Was Thomas And The Magic Railroad Ever Canon? - Thomas Theory

In this video I dive into the ever confusing, Thomas And The Magic Railroad rabbit hole
and we uncover the deepest rooted references and nods to Thomas’ infamous first theatrical outing!
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[@ThomasTheorist]

I like the idea of TATMR being a canon movie within the series, I just wonder what those model figures thought of real humans! lol

[@Gondarth]

Imagine Mr Conductor showing up in the main series. All you see is a plastic model of either George or Alec...

[@kwproductions6737]

I remember writing a story about Gordon James and Henry being completely appalled at the movie thinking it was garbage

[@michaelmyers3912]

If only we got to see the directors cut fully, unless you count the 4 hour TWR one

[@_chan.burn.21_]

​@@GondarthI honestly don't hate that idea lol. Like, they could have just had all the original characters from the film still show up in the show, but as model figures maybe with their own voice actors or just voiced by the narrator.

[@bladeobrian2144]

I like to think that it’s just a matter of perception, We the audience saw Mr C, Lily, and the others as live action on Sodor. However, Thomas and all the residents of Sodor see them as wooden figures.

[@joshuaW5621]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Britt Allcroft does consider this movie canon. She was so passionate about this movie.

[@vaclavmacgregor2464]

Yeah well i wonder why did she make it so different fromt he series?Why magic?Why so few characters?Why no Humans?WHY WHY WHY?

[@Kukaak]

@@vaclavmacgregor2464 Seems magic was always part of her vision for Thomas (just look at Shining Time Station), and the lack of humans is probably just them not wanting to use static wooden figures for a big budget movie, not a lore thing. A crewmember said they didn't use Edward because "there wasn't room for him in the script" so it seems they didn't want to bring all the various props overseas when they wouldn't be used much

[@shocksound9]

Of course she would

[@Silverlink28]

⁠@@Kukaak I really really believe that she was not the correct person to direct Thomas

[@Gondarth]

@@vaclavmacgregor2464 Thomas may be the big draw for the kids, but for the rest of the audience, you need big human names to draw them in, hence Alec Baldwin and Peter Fonda.

[@thenumber1engine955]

6:38 Believe it or not, but in the Brazilian dub of TATMR, Thomas says "hello Douglas" in the beginning scene when he's passing Knapford station

[@karseniberra]

a weird thing i came up with….it’s canon to the US dub of the classic series. the thomas episodes in the STS universe are framed as Mr Conductor telling stories of the ongoings on of the island of sodor. given all the US narrators (except Brandon but i don’t think HiT era really counts here) played Mr Conductor, and Ringo, George, and Alec have wooden figure caricatures, it would be reasonable to assume that the US dub of 1-6 are the events presented in STS, separate from the UK dub. also i think especially in Alecs tenure the series was getting a lot more fantastical (Season 5 has episodes where a pissed off rock spirit destroys a quarry and fireflies form into a dead engine) so i think TaTMR could easily slide into that kind of world where realism is more lenient and spirituality is very present.

[@retroroy8720]

I like this theory a lot, actually.

[@dannythehipster5644]

Nah, disagree entirely. STS was only a way to get Thomas to America rather than being an episodic shoe. Plus STS is vastly different in terms of design in Magic Railroad.

[@Waltman13]

I would love to see an actual sequel to Magic Railroad. Not one that continues the story, but rather... one that makes the dream theory officially canon. Because as clichéd as that theory is, it does make the most sense as you mentioned in the video. Plus I can easily see the plot just being "Thomas asks the other engines if they remember Lady, only for them to be left confused. And because of that, Thomas goes on a quest to try and prove the others that what he saw in his dream was real".

[@jonathandixon1305]

Problem is everyone too old, dead, or a criminal many years after the release of the original film.

[@IsleofPigsStudios]

The whole diesels on Sodor without Duck thing is what’s confusing me. The only steam engines on Sodor in TATMR are Thomas, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby. So what’s stopping someone from thinking that this takes place before Duck arrived on Sodor?

[@shocksound9]

Britt 100% intended the movie to take place after S5; Cranky was supposed to appear

[@IsleofPigsStudios]

@@shocksound9 Fair point. And Cranky does make a cameo (you can see his supports in a night scene)

[@shocksound9]

Yup@@IsleofPigsStudios

[@CaravanNoobs]

I actually really like the idea of TATMR being an in universe movie. It’s a lot more creative than it just being a dream and makes Diesel 10 and Lady real engines on Sodor without them actually being magic.

[@dexstewart862]

I love Lady's design, i'd like if she stuck around as a character. Even her just appearing in Thomas's dreams as a conscience of sorts would be a cool utilization.

[@Ashton_M_1920]

As much as I love TATMR, I don't think it's actually canon, simply for this. If it was canon, then why the heck would Sir Topham Hatt bring Diesel 10 back?

[@shocksound9]

Why the heck would Sir Topham Hatt bring Diesel back three times? Also, STH clearly didn’t bring him back the first time; D10 waited until he was on vacation. Why should the other times be any different?

[@Ashton_M_1920]

@@shocksound9 maybe because Diesel 10 tried to take over Sodor, while Diesel was just a prick?

[@shocksound9]

STH didn’t see him do that tho@@Ashton_M_1920

[@Ashton_M_1920]

@@shocksound9 well, it would stand to reason that Mr Conductor would tell him what Diesel 10 did.

