So I finally bought Railway Mischief from a local Wal-Mart, and have watched it with my son a number of times. Here are my initial impressions:
Videography: I never have been super-impressed with the quality of the Thomas episodes on video as they appear via DVD on my 56" HD TV, however the choice to zoom in on all the characters for the storytelling is really a bad choice. It looks bad and I think is laziness to not have to show so much background, making less work for the animators.
Animation: While Cranky seems to invoke the look of a live model, and Kevin is rendered very well, most of the faces are not. Thomas looks about the same, but Gordon is one of the worst. His philtrum (the vertical indent from his nose to his mouth) keeps moving from the center of his nose to the left and right, making his face look very wrong. However, Victor may be the worst. His face almost looks a 2-D drawing, instead of 3-D. Scruff's nameplate is unreadable, and Stafford's nameplate is hard to read, which is unacceptable. The human faces all look different, especially the blonde switchman, the shool children, the Express passengers, and Sir Topham Hatt. His eyes seem much darker and it may be due to the realistic shading of his top hat, but it just looks wrong. It seems that shading is exaggerated with this animation, especially around the eyes and at the hairline.
Stories: The stories seem to be good, and now the writer gets credit with the title, which is different. I like that cabooses/brake vans are being used more, but a bright white caboose/brake van at the back of the mail cars is a bad choice, standing out like a sore thumb in my opinion. However, I loved the choice to use Paxton in multiple stories.
Narrator: I liked all of the previous narrators, except for Pierce Brosnan, who I love as an actor, but thought was a bad choice for narrator. The new narrator, is also very good, and I understand the cost savings choice of only having one English narrator rather than having one for the Queen's (British/Australlian/Canadian) English and another for American English. Thomas and Friends has been doing that with all the new characters recently anyway, and I think that is a good idea. I don't like change for the sake of change, and it is sad that 2 very capable narrators lost their job, but the change makes sense here, in my opinion.
Overall: So far, from this one video, I think it was a mistake to leave Nitrogen Studios and go to Arc Productions. Hopefully, they will improve over time.
So, I went back today with my son to take photos of the differences in the new Fisher-Price Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway toys at Toys 'R' Us. I hope you appreciate the improvements from these low-quality camera phone pictures in bad lighting for photos. This blog post is a continuation from yesterday's part one that you can read HERE.
Look at this! It appears to come with the previous version of Diesel, but I so want to get this for my son. I wish I had the extra funds!
Left: Previous version, Right: Improved version
Left: Improved version, Right: Previous version
Left: Previous version, Right: Improved version
Left: Improved version, Right: Previous version
Top: Previous version, Bottom: Improved version
Top: Improved version, Bottom: Previous Version
Left: Previous version, Right: Improved version
Top: Improved version, Bottom: Previous version
To see even more photographs comparing the Learning Curve pre-refresh to the Fisher-Price refreshed engines, click HERE and HERE.
Pros: The songs, the story, further development of Paxton & Victor, Diesels being involved heavily. Cons: Narrow gauge engines are boring characters.
It was a busy day on the Island of Sodor. At the Blue Mountain Quarry the narrow gauge engines were working hard. Paxton the Diesel was taking slate loaded from Rusty the Narrow Gauge Diesel and Owen the Incline Engine to Brendam Docks. Paxton stopped; a keystone from Blondin Bridge fell on the tracks ahead of him. (6 broken bridges in 7 movies!)
The alarm sounded as Rheneas the narrow gauge steam engine could not stop in time and so he sped over the bridge as it started to collapse, scratching himself up as he went through a tunnel. The narrow gauge engines laughed in excitement that Rheneas had safely made it past the danger.
Down below Paxton asked if someone could help him, as the bridge had collapsed on to him, derailing him and damaging him.
On Thomas’ Branch Line, Thomas was having fun with Annie and Clarabel. Annie and Clarabel warned Thomas to stop ahead. Thomas said he always did, but Annie and Clarabel said that Thomas only stops because they tell him to. As they stopped, Sir Topham Hatt came around the bend in a track inspection car named Winston. Hatt was clearly a very bad driver.
