You know you fucked up when hiro gets mad

[@MadMechanic195]

Yah I’m lookin at you diesel🤨

[@JZJ7777]

When you hear that, you know you fucked up.

[@hugoGómezlastra]

Why are you putting cold emojis? What does it mean?🥶🥶

[@hugoGómezlastra]

Same.

[@jacobunderwood5206]

In my take on it all: Given that all of Hiro’s friends would’ve likely been scrapped to fuel the Japanese war machine, him going back to Sodor makes all the sense in the world. That’s why Hiro calls Thomas his best friend, Thomas is really all he has left.

[@Imsorrywat]

You just opened up a new part of my mind with that

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

Not all of them. Japan didn’t start scrapping their steam locomotives until 1972. As a result of Japan’s hesitancy to remove steam locomotives, a large number have made it into preservation. A large number of d51s have been preserved, and some are even operational.

[@scotthamp384]

Hiro called Thomas the best friend he ever had

[@frencisshuen1054]

​@@SouRwy4501ProductionsWell, at least all the Japanese steam engines no longer works on the railway, so although Hiro won't be scrapped when he return to Japan, he can still do nothing. All he can do is to return to Sodor.

[@fanofeverything30465]

I'm incorporating this into my headcanon

[@CobetcknnKolowski]

It still really Effs me up when engines are left alone for so long, just thinking about a conscious being just being isolated for years.

[@ieuanedmunds7950]

yeah, im surprised they never had an engine that went crazy from it.

[@thecpmr6276]

Well, keep in mind they aren't like you and I. Trains are used to seeing the thing day in and day out. Some like it (Salty for example), some don't (Mavis for example). And they can just...go to sleep to pass the time. They clearly don't enjoy being left alone and forgetten, but i don't think it's something they can go crazy from like you and I.

[@multilink1748]

That's what Im saying?! Like you really let the master of the railway rust alone in a siding in the forest?! And dont get me started on the coffee pot engine thst used to run Thomas's branch line. Dude literally found him said hi didn't tell anyone he found him for years then one Christmas, finds him moved again, and was like hey i remember you and then he up to olsted castle. Wtf? How in gods green earth did someone move him but not notice who he was? Why did thomas not tell anyone he found the old dude when he first saw him? Like found him day one of using his branch line. Now I know it was probably cause they didn't wanna make a coffee pot engine model back in the day and only were like lets use him now cause if all the wacky and varied designed chracters we have now but the in universe story reason is just soooo bad.

[@steam-powered-cyborg]

Hiro is just such a sweetheart and a warrior at heart, the latter characteristic which felt like didn’t get touched in properly until ‘Henry’s Hiro’ and Toga Igawa’s vocal performance just truly captured this essence in him. Such a blorbo. I care him. As for his backstory, I’ve had the headcanon that he was built a JGR Class 150 (the first steam engine built for Japan) who was built for Sodor's Great Waterton Railway (which in my series kinda is my equivalent of S&M, commenting to Ballahoo, Kirk Ronan and Great Waterton), back in the pre-NWR days. He gets rebuilt as a 9600, late into the railway's run, to keep up with increasing traffic. This high of course came shortly before the whole abandonment of Great Waterton as mentioned in TGD, which brings about Hiro's poverty in terms of parts. He's abandoned and upon restoration he is rebuilt into a D51. The events of ‘Hero of the Rails’ flow the same as in canon except with more influence from WildNorWester’s rewrite. I don’t know. It’s still a work in progress.

[@thesudriana016]

Hiro really does represent what CGI Thomas is in everyone's perspective. A character who has a stellar and unique personality that makes him a good role model despite his origins not being 100% correct. If he is Master of the Railway, the UnluckyTug is the Master of Thomas/TUGS analysis content.

[@vanessasandoval96]

Haunted Hiro When night comes Hiro was sizzling nicely suddenly an owl hooted and then Spencer thundered by Hiro 😠Spencer Troublesome truck : oh look Hiro spooked Said a fright car and the others laugh 😂 in their silly 😜 ways Hiro : be quiet trucks I am master of the railway I’m not scared of anything But he was a little

[@amyrodgers4252]

I think the possible and sorta logical reason that Hiro existed before his actual build date is because he's an early prototype who proved to be very successful, so he was sent to Sodor so he could be occupied with work, and in 1937 (The D51s' actual build date) the company gets word of just how good he is on Sodor (but that would depend on WHEN he disappeared) and so decided to create chunk loads more of D51s.

[@HerpicussCosplay2]

Hiros basis also did short stopping trains in the villages in japan, in fact the communities got so attached tot he locos that once they were retired the local communities purchased the locos. Now they sit on their old rails in the villages they once served.