[@thefatcent]

the cgi series and model series are the same timeline

[@LYR55James]

Well if you think about it 1. Special coal was reference in TATMR which is a callback to coal from season 1. 2. Edward didn't have a starring role in season 5 neither did Donald, Douglas, and Duck, but for Oliver he only had one starring role in season 5 and no busy going backwards and make someone happy don't count. 3. Lady actually has been to Sodor because how would Henry know who she is or Edward could've told Henry the story of Lady. 4. Season 5 is the era where buildings, Sheds, stations, etc. are getting repaired and inspected to get up to railway codes. Following in season 6 where everything is fixed and updated to railway code. So TATMR shows the repairs for many locations because in a deleted scene for TATMR he did say, "sorry for delays during repairs, we are making this a better railway." 5. Diesel 10 being a real thing makes sense, an engine this the blast from the past who hates steam engine, could mean that steamies on the other railway told the sodor engines at vicarstown or Barrow in Furness about diesel 10.

[@roberttreacy8271]

Your theory of TATMR being a movie within the TV series is interesting.

[@ImTheFigure]

should had started with "hello internet! welcome to film theory!"

[@stuartbarclay7940]

I've always considered TATMR canon to the show. It's something that I feel like should not be ignored and should stand as a piller of what classic TTTEAF did right. Plus I like to think that the other engines were there during the events of the movie just off-screen.

[@joshuaW5621]

NTM the 2014 Sam Wilkinson map includes stuff from I The movie.

[@Optimegatrongodzilla]

@stuartbarclay7940 Yeah, I don't care what anybody says! 'Thomas And The Magic Railroad' is canonical! It sucks so much that outside of Diesel 10, characters who were introduced in that movie have either barely been used since(Lady) or haven't been used at all(Splatter & Dodge and the human characters)!

[@stuartbarclay7940]

@@Optimegatrongodzilla I agree.

[@thomasnwrengine4936]

@@stuartbarclay7940It is canon to Bosher’s Alfred trilogy

[@Optimegatrongodzilla]

​@@thomasnwrengine4936 What's that?

[@wishbonefan]

3:25 I'm pretty sure that this was supposed to set up George helping Diesel 10 in TATMR, which maybe would have have been in the script by this point.

[@DmayExpress]

TATMR is canon to Shining Time Station so I call TATMR a Shining Time Station Movie. CAE is canon to Thomas & Friends even though it's not a perfect film and dose have learning segments which you can easily skip them but at least no magic portal buffers so I call CAE a Thomas & Friends movie.

[@PieceOfJayVA]

i have a solid nuh uh to back up tatmr being not canon

[@Instinctfrr]

Real

[@abanana]

solid evidence

[@TrevortheTrainFan]

Well in my opinion, it IS canon for a few reasons: 1. Diesel 10 and Lady returned in Calling All Engines. 2. Sam Wilkinson added some of the movie’s locations in the 2014 revised Sodor Island Map. 3. As confusing as the movie is, at the VERY LEAST I can make SOME SENSE out of it. For example, the way Lady was brought back to life makes me theorize how the other vehicles like Thomas have faces in the first place because of the magic of gold dust. Those are my reasons. But I’ll be perfectly fine if anyone disagrees with me otherwise.

[@joshuaW5621]

I personally don’t consider it canon, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Britt Allcroft said it is canon anyway.

[@TrevortheTrainFan]

@@joshuaW5621 Understandable.

[@TrevortheTrainFan]

@@joshuaW5621 And besides, I think we should let Britt Allcroft decide whether it’s canon or not because it’s her creation.

[@joshuaW5621]

@@TrevortheTrainFan good point.

[@TrevortheTrainFan]

@@joshuaW5621 I hope somebody will interview her about whether it’s canon or not because I really would like to know before she passes away sometime in the future.

[@kennethjoseph9309]

I think TATMR focuses on Burnett Stone who at one point was Lady's caretaker (I believe he knew Sodor before he lost interest in magic. However, due to Diseal 10 chase he crashed Lady. Burnett (at the time lost his wife Tasha) tried to rebuild her, but couldn't get her up to steam until his granddaughter Lily went to Sodor (came from it) and told him that Sodor's coal will only work on Lady and she steam and came back to life. I think the whole movie is about Burnet's point of view of Sodor and probably knew Thomas and the others when he was alot younger. What do you guys think?

[@xxroyalprincexx6811]

10:21 But it's part of the newer seasons of Thomas & Friends, I mean haven't you seen the Emily saves the World episode from season 18? Some of the characters made references to old seasons, like Duncan mentioned delivering an elephant statue from season 7, Rheneas mentioned the Dinosaur Skeleton from season 9, Gordon mentioned delivering Allicia Botti from season 8 and delivering the Queen of England from season 4, and Thomas mentioned delivering a jet engine that made him zoom across Sodor at supersonic speed from season 6, and Emily even mentioned delivering the Sodor United Football Team's laundry to the cleaners.

[@angelobates601]

Kinda sucks that splatter and dodge never returned. I have this wonderful headcanon that the two diesel went back to the mainland and got repainted red and yellow

[@Phantom-_-Transfomer]

The thing about George first saying puffball is that it was a hint or leak to magic railroad because apparently there was a orgianl scpirt where George was the secondary villain and I think that's why he first said it I'm not sure I might be wrong. But that's just a theory

[@TotoDG]

If that's the case, my guess is that, during the rewrite of the scripts, they had that word bouncing around in their minds, and then subconsciously added it in.

