Thomas and the Magic Railroad (1997)/ Tropes

Here are the tropes of the unreleased 1997 European-American animated/live-action comedy-drama fantasy adventure film Thomas and the Magic Railroad (AKA Thomas and the Rainbow Railway).

Adored by the Network: SRT 1, a channel in Switzerland, aired this film in a loop for 24 hours after it's midnight premiere.

In Australia, WIN first aired this film in 2001. They loved this film so much, that they re-aired this film once a month until 2007.

Accidental Innuendo: Mr. Conductor Jr's phrase: "Do you think those diesels slept in the mud or something?"

Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Diesel's threats against 'Arry and Bert.

Also, Diesel putting Thomas and Mr. Conductor Jr in the scrapyards.

Avoid the Dreaded G Rating: This trope plays the exact opposite in the Australian TV release. They deleted/shortened many questionable (Junior's phrase about diesels "sleeping in the mud or something", Junior and The Fat Controller smoking bubble pipes, etc.) and frightening scenes (The scrapyard scene (shortened), Diesel yelling at his sidekicks, Junior crying for his cousin (shortened), etc.) in order to keep it's G rating in Australia.

The WIN airings were uncut, giving their arings of this film a PG rating for "Sexual References and Horror"

Be Careful What You Wish For: Sir Handel wishes he would be a really useful engine, but he ends up turning unlucky.

Mr. Conductor Jr was really excited to hang out with his older cousin in Shining Time Station, but he ends up getting lost after taking a wrong turn without knowing and ends up in the Island of Sodor instead. At least he gets a chance to meet the engines.

Beware the Nice Ones: Although, Mr. Conductor Jr does care about his cousin, but after he notices that his cousin was sleeping on a sofa in frount of the TV at the end of the movie, Junior gets pretty upset about it:

- Mr. Conductor Jr: (screaming after he notices that Mr. Conductor was sleeping) SLACKER!!!

Big Bad: Devious Diesel.

Bowlderize: When this film aired on ABC in Australia, Mr. Conductor Jr's phrase, "Do you think the diesels slept in mud or something" was muted due to "sexual references" and in order to not get a higher rating.

Also, the scene where Diesel yells at his sidekicks, making them cry, was also deleted in order to not get a higher rating. The scrapyard scene and the scene where Junior breaks down in tears after worrying about his cousin were shortened for the same reason.

The scenes where Mr. Conductor Jr and/or The Fat Controller smoking bubble pipes were also deleted for the same reason, to prevent this movie from getting a higher rating.

All of these are largely averted in the WIN airings.

Continuity Nod: Lots of them in the Sodor scenes.

Bulgy can be seen as a hen house when Thomas, Percy, and James pass by. This references the aftermath of Bulgy's debut episode.

During the engines' conversation at Tidmoth Sheds, James mentions that he remembers the time where he got stung by a bee and got a red nose from the episode "Buzz Buzz".

During the same conversation, Gordon mentions that he remembers the time that his whistle was broken and messed up from the episode "Whistles and Sneezes".

Bulgy and the lorries from Series 3/Series 4 episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine makes cameo appearances in this film, each having a speaking role.

This film takes place after the events of Series 4 and before the events of Series 5.

Does This Remind You Of Anything?: Mr. Conductor's phrase about if Diesel, 'Arry, and/or Bert 'slept in mud or something".

Also, Mr. Conductor Jr or The Fat Controller smoking a bubble pipe at some points. That sure made 'Arry and Bert giggle.

Getting Past the Radar: There are some scenes that are "questionable" or frightening. It's pretty hard to explain all of them.

Heel-Face-Turn:  'Arry and Bert, after they had it with Diesel at the end of the movie.

Keep Circulating the Tapes: This film was never released in the US and/or the UK, but in some countries, it was released on VHS or DVD for a very short time. It never got released on video in Australia and/or New Zealand, so good luck trying to watch it.

Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Mr. Conductor Jr has a British accent in this film, but his accent sometimes slips into a New Zealand accent at certain points.

Precision F Strike: No actual swear words were used in this film, but Junior once called his cousin a "slacker" after he realises that Mr. Conductor was sleeping on a sofa. Lots of viewers were caught off guard when they first heard it.

The Cameo: Bulgy, The Lorries, Bertie, Harold, BoCo, Henrietta, Daisy, Mavis, and George made cameo apperances. All of them, except for Harold, had at least one or more speaking roles in this film.

Bulgy can be seen in his field as a hen house after Thomas, Percy, and James pass by. He only had one line in this film.

-Bulgy: (feeling sad) Aww, I don't like being a hen house.

The lorries from the episode "Horrid Lorry" and George can be seen overhearing the main engines' conversation with Skarloey, Rhineas, Duncan, Peter Sam, Rusty and Sir Handel. The lorries then passed by and made fun of the engines. The lorries each had a few lines, while George had no lines in this scene.

Although, George can be seen ranting, "Railways are no good, turn 'em into roads! Pull 'em up, turn 'em into roads!" when he passes by the engines during their conversation on Tidmoth Sheds.

-Thomas: I can hear what you said, George!

-James and Percy: You can hear him say what?

Troubled Production: This film never got released in the UK nor the US and got shelved after Barry London, the former CEO of Paramount Pictures, stepped down.