[@FunAngelo2005]

wholesome ending

[@frencisshuen1054]

D51 is really useful. It has quite a high speed for narrow gauge engine. So although it's a freight engine, it can also be used to pull coachs.

[@hudsontrainguy1217]

I believe that Hiro is the only Miller Era character that is mostly remembered and has a really great character of himself and he is definitely my favorite CGI character ever

[@vanessasandoval96]

Hiro sees a signal red and gates closed he evens sees a haunted station someone turning off the light Hiro 😨gasp ghost 👻 Thomas and Stepney were right

[@TheSilliestGoose655]

What about Luke, Paxton and Victor?

[@hudsontrainguy1217]

@@TheSilliestGoose655 oh yes, some others are good, but only most, not like Charlie or The Logging Bastards

[@omarvazquez4075]

​@@hudsontrainguy1217 i like Charlie, don't kill me

[@EmmetGillespie-b7r]

I believe he's the only cgi character awdry would have liked

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I said it in the original upload and I'll say it again. The introduction is so spiritual. Very Zen

[@deanielperez0112]

Hiro is known as "The Strongest Engine" because he can pull goods trains as well as the heavy Mail Train. Hiro is the very first engine to arrive on Sodor from Japan before World War ll in 1945. He has been known as Thomas' mentor, similar to Doc Hudson (from Cars) and Skipper Riley (from Planes).

[@Oscar_the_fascist_slayer]

Hidden in nature A Hero rests waiting there He's waiting. Waiting

[@jamesgroccia644]

Beautiful

[@asteroidrules]

Another odd thing about being a D51 is it means Hiro carries on the classic tradition of most of the steam engines on Sodor being unusual modifications of much more common designs. In real life only 2 Class D51s were made in standard gauge, both on special order for Korail in South Korea in 1950, some time after Hiro would have been sent to Sodor. Japan uses 3'6" narrow gauge as standard for everything except the Shinkansen bullet trains which postdate the D51. I do also really like how Hiro added an international character and did it right, a lot of Big World Big Adventures' attempts to diversify the cast kinda fell flat and just felt like their goal was to market toys to different demographics, but Hiro was a truly realized character from beginning to end.

[@cardiv5zuikaku944]

Agree, Hiro and Victor are two of the good example of introducing new character from another country in the show, and they use them right as well

[@WesleyO05]

I love Thomas and Hiro’s relationship. Like you said, it’s like a kid and his grandpa. It’s just like me and my grandfather when he was alive.

[@FranquitoMV2004]

My condolences😞mine passed away almost 10 years ago😢

[@olivermensinger6022]

@@FranquitoMV2004my Grandfathers died 5 and 15 years ago. Sorry for your loss.

[@FranquitoMV2004]

@@olivermensinger6022 same for you, wish the best for you to continue💪

[@youssefhussein1615]

@@olivermensinger6022 My paternal grandmother died before I was born, along with my maternal grandparents and my paternal grandfather, and I never got to know them, and I always wish until now at 19-years-old that I could see them, and be with them like any other person with his or her grandparents being still alive.

[@hugoGómezlastra]

This is so sweet.😢

[@Nic_2751]

Hiro is national treasure, even as a child, who lost his grandpas well before he was born, I instantly gravitated towards Hiro and too saw him as the lovable grandpa figure who pointed out things I never would’ve stated, and yea his voice actor really was the touch of humanity to tie it all together, someone who I would listen to all day.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

Another perfect idea for the dynamic of Henry and Hiro to be used again is a forest episode since they both love nature and would try to protect it from danger. That would be great by the writers if they should have thought of that, especially in the BWBA era where environmental goals are present. It would also be nice to see how Hiro handles Henry's grumpy, self-importance and jerkish side.

[@clayton_rose]

I said this in the other video but I feel that Hiro coming back after only a year shows how little the people who worked on the railway were left alive and the other engines were either scrapped or preserved.

[@joey9273]

YES. This was my favourite sodor's finest before the channel got taken down. So happy to see it back!

[@vanessasandoval96]

My favorite Hiro episodes Hiro helps out A present for Hiro Happy Hiro Henry and Hiro No more Mr nice engine

[@nolantherailfan5048]

@@vanessasandoval96hiro is my favorite CGI character

[@chukowiley3823]

Hiro is the perfect mix of Toby and Edward (in my opinion) that we never got as a full character. But his backstory and forgiving nature makes him feel even better than Edward and Toby in the CGI series.

[@hugoGómezlastra]

@@chukowiley3823 Hiro is basically Murdoch but better.