[@jboxgaming444]

9:49 Personally I think diesel 10 could be a reference to Dr Beeching Since his Goal was to destroy lady and thus the other Engines on Sodor but that's just a random thought. Nice Video

[@Your_Local_Express_Locomotive]

If lady was in CGI, I think she would have Millie's faces

[@jmredguppy2799]

Your theory about Magic Railroad being a dream is an interesting one. For some reason, I’m thinking back to the original cut of the movie where it was told as a story by an older Lily to her children, seems to make you wonder if the movie was just a story Lily made for her kids, or was it something she actually experienced. Cause the only thing that would be argued about this being false or true, was that she was married to an older Patch. So did they both experience this for real or was it just a story? Funny how the original cut of the movie adds potential more lore and meta to a movie of a franchise that already has more lore and meta stuff in it XD

[@michaelmyers3912]

Only if you don’t watch anything after it, plus every time there’s a narrator they’re a variation of Mr Conductor

[@Wolfric_Rogers]

I think Diesel 10 using the name Puffball is a a leftover from when George was supposed be in the movie.

[@cinnamonmantrainsareawesom7224]

1:50 actually I had an idea that Lady could be Thomas’ guardian angel like someone to look out for him and guide him and give him advice when there’s no one else to turn too what do you guys think

[@oscarkambouris2212]

I like to think that TAMR is a movie in the Thomas world , but in the Thomas world it's a Liv Action film, where Thomas, Disel 10 and Lady were real engine and around the Peel Godred line was the filming location

[@wyattm6782]

There's one thing you forget. In mystery Island Rescue One Of Diesel 10 Wires Is Taped Up.

[@percyhenryenginefan99]

Maybe Santa is just a guy dressed like Santa. (Kinda like a mall Santa)

[@ThomasSirHandel]

It's Sir Lowham

[@josephward1071]

Of course it’s canon it takes place after Season 5 and before Season 6 plus in the Post Credits of Misty Island Rescue one of the pipes(that Mr Conductor cut with his pliers)is taped up

[@Kukaak]

That wasn't tape on Pinchy's pipes, whatever it is Diesel 10 had it before Mr C cut the pipe, and its presence on the CGI render doesn't mean anything because the animators just recreated all of the details from the original prop

[@josephward1071]

@@Kukaak Well if it’s not tape then what is it

[@Kukaak]

@@josephward1071It's just something the model had with no deeper meaning, it seems to hold two wires together but it's probably not a fix to a cut wire. Again, it's just a recreated detail from the prop

[@joshuaW5621]

We should ask Britt Allcroft if it is.

[@rorymoore8982]

Thomas said his old catchphrase: Little Engines Can Do Big Things in Thomas and the Royal Engine

[@callum110597]

I've heard many say the movie is non-canon, but I always believed it was canon in some way, without thinking about that many details. Besides, I'm rather not a fan of Calling All Engines and find Diesel 10's redemption in that making no sense at all, compared to his villainy side in Magic Railroad. My opinion anyway, 'cause I personally still like the movie.

[@kylegraham6923]

I do have my own theory on Lady. I always picture Lady as once a normal engine and then we see Merlin The Wizard (from another dimension) who burns his staff in Lady’s firebox making her the new source of gold dust and has the power to travel between worlds and alternate versions of the Island Of Sodor. For example, the Island of Sodor in Magic Railroad is an alternate universe as just a huge train set, then in the model era, I say in Thomas’ dream he has never met Lady, but meets her for the first time. I believe that the Magic Railroad is a connection to the multiverse of different versions of Sodor, including the model era, Magic Railroad model era, the CGI era, and the AEG era.

[@chloe-stephlis6281]

While I do actually enjoy the movie, please don’t shoot me, I’m on the fence about whether or not to call it canon. Too much feels different from the series. Plus, Calling All Engines retcons Diesel 10 and Lady’s existences and roles.

[@michaelmyers3912]

Also Mr Conductor is like the watcher of the TTTE universe

[@amyrodgers4252]

Something i wish TATMR could've done was delve in more to Burnett's backstory and his life on Sodor, or at least have him mention him and Lady being there more, because there's quite a bit of evidence in the movie that Burnett must've lived on Sodor at one point or he may have grew up there before moving to America, judging from his old drawing that Stacy found. TATMR could have focused on Burnett's story while also focusing on the engines just as much, giving the humans and engines equal screen time.

[@railfanhunterjacob6353]

I found something even more interesting on the Thomas and The Magic Railroad rabbit hole, it turns out that the late Titanic composer James Horner tried to score the film But when the film suffered a series of cuts, Horner had to walk out and I found that Horner was one of the main orchestrations of the film on IMDB, but Horner was not credited in the film's end credits It's a similar case to what happened on Horner's score of Romeo and Juliet back in 2013 and Horner's score of The New World back in 2005

[@EternityKingdomsHeadHoncho]

If you want to bring TATMR’s characters into canon, here’s what I’ve come up with: Diesel 10: an experimental engine that was hidden away at a mainland scrapyard due to his illegal modifications. He developed a hatred for steam engines thanks to them mocking him for his poor fuel efficiency- a hatred that he acted upon once dieselization went into effect. He, alongside a pair of Class 08s, were among those who hunted down escaping steam engines like Oliver. Lady: worked on the Culdee Fell Railway as its “zeroth” engine, a prototype for Godred. After Godred’s accident, she worked in his stead until she was retired from active service in 1968 and purchased by railway enthusiast Burnett Stone for preservation purposes. Sometime before 1968, she and Thomas met (which would explain why he dreamed of her during Calling All Engines). Splodge: Splatter and Dodge were among the legions of Class 08s made and worked as Diesel 10’s wards for many years. Following their scrapyard closing down and Diesel 10 being moved to the Bridlington Steelworks, the duo were sent to Sodor. After a failed attempt at reinventing themselves as Ironworks diesels, the duo decided to lay low and help out on the Peel Godred’s construction.

