Thomas and the Magic Railroad (1997)

Do not be confused with the 2000 film of the same name

Thomas and the Magic Railroad (Thomas and the Rainbow Railway in Europe) was a European-American children's fantasy comedy drama film that was supposed to be released in 1997. Unfortunately, Barry London, the former CEO of Paramount, stepped down before the film's release and all the plans were shelved. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures (pictured). Filming took place in Shepperton Studios in London, England, UK and the United States. This film is based on the 1984 TV series "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" and it's American spin-off "Shining Time Station". It was later reworked into the 2000 film of the same name.

Plot
Mr. Conductor Jr was going to Shining Time Station to stay with his cousin, Mr. Conductor, for a few days and nights. Unfortunately, he took the wrong path and got lost, ending up in the magical world of the Island of Sodor. He meets Thomas the Tank Engine and all of his friends. Meanwhile, Diesel 10 and Devious Diesel and his bumbling sidekicks, Splatter, Dodge, Arry and Bert, tries to destroy the Island of Sodor and Shining Time Station by trying to activate a Rainbow Railway before Thomas and Mr. Conductor Jr can make it to it. Will Thomas, his friends, and Mr. Conductor Jr save the day?

Voice Cast

 * Brian Dobson as Thomas, Bert, Dodge and Bertie (voice)
 * Jillian Michaels as Percy, Bill, Duke, Bertram, Fearless Freddie, Mighty and Daisy (voice)
 * Tabatha St. Germain as Ben, Mac, Stepney, Annie, Mavis, Emily and Rosie (voice)
 * Saffron Henderson as Rusty, Harvey, Salty, Fergus, Clarabel, Skarloey and Henrietta (voice)
 * Michael Angelis as Gordon, Toad, George, Lorries and Bulgy (voice)
 * Greg Ellis as Henry, Duck and Oliver (voice)
 * Samuel Vincent as Troublesome Trucks, Edward, Boco and Peter Sam (voice)
 * Brian Drummond as Toby, Donald, Sir Handel and The Fat Controller (voice)
 * Richard Ian Cox as Douglas, Splatter, Arry, Rheneas, Terence, Trevor and Duncan (voice)
 * Rove McManus as Diesel 10 and Devious Diesel (voice)
 * Britt Allcroft as Lady (voice)

Other Cast

 * Ben Small as Mr. Sparks and Bumpy Dog (voice)
 * Pavel Douglas as Mr. Plod (voice)
 * Piers Stubbs as Leo (voice)
 * Mitchell Zhangazha as Quincy (voice)
 * Kirsty Hickey as Annie (voice)
 * Poppy Lee Friar as June (voice)
 * Sarah Strange as Franklin (voice)
 * Declan Donnelly as Engie Benjy (voice)
 * Les Dennis as Pilot Pete (voice)
 * Joanna Ruiz as Martha Monkey (voice)
 * Carrie Mullan as Miss Pink Cat and Master Tubby Bear (voice)
 * Jeff Bernard as Tom and Jack (voice)
 * Peter Kay as Big Chris and Tin Top (voice)
 * Maria Darling as Roary (voice)
 * Dominic Frisby as Plugger (voice)

Live-Action Cast

 * Stefán Karl Stefánsson as Robbie Rotten

Reception
When this film was test screened before it's a cancellation, there were mixed to positive reactions from the test audience due to the plot, special effects, acting, voice acting, and the magic of the film. The only problem was that most of the live action cast is unidentified.

References/Official Sources
https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/51170m/does_anybody_remember_that_thomas_the_tank_engine/ : The fourm post that the Reddit user made about him explaining about seeing an earlier Thomas film.

http://www.sodor-island.net/themagicrailroadminisite/aboutthemagicrailroad.html : Some info about the 2000 film, with info on it's developed 1997 film at the beginning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_and_the_Magic_Railroad#Development : Information on the development of Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000 film).