[@Trent_The_Trainiac]

14:40 I love the way. Thomas just smiles as soon as he sees hero

[@thinaphonpetsiri9907]

I’m kinda like him in Henry’s Hero, his persistence really reflected Japanese work culture very well (although some would say it’s rather stereotypical but whatever). I have many Japanese colleagues and former coworkers and they’re the most hard workers I ever know, they’ll get the job done no matter what, they’ll tear themselves apart to get the assignment finished. (The downside is that it tends to have a negative effect on both their physical and mental health). Hiro being the first Mikado 2-8-2 in the series is also quite nice. I have a special liking for Mikado since the first working steam locomotive I ever been on was Japanese-built Mikado Thai railway SRT DX50 2-8-2 No.953 (Too bad she’s no longer in operational state).

[@Daniel_Huffman]

There such things as positive stereotypes, which every nation wants to have. It's how they form friendships with each other. Even negative stereotypes can have a positive side to them: If Australia has a reputation for being filled with deadly animals, that must say something about the tenacity of its people, right?

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

That does explains a lot about Hiro's determination despite bad coal.

[@tobyytlai]

My take on Hiro's backstory: Hiro was brought to Sodor by his Japanese owner for demonstration in the late 1930s before WWII broke out (after Percy, before Toby). While hauling a goods train, Hiro broke down and was stored in a siding to wait for spare parts from Japan (which never arrived). He was abandoned by his owner when the war broke out and stayed there until he was discovered by Thomas (probably in the 1970s). The reason why the NWR engines (No. 1 to 6) didn't know Hiro is because he broke down very shortly after his arrival on Sodor, having hauled one or two trains only. Most of them didn't see Hiro before he broke down.

[@MrSleepy677]

I picture him asking what happened to Japan after World War 2 and Godzilla.

[@KigCaseyEN]

I mentioned this in a comment on the original video, but Hiro would've most likely have been brought to the UK some time around May of 1937, the month of King George VI's coronation. This is because Japan actually sent one of their warships to the UK as a foreign delegation to take part in the British Royal Naval Review that was held in that month. This was probably the only major Japanese presence recorded in the UK before the outbreak of war and probably the only time within the five year window between 1936-1941 in which Hiro could’ve been brought over.

[@DrewCougMario]

12:19 my favorite edit of all time!

[@Soulblighter116]

ikr, hearing Hiro call Diesel a dickhole is both hilarious in context and just as a gag, as well as surprisingly understandable, cause, well, diesel kinda is, in general, a dickhole. Its in his name, Devious Diesel.

[@DrewCougMario]

@@Soulblighter116 I think we should change his name to dickhole diesel

[@thomasmalthus3257]

Ive been giggling like a idiot for a few minutes now at that edit.

[@MetxsightseerRailfan]

It kind of fits in the dialogue.

[@SrMechaGojira93]

Favorite characters introduced in the Nitrogen Era: 1. Luke 2. Victor 3. Paxton 4. Hiro 5/6. Den and Dart 7. Sidney 8. Kevin I said this in the original upload, but both Hiro and Unlucky Tug had something in common: they left the franchise behind in 2017; only to return in 2020 (temporarily in Hiro’s case; permanently in Nic’s case)

[@KibuFox]

My personal canon is, that since Hiro was converted to standard gauge, there wasn't much use for him in Japan. Since the conversion back to narrow gauge would be too costly, it was best to return him to Sodor.

[@cameronharris6325]

Competent writing in the BWBA era indeed. Once you get Paul Larson on the writing team for the final season, you know they're gonna go hard.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

Yeah. Paul Larson should have stuck around after Season 18 regardless of being head writer of Fireman Sam.

[@ItsCarlos563]

One of the 1st ever characters introduced in full CGI, alongside Victor and Kevin. Such a memorable engine.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Hiro is hands down my favorite all CGI Thomas character 8:48 12:24 10:05

[@emersoninfinitystone5785]

That intro was just so beautiful. Japanese culture really does have some of the best soothing music ever. 🌸🎼 Have to say the parts explained how Hiro IS CGI. Thomas & Friends and that modern society can learn a lot by aspiring to his attitude and find peace with your enemies really spoke to me. Hiro has always felt like such a natural part of the TTTE family. He's like the Master Splinter of this universe... an old sensei full of wisdom who left his country for a new home, pushes on through any obstacle and doesn't hesitate to help those in soul wheather good or bad. And as a diverse character, it's safe to say Hiro's is easily the most well written and inspirational. FUN FACT: There actually was a D51 engine numbered #51 that was sadly scrapped just a few years back... so may the real-life Hiro rest in peace. Long live the Master of the Railway. ❤🖤🤍 12:20 my sides hurt. 🤣🤣🤣

[@vanessasandoval96]

Haunted Hiro Hiro :🤨haunted station well I can be careful when I see it but mists I know before in my country Japan 🇯🇵 when I see it doesn’t bother me

[@TrainsCatsOtherStories]

Hold they're STILL scrapping steam engines TO THIS DAY?! What the HECK PEOPLE! Has history taught us nothing?!