[@shocksound9]

TATMR is literally canon… besides, why would the show’s backstory differ so drastically from the film’s?

[@shocksound9]

TATMR is literally canon… besides, why would the show’s backstory differ so drastically from the film’s?

[@NitroIndigo]

Wasn't George originally going to appear in Magic Railroad?

[@Kukaak]

Yes

[@darkseid1341]

He was but his model wasn’t taken out of storage

[@tugs_man]

But hey, that’s just a theory

[@TheSpongeBobGuy01]

A Thomas theory!

[@JupiterthetankengineYT]

2:55 i know this is a wierd theory but What if calling all engines is actually a prequel?

[@andydoms2001]

As much as I love Magic Railroad, nothing from it is ever relevant in the series before or after. That’s good enough for me to say it’s not canon.

[@abanana]

wooo new video!!!

[@bladeobrian2144]

I like to think that it’s canon in “broad strokes”, the general events happened and the basic facts are valid, but maybe some of the details can be fudged a bit. One theory I’ve had is that Lady used her magic to erase memories of what happened, a la Mewtwo in the first Pokémon movie, and/or she enchanted Thomas not to speak of the events a la what Rose did to Pearl on Steven Universe. Also, speaking of CAE, I remember when it was new (yes, I’m that old), 11 year old me got conned into thinking it was a sequel to TATMR. Turns out it’s really not…..

[@zack6283]

Good video and I very enjoy the video

[@sonickreekgamer7625]

Nice!

[@shocksound9]

Magic is in many more episodes than just TATMR; ignoring CAE! Lady appearance, you have Rusty and the Boulder, Duncan Gets Spooked, Percy and the Magic Carpet, Smoke and Mirrors, and Henry’s Magic Box (episodes which are irrevocably canon).

[@joshuaW5621]

Guess that means TATMR is canon now. Let’s ask Britt Allcroft.

[@chloe-stephlis6281]

@@joshuaW5621 has she officially said that ?

[@joshuaW5621]

@@chloe-stephlis6281 not yet. If she does I’ll share it on my community tab or social media. You’ll find out as soon as I do.

[@amyrodgers4252]

I think the Cgi era including an ACTUAL evil (albiet a bit goofy) Diesel 10 is maybe one implication of TATMR in the series. CAE! Diesel 10 wasn't exactly evil, he just didn't like steamies and was intimidating, he doesn't really DO anything that'd be considered evil, he's just mean to Thomas and that's it. His big return in DOTD having him just so vaguely mention that Thomas and him may have entered an altercation in the past is another hint, coupled with the fact that he kept demanding to see THOMAS specifically. I also found it strange how in CAE, he's good but not kind either, he still hates steamies but that's it. In DOTD, he's full on evil again, manipulating and keeping Percy and Kevin hostage, and also taking over the Steamworks. Yes, this could just be him wanting steamies gone, part of the typical Steamie vs Diesel dispute, but why would the franchise just suddenly make him a villain again just for that special and basically the rest of the series? Don't they WANT people to forget TATMR?? Diesel 10 suddenly being evil again may be implying TATMR might've possibly happened, yes, he may not mention any of the events, but he (as you said) seems to have had some history with Thomas in the past, i don't really think it mainly has anything to do with CAE. If the Dream theory was canon, it wouldn't really make sense why Diesel 10 seems to have a vendetta against Thomas in particular, like yeah. They don't like eachother, but Diesel 10 doesn't like ANY of the steamies, there must be an explanation to why he's so hateful to Thomas specifically. Plus, how would he have the memories of what happened in Thomas's dream? Unless he can somehow see other engines' dreams, i don't see how he'd recall events from a DREAM. The only way he'd hate Thomas specifically is if TATMR or some of its events happened. This is ALL just my opinion, anyway, you don't have to believe it. This is just what i think of TATMR's canonicity in mostly the Cgi series.

