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".

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, Devious Diesel and his bumbling sidekicks, '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 (voice)

Jillian Michaels as Percy (voice)

Alyson Court as James (voice)

Michael Angelis as Gordon (voice)

Greg Ellis as Henry/ Duck/ Oliver (voice)

Brian Drummond as Devious Diesel/ Toby/ Donald (voice)

Richard Ian Cox as Douglas/ 'Arry/ Bill/ Ben (voice)

LIVE ACTION CAST

Unknown as Mr. Conductor Jr

George Carlin as Mr. Conductor

Unknown as Schemer

Unknown as Billy Two-Feathers

Unknown as The Fat Controller (Sir Topham Hatt)

RECEPTION

When this film was test screened before it's 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.

TRIVIA

If this film was released, it would've been the first time this film was live action/ animated.

A user from the website Reddit said that he remembered seeing an earlier Thomas the Tank Engine film that was like this when he was a kid. It is unknown if it is actually this film or the 1999 uncut version of "Thomas and the Magic Railroad"

REFERENCES

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).