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

Though he does take bad engines a little seriously and knows that he can't change them like Diesel despite with Spencer. I was referring to animated media with protagonists dealing with antagonists.

[@fanofeverything30465]

​@@TrainsCatsOtherStories It was probably damaged beyond repair (I'm not trying to justify the scrapping, just to explain it)

[@emersoninfinitystone5785]

@@fanofeverything30465 Your pretty much correct. The engine was preserved in 2009 and put on static display outside a museum, but over the following years ( due to what i can only assume was poor maintaining of it's condition ) it was deteriorating too much. As much as it pained the owners, they had no choice... it needed to be scrapped. And so it was back in February 2020.

[@SkyeSoarer04]

on the day this was uploaded I was in London and had just bought a Push Along Hiro and when I watched this for the first time I just chuckled to myself for 20 minutes

[@shaneschumacher1689]

He cherishes the quiet moments. Like he hasn’t had enough of of those

[@samuelfarris1949]

It was very intriguing and satisfying in retrospect that Hiro was given some exploration time as a character, compared to most new introductions under the HiT/Mattel era. It was very clear to me that they wanted 'Hero of the Rails', for what virtues it had going for it, to encapsulate followers in the transition of Thomas & Friends to full CGI, and they managed to do it by making the newbies in it actually very interesting. Nice to see too that Hiro was played consistently throughout his appearances, as though they realised he was a special character. He felt so right both as a cultural representative and as an inclusion among the established cast. If I were to align his backstory in relation to the technical history of his basis, I could say he might have arrived on Sodor while on tour of Europe after World War 2 as a representative of Japanese engineering; he performed running trials and Sir Topham Hatt among others observed these with interest to the point of arranging for him to help out on his Main Line for a while. The events thereafter follow what had already been established. Regards, Samuel Farris.

[@Thomperfan]

I'm just going to post my original comment here. 8:41-9:01 Side note, aside from Gordon and Spencer's rivalry, Thomas and the other main characters might have done more or less the same thing as Hiro did. In season 8 up to Hero of the Rails, the Steam Team were often disgusted/angry whenever Spencer came on the scene, but after that in episodes like Steamy Sodor and Spencer the Grand, and specials like King of the Railway, they seem fine talking to him and letting him hang out with them. And I think that's pretty cool.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

Despite still annoyed by him.

[@JZJ7777]

They still seemed annoyed with him, though, particularly Gordon, and will only put up with his behavior if they have to.

[@youssefhussein1615]

@@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967 Well they were still annoyed by him because of how pompous and arrogant he would act with everyone like Gordon, and since Spencer teases everyone like Gordon too, but I have to agree that in times when he learned a lesson and helped the characters we know of like helping Percy get back to Tidmouth sheds in "Spencer the grand", showing how you could make him a good friend, it's actually pretty nice, of course I think it would be better if there was someone who is smarter than every one of the characters and who could teach them to be better with things and each other like me for example, and hey, since we know how Spencer knows some characters like Whiff and Mavis, how Diesel knows Rosie like in "Diesel's special delivery" and Stephen because of how he met Stephen in "King of the Railway", and how Thomas and his friends knows every other character, we don't know if some of the characters know who Thomas and his friends know like Hiro knowing Stephen, and other examples like that, so imagine if there was one episode in one of the CGI seasons of Thomas and friends that would feature Spencer getting to know Diesel, Paxton, and all the other Diesels for the first time, especially in some special job or something, how great would that be, I think that would be nice.

[@TakingABreak-u3k]

Hiro is probably one of the best sharon Miller characters

[@omarvazquez4075]

One of 7seven great characters

[@aplane9625]

Jiro is in the reboot but I’m glad to say he never changed

[@witcherstudios9351]

I remember in NWR Tales, Hiro being the oldest engine on the island was a fabrication for the tv show in universe. In that series, Hiro was brought to the island around the 50’s -60’s after the fat controller went on holiday to Japan, but was crashed into the woods by some people who held resentment towards the Japanese due to WWII. Then he was rediscovered in the 80’s and subsequently repaired.