[@milestinker2178]

I *_STRONGLY_* disagree with the notion of TATMR being in continuity with even Shining Time Station. Just as you cover so many discrepancies between TATMR and the main Thomas series, so too does TATMR contradict Shining Time Station to the same degree (if not moreso). And I'm not talking about such production or aesthetic differences like the station looking different due to the movie being shot on location at the Isle of Man instead of on a set in a studio, or the fact that Billy Twofeathers is played by Russell Means instead of Tom Jackson. No, I'm talking about legit LORE contradictions that TATMR creates in its relation to Shining Time Station. The movie talks so much about how there's magic in the world that is vital to maintaining the stability and harmony of the entire universe. That was never a thing in Shining Time Station. In that show, the only magic that existed was confined entirely to just Mr. Conductor (and his family members), certain aspects of the station itself (like the Anything Tunnel in the station's mural), and a local wishing well that was mentioned a few times but never actually seen (its magic was twice brought into the station by Mr. C). The entire valley, let alone the entire universe, was never portrayed as anything more than just an ordinary world (much like how the world of Thomas & Friends was at the time). The Magic Railroad itself being vital to the world's existence is something that the movie just flat out made up. Admittedly, the STS show was very light on fleshing out the lore of the Conductor Family and their relation to the Island of Sodor. But what _was_ known was that the Conductors simply travel to Sodor and back to Shining Time Station (as well as to other destinations) via their Magic Dust's teleportation ability. There was never anything about the Conductor Family being some kind of guardians who help to maintain the balance and order of the entire universe. It was never that kind of "fate of the world is at stake" type of show. And Sodor wasn't in some parallel dimension, either. It was just a faraway place in the SAME universe as Shining Time Station. With that said, the world of Shining Time seen in the movie thus feels only _superficially_ similar to how it was in the show. Namely, the fact that the town itself is even named "Shining Time" at all is something that the show barely ever acknowledged. Outside of the town sign seen in the theme song, the show only ever referred to the town's name a small number of times (once or twice, at most), while the movie makes such a big deal about it for seemingly only one reason: To shallowly draw attention to the fact that this movie is a crossover between Thomas & Friends and Shining Time Station. In the show, the whole valley was given greater significance than the town. Known as Indian Valley, it was home to the Indian Valley Railroad, on which all trains that visited Shining Time Station traveled. In the movie, the name "Indian Valley" is only ever seen on the side of Billy's engine, the Rainbow Sun, while "Indian Valley Railroad" is only barely visibly seen on Billy's map of the valley that Patch looks at. It's like the show and movie swapped the significance between the name of the town and the name of the valley and its railroad. "Indian Valley Railroad" went from being a vital aspect of the show to a mere Easter egg footnote in the movie, and vice versa with the town being named "Shining Time". Two deleted scenes from the movie claim that "Shining Time" is an old railway term that refers to the beginning of a journey, when an engine's wheels start to spin and the rails shine. That goes completely against the final episode of Shining Time Station's third season. Titled "How the Station Got Its Name", the episode established that the station was named "Shining Time Station" after Stacy's grandmother, Gracie Jones, had saved a train from crashing into a horse-drawn carriage that had broken down on the station's tracks, by shining an emergency light from a signal lantern to warn the train. "I saw your light *shining* just in *time*!" said the train's grateful engineer. That was how the name "Shining Time Station" was coined, in-universe. Another, quite baffling inconsistency between the show and the movie is how the character of Billy Twofeathers was portrayed. In the movie, he's an all-knowing sage attuned to nature, magic, and the harmony it all brings to the valley. That is almost the exact _opposite_ of how he was in the show. While he was wise and knowledgeable about life experiences, railway history, and Native American folklore, he was more like a mentor or parental figure to the kids who visited the station. When it came to the subject of magic, he wasn't some guru who fully understood both it and its importance to the world. He was more like the straight man who was completely _bewildered_ whenever anything magical or supernatural happened in the show. He helped _ground_ the show in reality, always feeling surprised or confused by Mr. Conductor's magical abilities. In one episode when some wishing magic accidentally ended up running amok throughout the station, Billy got so stressed out by all the magical chaos that he wished he'd never gotten out of bed that day. It nearly drove him nuts. I won't bother comparing Alec Baldwin's Mr. C to those of Ringo Starr or George Carlin since their two Mr. Conductors were already established in the show as being cousins to each other, so there's no inconsistency there; Baldwin's Mr. C is likely just another family member. What IS inconsistent about him, however, is his gold dust. For starters, the movie consistently refers to it as "Gold Dust" and "Sparkle", two terms that were not used in the show. Rather, the stuff was instead called "Magic Dust". A small thing, but considering that Britt Allcroft made both productions, one would think she'd have kept the terminology consistent. But then again, she also didn't keep any consistency between the show and movie with how the stuff even _works_. In the film, the Gold Dust is stored inside Mr. C's whistle and Junior's kazoo, and is activated by their blowing into either object. In the show, Ringo and Carlin's Mr. Cs didn't need to blow into their whistles to use their Magic Dust. They could just activate its teleportation ability at will, or even wave their hand to perform other magical abilities (like whenever they would summon a Magic Bubble to begin a music video segment). Their whistles were only ever blown to start the Thomas stories, which were not magical in nature. The whistle was just used as a tool for scene transitions. Other differences are found in some of the movie's subtleties, the little details that the filmmakers put in to try making the movie feel more connected to the show, but which were done all wrong. For instance, the newspaper seen in the background of the Shining Time scenes in the movie is named "The Shining Times". Cute name, right? Well, that's actually a big slap in the face to the show's continuity. In the show, the local newspaper was actually named "The Indian Valley Gazette", consistently in several episodes, even. What's worse, "The Shining Times" was actually the name of a _fake_ newspaper, from an episode where the kids at the station decided to write their own newspaper with articles full of lies and exaggerations (it was an episode where they learned about journalistic integrity). Of the two newspaper names this movie could have chosen, it went with the name of the fake one instead of the legitimate one. The only thing from Shining Time Station that this movie got right was Stacy Jones. The correct actress, the correct look, and the correct portrayal. But, to be fair, Didi Conn had already played the character several years before, so she had the experience to get the part right. Though, even with her and Billy's larger roles in the movie's extended cut, their additional scenes only amounted to the two of them just spouting more exposition, in which they make some ridiculously large leaps in logic to uncover the secrets of the Magic Railroad, reaching conclusions without any real prompts that would have led them to those conclusions in any believable way. Very much like how Adam West Batman used to solve the Riddler's riddles with similarly huge leaps in logic. TATMR may have gotten a whole lot wrong about the continuity and lore of Thomas, but the same is unfortunately true just as much (if not moreso) for how much it contradicted the continuity and lore of Shining Time Station.