[@gumundureyorarnfinnsson4212]

Thats actuly a interesting idea

[@zacharykim436]

12:03 Igawa was in Johnny English Reborn and I recognized his voice

[@polandsocks]

I think the reason why Hero thinks he was first on the island, was because his line wasn't conected to other lines. Same for Edward and this one coffepot. That would exsplain many thinks like they all saying that they were first on the island, without streching thinks to much

[@youssefhussein1615]

If you said coffeepot, then you mean the new character named Glenn, and don't forget about Stephen since he's an old engine too, and since Victor once said in the first/movie episode of season 17 of Thomas and friends called "King of the Railway" that Stephen was one of the first steam engines to work on Sodor, and hey imagine if there was one episode in whatever CGI season of Thomas and friends which involves Hiro being with Stephen, like two old engines of Sodor getting to know each other, that would be great.

[@polandsocks]

@@youssefhussein1615 thanks. I don't really watch CGI stuff anymore.

[@youssefhussein1615]

@@polandsocks Well Thomas and friends was part of my childhood, and I didn't understand that much of everything of anything and anyone of the whole series, but since I'm 19-years-old now(which I just turned on my birthday just yesterday(July 1st) on this year(2024)), and since I got to learn things from movies and TV shows I've watched and grew up with right now, especially to help me get smarter such as what this word means and stuff like that, I started watching episodes of Thomas and friends which I was never aware of and which I had never seen before, and I got to experience characters I've never known or seen before such as Glenn, Rebecca, Nia, and all those other new characters they started having in the future.

[@JZJ7777]

I agree. That’s the only theory that makes sense for why Hiro believes he was one of the first engines on Sodor.

[@jamesthomas5109]

6:26 I'd love to see Hiros friends from Japan both historically and today, just to see what his history and relationship with his original railway is like. 😊

[@AtkataffTheAlpha]

Personally, Hiro is my favorite character with Edward coming in a close second. Hiro is pretty much like a Japanese Edward and has been very memorable since his debut

[@ClowninAround519]

Can't let people know I shed a tear when hiro left , he was always my favourite along with spencer

[@BorisFangirl]

I enjoy Hiro's character very much :) He's one of the reasons why I enjoy Igawa-san as an actor. I love his sense of serenity, his politeness, and his moments where he needs to be a bit stern. He may come across as too perfect, but he does have some flaws to him, and that's okay

[@ek9509]

Well, I’m sure they would’ve expanded upon the bullet train stuff soon enough in 25 season. Thomas FINALLY goes to Japan, and sees what life on Hiro’s line is like. But, due to all the bad reviews from us, BW!BA! (and the original Thomas show in general) was over.

[@mustin07doesgaming]

It’s interesting how you pointed out how Hiro has that restricted design. I remember seeing him in the show as a kid and I always liked his design but couldn’t figure out why. After watching this I now know what I liked about it.

[@Jedi-ge6lr]

8:24 This really makes me want to see someone make a fan story about Hiro and Murdoch.

[@joshuaW5621]

That would be so cool. When I first saw the poster for Hero of the Rails, I initially thought that Hiro was Murdoch.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

I believe that Hiro can still visit Sodor from time to time despite going back to Japan in Kenji on the Rails again like before in Series 13 since he can't leave it forever or anything. Also, would be nice to see Thomas visiting Japan to see Hiro and Kenji again as they show him around. You'd think that Andrew Brenner could have create a episode around Thomas and the differences of his relationships with Hiro, Gordon and James since you said that he's never been cheeky to Hiro once at all in the show. Would be interesting to see. Or by Davey Moore, a episode around him with Edward, Toby and Skarloey since they're all old and wise sages and interact with Oliver, Douglas and Trevor since they're all saved from scrap. Those would be perfect too. The show wouldn't be the same without Hiro on Sodor.

[@chukowiley3823]

Now that I think about it, Hiro might be to Japan like The Flying Scotsman is to Sodor. They both travel there every now and then because they have such strong ties with the area, but will always live at their actual home.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

@@chukowiley3823 Yes, thanks for understanding it.

[@theblueone_14]

Hiro was always such an awesome character to me. I always loved his beautiful dark livery as it makes the red wheels and gold highlights pop so much better. He was always such a well wrote character with a great design. Kinda want to see if there is an HO scale model for him

[@jamesthomas5109]

Salty, Murdoch, Harvey, Hiro all seem to fit the franchise very well. 😊

[@youssefhussein1615]

I really wish they brought Murdoch back in full CGI in the full CGI seasons of Thomas and friends, along with the old and forgotten characters, Molly, Neville, Dennis, Boco, Arthur, Hank, Flora, Stepney, Madge, Freddie and Mighty Mac the Narrow gauge engines, Elizabeth, George, and the old friends of Jack the front loader known as Byron, Ned, Kelly, Nelson, Patrick, Buster, and Isabella. And I also wish they could show that they don't have characters like Neville, Dennis, Hank, and Flora for toys, but to be part of the series forever like all the other characters, especially the ones they had in the future such as Hiro, Charlie, Scruff, Bash, Dash, and Ferdinand, Den and Dart, Norman, Sidney, Paxton, Stephen, Connor and Caitlin, Glenn, Porter, Ryan, Gina, Yong Bao, Nia, Rebecca, and all those other new characters for the series, including all the new places they started having in the future too, like the Steamworks, the Dieselworks, the Blue Mountain Quarry, the Sodor Search and Rescue Center, Ulfstead Castle, and all those other new places that came after.