[@ShiningTimeStudios475]

YES! The books DO EXIST, in the TV series. Even in Royal Engine, Her Majesty even said, "From what my son's been reading in the "BOOKS" written about it, your North Western Railway is well known for helping out those in need." 😊

[@oilking-bo3gt]

I would say 6 you have to make a few Changes i would say rusy to the rescue And evrey Episodes with Stepney are ITS own Canon Because rusty goes to Vicarstown waht Looks different from escape and evrey Skarloey Railway Episode from season 9 to 12 Are to Not Canon to the Rest of teh model era because the did dome Changes Like the thint Controller an Skarloey and Rheneas are Young in this Canon

[@King_Kavin25]

I think the "Blue puffball" has something to do with the original scripts when george was meant to be in the movie helping diesel 10 destroy the buffers. That can't be a coincidence

[@WillowLikesTrainz2024]

Cranky just be chilling in that one photo lol

[@trainboy678]

I like to think TATMR took place during early season 2, the episode where Edward goes to the works after saving James. Then perhaps the events of the movie are just a dream that the engines are having while he is gone.

[@Juanthemtg]

That’s actually a really good explanation as to why Edward isn’t in the film

[@thesudriana016]

Actually in the original May 1999 script, there are S4-5 characters included. Even Butch makes a cameo in said-movie.

[@Juanthemtg]

@@thesudriana016 I did hear that George and Cranky were supposed to be major characters

[@jaanshersaeed4541]

Lol I thought that before too a while ago myself where TATMR could’ve been set while Edward was at the works after Old Iron explaining why it was just Thomas and engines 3-7 as the only original standard gauge engines but no other ones (I know it would be confusing since in the RWS Old Iron was set in 1952 while Diesel 10’s basis was first built in 1958 though I thought he could just work as some prototype for that logic to work but of course none of the logic in TATMR makes any sense and a lot of logic with the TV Series as well in general is hard to make sense of mostly in terms of continuity). I have though come to terms that TATMR likely isn’t canon in general so it doesn’t really matter now.

[@oilking-bo3gt]

Answer no Thomas Canons are different Things we Like are Not Canon Like the adventure Begins or ITS good to be Gordon and Things WE dont Like are Canon Like day of the Diesels wahts the Mater with Henry Or a shed for Edward

[@theamazingadventureofeduardo]

It would make sense for TATMR to be a dream to Thomas, but at the same time, the aspects of it just doesn’t work. But the theories of it could be convincing. But for me, I don’t want to except TATMR is canon because we all know that magic isn’t the reason.

[@RoyJBLimbu]

I always thought that TATMR was from Thomas' fantasy dream

[@Mr.Neil1]

I wonder

[@sKid-gh9ub]

TATMR existing as a movie in the Thomas canon actually makes a great deal of sense. In real life, we have numerous films about real people in stories that never actually happened. I refer to things like Shakespeare in Love, Hans Christian Anderson, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Great Caruso, the list is virtually endless. An example could even be made of Thomas itself. We know that in the real world, City of Truro, Flying Scotsman and Stepney have never visited the Island of Sodor. In the TV series, the same can be said of D261, a real engine that replaces the fictional D4711 from The Railway Series. It could be said that within the Thomas lore, TATMR is a film that depicts engines that exist but events that never happened, just as The Railway Series does with the three aforementioned real life engines.

[@joshuaW5621]

That could be an interesting way of working it into the tv series canon, but apparently Britt Allcroft said it is canon.

[@amyrodgers4252]

Personally, I prefer the thought of TATMR being canon, I also like (and probably everyone else would like) to think that Sodor's not in a pocket dimension, but in the real world, Mr Conductor would just use gold dust to travel there much faster. I'm sorry but I can't keep a straight face at the thought of Mr Conductor next to a bunch of tiny model people.

[@LazyOldFusspot_3428]

My hc is just simple. It ISN'T canon, end of story.

[@SodorStudiosAndCoProductions]

6:24 WHAAAA CRANKY AT KNAPFORD 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@jacobisworld9516]

Only one weird thing about this movie Edward wasn’t in there

[@ShiningTimeStudios475]

Yes, Magic Railroad could be a movie within the universe of Thomas. This and the theory of it being a "Dream" by Thomas. Those are the ONLY 2 THEORIES that can make Tatmr canon.

[@TANKENGINEBLUE]

The dream theory makes sense but W H Y wouldn't Edward have been in his dream tho?????

[@tomytrainguy7975]

It’s probably not canon even though Diesel 10 returns in CAE and DOTD. Also, can you rank the Edward or Henry voices?