[@thepolishnz]

ww2 happened in Thomas cannon. would explain why his parts never arrived. would also explain why he came back. the japan he knew didnt exist and was too busy for him to enjoy the quite life

[@scotthamp384]

I feel like Hiro is the most perfect character in the whole entire franchise And like you said, Nic, his sheer size and presence almost commands respect

[@hugoGómezlastra]

I agree.

[@youngkhiii]

i love watching your videos and i was so hurt when they were all gone. i loved to see that you were uploading again and just being able to hear your most calming and comforting voice again just made me really happy. keep on going Unlucky Tug, I’ll always support you❤

[@darkadmiral106]

Wow, the entire Hiro-Storyarc is incredible. Wonderful writing, incredible stories, and a beautiful End!

[@nintendoguy0342]

19:10 The reason why the ending was like this because after Season 24, Thomas was originally going to travel to Japan in Season 25 and he would see Hiro there. But due to the failure of BWBA, this never happened.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

If they made it happen with continuing the show regardless of failure and back to original story format of Brenner era style.

[@NitroIndigo]

If I had a nickel for every steam engine introduced in Hero of the Rails with a traumatic backstory, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it is weird that it happened twice.

[@BlooMonkiMan]

I assume the other one is Victor

[@NitroIndigo]

@@BlooMonkiMan Yes.

[@ek9509]

17:18: Based on BWBA research on the official TTTE Wiki, I would say the episode is called World of Tomorrow.

[@SPIDERtuber7610]

Wait a minute I just realized Hiro is the same kinda train Astrotrain is in Transformers. Wow, that makes a lot of sense in hindsight now.

[@BlooMonkiMan]

Of course Astrotrain would be a D51, they're like Japanese Class 08s

[@Ryder-a-Blaze]

Hiro is the best non-Awdry character ever no question he the grandpa everyone needs alongside Iroh

[@vanessasandoval96]

Imagine Hiro meets hector the horrid they would be friends if they help each other out

[@omarvazquez4075]

I like Cranky better

[@vanguardRailgun924]

I wouldn’t say he’s the BEST non Awdry character but he’s definitely up there. I’d argue Cranky or Salty are better.

[@kj.themoviedestroyer.810]

3:49 - 3:50 correction tug, hiro said he was ONE OF the first engines on sodor not THE first so it can interpreted in multiple ways.

[@alivebacontgm2]

The PEAK of the Miller Era

[@engineboy53productions15]

Hiro is an amazing character and one of best of the miller era.

[@Bananaboi_Yeet]

Hiro saying d*c Khloe is trauma to my younger self but is absolutely hilarious now

[@zionjarman3610]

My dad hunted hiro for months for me. I'm sure he's still up in the attic with the rest of the trains. Hiro was one of the best trains they've ever made, sleek, beautiful, and elegant.

[@Blaze_1221]

He’s such cool character. I wish he was a Model. He would’ve been such a cool model to see

[@Yowhatsupforus]

I think Hiro is a great character he is the master of the railway.

[@Onemilfan]

Bro a super chat

[@Yowhatsupforus]

@@Onemilfanyes

[@LegoMiester14]

That intro though, it gives me goosebumps.

[@MattMorgan-mt9st]

As a kid, I used to love Hiro. I still have the DVD for hero of the rails and seeing this video made me like him even more. I love it

[@SecurityBreachShowFan98]

What a personally love to believe what Hiro meant by being one of the first engines to arrive on Sodor, I believe what he meant was he was one of the first steam engines from another country to arrive on Sodor.

[@drevianedwardsproductions9244]

Hiro is a charming and a likable character, and he had a pretty good impact. After hearing Thomas theorist about what will season 25 look like It would have been interesting. Having an episode center around Thomas, Hiro and Kenji will be interesting if season 25 is the real ending of Thomas instead of season 24 Overall I enjoyed it back in 2022.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

Hiro returns to Sodor in Series 13 to help with the summer visitors. That's the reason in case you forget.

[@laurenbernardfrio7679]

When Hiro says "dickhole", I'm like: *DAMN!!!* 😮 This is probably the first ever cussing in Thomas history, and it had to be a Japanese train...and it could've give off some mature tone, making some new potential for the series...until BWBA screwed the pooch.

[@TheChamp820]

Hiro of Rails got me into Thomas. And the thought of AEG ruining him brought me out for 4 years.

[@devinbarlow2021]

As someone who grew up with the Miller era and seeing a lot of episodes with Hiro in them, I'd say bringing him into AEG would be a disaster.

[@Middy_37]

I watched this whole video again just so I can hear Hiro say "d*** hole"

[@alexis_ian]

I really like the intro! and now I only learn to appreciate this episode of sodor's finest, probably my favorite so far. Hiro has got to be my favorite international engine determind, mysterious, and deserved the title of master of the railway. Though I'm not a fan of S24, I appreciate he those have closure returning home with Kenji back to the land of the rising sun. Though I do have problems with how it’s handled, it's far from perfect and could probably have been handled better.

[@thax13]

And Hiro can make me simp within a second

[@sevenplaytimeadventure3270]

12:24 hiro roast desiel with the burn🤨🚂🔥

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

The writers are having fun with livery designs for new characters so restrains won't be needed. I like them.

[@JaydenTheGreat019]

12:20 No More Mr Nice Engine (Deleted Clip)

[@johnlydick918]

I was relieved to learn that Togo Igawa doesn’t voice Hiro in All Engines Go, he’s better than that.

[@Ryanfry262]

I just caught a goof! At 3:58 hiro is going along the tracks, but his side rods aren’t moving

[@ElectricoGamez]

6:43 1. Note how Hiro said that he was ONE OF the first engines on the island, not THE FIRST, meaning there were probably other engines on the island before he arrived (and I believe those engines present before him were the narrow guage engines) this context might be trying to say that the engines may have had arrived sometime later not long after he was put in that siding. If I had to guess, the first of the main engines would've arrived sometime around 1938 - 1940 (although edward could be an exception to that)

[@JZJ7777]

That’s true, although I’m wondering if some of the narrow gauge engines, more specifically Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, and Peter Sam could be exceptions too, as their basis’ were built in 1864, 1865, 1878, and 1921, respectively. I’d like to think that the first two, at least, could’ve arrived on Sodor before the arrival of the first of the main engines.

[@DillonHall-hd3hk]

That intro was fantastic!

[@TheKaidynB]

I love Hiro. I’m Japanese American myself and Hiro is the splitting image of Japanese Sudrian. He’s so zen and calm but can be authoritative and is not afraid to stand his ground. Just like my Oba-San. She has mid stage dementia and she grew up in the time Hiros basis ran all over Japan. In fact while it isn’t stated exactly where in Japan Hiro is originally from, I headcanon that he’s from the Oigawa railway. Just like my Oba-San he never holds grudges. Her dementia may say otherwise these days but deep down we know she still loves and cares. Togo Igawa is the PERFECT voice for Hiro. And yes I can’t unhear him saying the word “d*ckhole” 😂 Henry’s Hero is one of my favorite episodes of all time! Two of my favorite characters in the entire franchise!

[@DaL1tleGr4vy-prod]

HIRO SAYING D*CKHOLE HAD ME DEADDDD HAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAHA

[@thecpmr6276]

I figured Hiro came back to sodor not because he'd be scrapped in japan, but because he realized he had a new family in The Northwestern Railway. When he went back to Japan, he found he missed his new friends even more.

[@roadandrailstudios5216]

17:42 The BWBA era isn’t ready for flying cars, yet it’s fine with having cars that can turn themselves 180 degrees, walking bridges, dancing 2-story robots and a bullet train that can somehow operate without any electrical cable attachments. Cause that makes sense!

[@BlooMonkiMan]

Internal battery my ass

[@vanessasandoval96]

My favorite Hiro episodes are Hiro helps out, a present for Hiro , happy Hiro and no more Mr nice engine

[@thecartoonmanist956]

11:37 VERY true! Like Neil Morrissey IS Bob the Builder, or Charles Martinet IS Mario & Luigi as examples.

[@aaronhill8315]

My thought is Hiro was a very early prototype engine who did well in Japan that his inventors wanted to see how he did internationally only to not know exactly where he was, when he'd need service, ect

[@beard3451]

I remember watching your Thomas Debunked videos when they were first posted to the old channel, in particular your clever Are There 2 Henrys video. I suddenly had an idea for a headcanon for how Hiro could be one of the oldest engines on Sodor, yet is based on a much more modern and younger steam engine: Hiro was not originally a D51, he came to Sodor as a different type of locomotive. When he was eventually fully restored, he was rebuilt into a D51, or at least an engine closely resembling a D51. I got this idea from your fan theory that when Henry went to be rebuilt at Crewe in his old shape, instead of being completely rebuilt into a Black 5, he was instead rebuilt heavily standardized. I think this could work very well for people who want to have both Hiro's backstory and basis work together. Thank you for the inspiration!