[@Stoked_magic]

I have a theory that how thomas knows diesel 10 in calling all engines and why he dreamed about him magic railroad is because maybe he came to Sodor to fill in for one the engines, in which if anyone got it his way he would threaten them but got sent away because of it, and then given a second chance

[@PurpleGuy661]

Something I wondered, but never bothered to ask…

[@TheTTTEFan]

There is one more reference to TATMR in the CGI series. In the post credits scene of Misty Island Rescue Diesel 10 returns, you can see what looks like duct tape on the tubes on Diesel 10’s claw from when Mr Conductor cut them during the events of TATMR

[@Kukaak]

That's not duct tape, it's just something the model had, and it was on the model before the Mr Conductor viaduct scene. And even if it was duct tape, it wouldn't be a reference because it's just one of the hundred details the animators recreated from the prop. It's like saying AEG is referencing RWS because James has the same wheel configuration, it's just an irrelevant detail

[@Gondarth]

"No, Magic Railroad is not canon..." "Oh great! Thanks Sean! Bye!" (clicks off video 10 seconds in) Honestly, Magic Railroad is a pain in the ass when it comes to canon. It's like trying to pair together every movie in a series like Halloween or any other films that constantly retcon previous films. You try to connect Magic Railroad to the show, what about Shining Time Station? The station is there, you have Mr Conductor, you even have Didi Conn as Stacey Jones. It's a nightmare... Actually, one non-T&F related product that comes to mind is Marvel. I'm watching Daredevil before I can touch Echo, but then there's Punisher, Defenders, then there's She-Hulk, possibly Jessica Jones, it's fucking nuts to try and piece everything together, as much as I enjoy Marvel... When I was a kid, I never thought much about it being canon. I had no idea what "canon" meant back then, and these days, it's probably not canon just because of how vastly different it is. Just write Lady off as a dream figure and Diesel 10 just being an aggressive diesel akin a school bully and it works. Anything else is just an easter egg along the lines of whatever Pixar does to promote their next movie, like Lotso Huggin' Bear appearing in Up or Nemo in Monsters Inc.

[@THEREALDONNIE4Real]

Like Miguel O' Hara says: "It (TAMTR) Broke The Canon."

[@jaanshersaeed4541]

I don’t think it is canon and while I’m not entirely sure it was meant to be canon I think they were trying to forget about it after and they didn’t even act like anything happened from Season 6 and onwards. As for Diesel 10 however, outside of TATMR we see Thomas Percy and the majority of other engines have some issue with him and find him terrifying meaning something likely did happen before CAE where events similar to TATMR might’ve happened in the TV Series canon but without any magic or Shining Time stuff involved between say the events of Seasons 5 and 6. He may not have been as psychotic or bloodthirsty like he wasn’t really in CAE or CGI though was still menacing to the others in some way while having some disagreements with them. As for Lady Splatter and Dodge; Lady might be just some engine who exists in Thomas’ dream or maybe she does work in the mountains on Sodor (could be part of the NWR or privately owned) and possibly had some encounter with Diesel 10 Splatter and Dodge could work as being shunters on Sodor who work at Vicarstown and could have close associations with Diesel 10 like a lot of other diesels on Sodor do (I think they were intended to be canon since they were going to appear in DOTD and TGR)

[@lanceaustinalaan2173]

No Offense To Magic Railroad But why is it like a fever dream without the human figures? And Why Does Sodor Look Like Liminal Spaces without The Human People?

[@shivamkamil1581]

2:08 I feel like this line should be taken in the same way as us saying that Santa lives in the North Pole.

[@thehedgebot99mph90]

I find it funny how far the fandom would go just to say this one movie never happened. personally I really liked magic railroad

[@tameemalganis3632]

My head canon is that tatmr takes place in the shinying time universe not the t&f universe

[@ShiningTimeStudios475]

Yes, it could've worked if, of course, if the magic elements were never present😊

[@hiattgrey9161]

As much as I do love the movie, I don't really think it is canon to the TV show.

[@ThomastheGOAT1975]

While I do see Britt Allcroft's passion for it, I personally don't accept TATMR as canon because nothing in the show at all is relevant to it and is referenced ever again The fact that there's magic in it is another reason why I don't want to accept it as canon as Wilbert Awdry didn't write anything into his books that had any form of magic and I would prefer it if Sodor being a magical place, wasn't written into the show as everything was perfect the way it was before TATMR came around.

[@Kukaak]

Diesel 10 is from it and was relevant in the show

[@ThomastheGOAT1975]

@@Kukaak true

[@joshuaW5621]

While I don’t consider this movie canon either, I’m sure Britt would say it’s canon.

[@fridaynightfunkinfan5627]

It’s just a theory. *A film theory!*

[@CaptainCat101]

I loved TATMR as a kid, but I refuse to accept it as canon outside of it being a dream. I don't know what Britt's thought process was when making the movie, but I know Rev Audrey wouldn't have approved

[@Mr.ZackProductions2024]

you did a great video Once again! and i agree that TATMR Is not canon or is it Canon? i will Never Know

[@joshuaW5621]

I think we might find out if we ask Britt.