[@Enzi_Meteori_902]

it could work but in the movie Hiro already had 8 drivers and already closely resembles a D51 But i did some research.... The D51s have a somewhat shorter length and smaller boiler, Hiro is long and has a larger boiler

[@snookerdooker471]

I think how hiro could work in the railway series is that he was brought on early into the north western’s construction and after he broke down Edward and Thomas were brought on to finish the line but I know barely anything about the books. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@snookerdooker471]

Also hiro victor and Kevin the only new characters from hiro of the rails all the other characters that return are the steam team sir topham hat spencer mavis and cranky appears in the last shot at the end of the movie.

[@TrainsCatsOtherStories]

How is it possible that in the Miller era Hiro was a better international character than all of the BWBA engines combined?! I've said it before and I'll say it again, we were too hard on poor Sharon. One must remember that it takes more than one person to make or break a show. It takes a whole team. I think that Hero of the Rails is proof Sharon Miller is more than capable of making something good. It's the powers that be that ruin it. They care more about pumping money out as fast as they can. Imagine if she and Andrew Brenner collaborated from the beginning. She could've had someone to tap her shoulder and say, hey Sharon this is good but maybe we should do this instead. Now I'm not saying that could've made seasons 13 to 16 RWS worthy or anything, but I'll settle for something at least on par with the Hit Era model series more than anything. I mean hey take whatever small victories you can get.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

And perhaps have Diesel 10 regain his evilness back in CGI if Andrew work with Sharon on Day of the Diesels. Also, Yong Bao is a good international engine character and he's my favourite.

[@TrainsCatsOtherStories]

@@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967 Yeah, he's not bad 🙂

[@TrainsCatsOtherStories]

@@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967 Actually I'm of the opinion Diesel 10 should have only appeared in Magic Railroad. I mean... He did try to wipe out an entire train race lol

[@TankEngine97]

Absolutely love the intro for this.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

I'm sure that Andrew Brenner and the writers would have work something out with Hiro's backstory and the RWS history of Sodor's beginnings like Skarloey's younger years.

[@DavidScholz-bu1ix]

I seriously gotta personally just suddenly feel quite pleased to happily mention that I personally just suddenly came up with the officially well-knowingly clever idea of completely building more than enough of the J N R class D51 2-8-2 wheel configurated steam-driven railway tender locomotive in a officially well-knowingly obviously great new generation with modifications that officially include automatic coupling devices on each end of the well-known J N R class D51 steam-driven railway tender locomotive with more-or-less 1 on the front of the locomotives with the other automatic coupling device is basically located on the rare of his own official tender alongside fully up-to-date air-brakes that'll basically allow each of 'em to apply the brakes on various types of American-origin rolling stock with no complete trouble whatsoever meaning that they'll specifically be very shockingly surprisingly able to operate with American-origin rolling stock with no complete trouble whatsoever alongside bein' completely fitted with an official cowcatcher underneath his own official front buffers alongside a bell on the buffers alongside a specifically wonderfully officially shiny new steam whistle that officially sounds exactly like the whistle of the Master of the Railway itself if you certainly seem to actually know what I personally mean through lots of specific details!

[@JamesRailwayAdventure]

0:11 where did you find this music from 12:20 No More Mister Nice Engine deleted scene

[@bobingabout]

Hero wanted to go home and see all his old friends. He goes home and finds out they've all been scrapped. (or the human ones died) So he comes back to Sodor to see all his new friends.

[@highoctanegames]

I remembered for years as a kid I begged for trackmasters, wooden railways, and take n play versions of Hiro Literally everyone knows how much I enjoyed Hiro as a kid and still is my favorite CGI exclusive character

[@RascalTrainz]

I do not like Kenji as a character, the idea of a bullet train on sodor makes zero snese, and with this factor along with many other aspects of BWBA, In my headcanon, BWBA never happened. After Hiro of the Rails, Hiro came back to Japan only to see that all of his friends were long gone at that point. With nothing left on Japan, Hiro returns to sodor and continues to work on sodor to this day. As for his history, my headcannon is similar to another commenter, Hiro was brought to the Island in late 30s as the JGR wanted to showcase the D51 to Britian, eventually ending up on sodor. Hiro didnt last long on the railway, only pulling 2 trains before breaking down. Hiro was shoved in an old goods yard, waiting for parts from Japan. The war broke out soon after he was placed in the yard, and thus the parts never came, and was abandoned by JGR during the war. Leaving Hiro to be forgotten for many years. Untill sometime in the 80s thomas discovered him and the rest is history