[@jjb1908]

Let me just say the answer is NO

[@Kukaak]

Diesel 10's persona being different in CAE doesn't really mean anything considering that the same era butchered practically every character's personality, it's not something unique to him or TATMR characters. And speaking of the HiT era, that one also reduced the cast to an extreme minimum and portrayed Sodor as a very different kind of place but that doesn't mean it's non canon I hate the dream explanation, it's just making it non canon but trying to please those who want it to be canon by not giving what they want, it means nothing You should've mentioned that the Wilkinson map has TATMR locations Ok but the CGI series is the same canon as the models, that's a fact and it's been confirmed by several crewmembers. Yes TAB is different but all that means is that TAB and the first seven S1 episodes are different canons, it means nothing about the rest of the show. And it's not like newer model episodes didn't retcon past model ones or new CGI episodes didn't retcon past CGI ones so why are you singling out specifically TAB and the CGI series? By your logic everytime a retcon or an inconsistency happened the show became a separate timeline so if we consider every stupid HiT and Nitrogen thing the show is canonically a thousand timelines

[@EthanDolan61101]

Hey, I'm sorry about earlier, I'm sorry if I came across like a opinionated jerk, I promise that was not my intention, It's just I'm so passionate about the show and Tug. I trust him because he puts so much effort into his research on his timeline videos. As I say I personally believe the two eras of the show still take place in two separate timelines. Now if you disagree then that's fine.

[@Kukaak]

@@EthanDolan61101 It's fine if it's your opinion, I can't tell you your headcanons are wrong, I just don't like it when people insist their headcanons are official

[@reevemicallef]

When are you gonna do your Thomas & Friends 2024 DVD collection?

[@ovrh]

yup

[@janellewarren2119]

I can agree on everything except two bases one lady is not real either Thomas had to see Lady cuz he knew her at least somewhat intimately in second point Henry is in his old shape you see my theory is that Thomas and the Magic Railroad was a dream based on some what real events like for example maybe this takes place when Henry was still in his old shape and the magic buffers are a allegory for a new world or a new part of soda or they've never seen so my theory is that the magic buffer is in real life outside of Thomas's dream is a forgotten set of points on Thomas's Branch line the straight points lead down the rest of his Branch line but the right makes a turn left left left left left left and goes to the the east of the island of Sodor where an extension of the wellsworth and surgery Railway Branch line funded by the the Southern Railway where Tom is finds a small Tank Engine her name lady I and yes Diesel 10 was a think of him like Spencer in hero of the Rails so that was kind of it the Magic Railroad is is based on a branch line known as the Mountain Branch line or as lady calls it the muffle Mountain Branch line what do you mean by asking oh then where does Lady fit in all of this she was the wellsworth and sugary number 5 and she could have in theory worked on that Branch line there is a reason for in the dream and real life this movie takes place after Edwards exploit and it takes place later on in the year while Edward is still being overhauled and fixed as you know Edward probably really badly damaged himself after his side rods flew up and nearly hit his boiler so I bet you he's getting a full-blown overhaul yeah that's why he's not in the dream or in the real world. Bonus Theory the events in the real world take place before duck Oliver diesel and Emily arrive and this happens around the time Donald and Douglas are being purchased that's why we don't see them

[@denizbozkurttube9149]

If this movie is canon then this would also be one of the four confirmed Thomas movies/specials timeline conformed TATMR: 1999 The Great Discovery: 1953 King of The Railway: 2013 TATRE: between 1957 and 1962

[@alexandercameron5417]

I know we could all say it’s a dream but what if it was Thomas spiritual journey and Bernet stone wake up call because it’s his journey we follow I could go deeper but that’s my understanding of the magic railroad

[@Gooberengine]

the other engines and people were in the early script.

[@DanielDeLeon69]

I Don't Think It Was Canon I Think They Did It Because They Want To Promote The Movie

[@dylanlyles9453]

I think Magic Railroad would've been better if the people on Sodor were real and not wooden figures and the trains in Shining Time had faces and talk

[@terencewilliammckenna6121]

I wish so

[@Your_Local_Express_Locomotive]

I mean CGI, in some episodes completely said that mermaids weren't real

[@cjperkinsboy1293]

When I heard George saying puffball it reminded me of how George was supposed to be in magic railroad

[@mayohoskotwrandttte]

as someone who does not give a crap about anything after season 7 except my childhood memories of calling all engines, it's easy for me to say that TATMR isn't canon end of story goodnight. so that's exactly what I do. if you don’t care about the CGI series you probably don’t care about the HIT model series either #notmythomas

[@chloe-stephlis6281]

Seasons 1-7 are for sure the golden era but I do enjoy 8-12 as well bc of the model work. CGI does lose the charm though.

[@TheGingerEngine]

Great video my friend with some really interesting points about TATMR and it's status in the franchise. Well done ☺️🚂🚃

[@jasonallen6918]

Fun Fact: Chris Lloyd has stated in an interview Lady doesn't exist in the TV series as an actual character and is rather a figment of Thomas' imagination. I'm well aware Britt Alcroft considers Thomas and the Magic Railroad to be canon but since she doesn't work on the show anymore and likely considers only Series 1-5 to be canon it is safe to say that Mattel doesn't consider Thomas and the Magic Railroad to canon at all.

[@joshuaW5621]

Well since Sam Wilkinson included the places from the movie in the 2014 map and they reference the movie in two episodes, it’s possible that everyone who has worked on the show does consider it canon. NTM the 2013 writers guide lists Diesel 10’s first appearance being Magic Railroad.

[@jasonallen6918]

@@joshuaW5621 Its pretty obvious that Magic Railroad is non-canon.