Hatt told Thomas that Paxton had been damaged and that Thomas would take his place after delivering his passengers and that afterwards Toby would take over on Thomas’ Branch Line.
Emily took Paxton to the Dieselworks. She felt very bad for him, but Paxton underplayed the damage. Thomas came by and said hello. Paxton told Thomas to be careful, but Thomas was already far away, being in a hurry. Thomas arrived at the Blue Mountain Quarry saw what had happened to the bridge. Rheneas told Thomas he needed a new coat of paint.
Cue the Working Together Music Video. Great stuff!
Way up into the mountain
Hear the rumble and chuff
Wheels grinding and growling
and funnels puff
Got to, got to work harder
shift that slate
Got to, got to go faster
Can't be late
Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
1, 2, 3, 4... Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Clanking into the coupling
cargo ready to roll
Wheels whizzing and whirring
pull that load
Working through to the sunset
every day
Trying hard to be useful
Hey, Hey, Hey!
Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
1, 2, 3, 4... Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and Pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together
Thomas hear a rattle from inside the tunnel. A small green engine came out one tunnel and in to another. Thomas said hello, but the engine said nothing. Thomas asked Sir Handel the narrow gauge steam engine. Sir Handel said it was probably a runaway truck. Thomas asked Skarloey the narrow gauge steam engine. Skarloey said he was busy and did not know. Thomas saw the little green engine again. Thomas said hello again to no reply. Thomas asked Rusty. Rusty said he thought it was a mountain goat. Thomas asked Merrick the Sleepy Crane who said he did not know and that it was his nap time. Thomas asked Owen, he said the mountain was full of little engines.
Thomas saw the engine again! He hurried away, but Thomas chased him. The engine accidentally got blocked by the other narrow gauge engines, who called him Luke. Thomas confronted Skarloey, Peter Sam, and the others. Skarloey told Thomas that Luke hides in the Blue Mountain Quarry because he did something bad and if he was found he would be sent away from the Island of Sodor forever. Thomas asked what Luke did, but Skarloey would not tell him and swore him to secrecy.
That night Thomas asked his friends, the Steam Team, at Tidmouth Sheds, what could get an engine send away. Percy talked about when he crashed and got sticky jam all over himself and Sir Topham Hatt. It made Hatt very cross. Henry said that was an accident and what he did was far worse. Henry told about the time he did not want his new paint to get wet when it was raining and stayed in a tunnel and refused to come out. Sir Topham Hatt was very cross walled him up in the tunnel for 1 month as punishment. Thomas talked about when he chuffed past a danger sign and fell into a mine. Emily agreed that it was bad. James mentioned that Diesel had lost the Jobi wood in the sea (See Misty Island Rescue) and Emily noted not even that got him sent away.
The next day Rheneas was talking about he needed a new coat of paint. Thomas pulled up and told the narrow gauge engines that none of his friends thought there was anything that would get an engine sent away forever. Skarloey was shocked and asked if Thomas had told others about Luke. Thomas confirmed he had not and that he was just trying to help Luke and wanted to be his friend.
Skarloey backed up as Rocky swung a boulder in his direction. Thomas tooted and whistled, catching both of their attention and stopped a very bad accident from happening. Rocky apologized and Skarloey thanked Thomas and called him a good friend. All the engines smiled, including Luke, who chuffed up to Thomas. Luke asked Thomas to be his friend. Thomas agreed.
Cue a new Working Together music video. Great stuff!
Way up into the mountain
Hear the rumble and chuff
Wheels grinding and growling
and funnels puff
Got to, got to work harder
shift that slate
Got to, got to go faster
Can't be late
Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
1, 2, 3, 4... Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Clanking into the coupling
cargo ready to roll
Wheels whizzing and whirring
pull that load
Working through to the sunset
every day
Trying hard to be useful
Hey, Hey, Hey!
Here we come, up the hill
There we go, what a thrill
1, 2, 3, 4... Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together
Rocking and rolling, lifting and loading
Blue Mountain Quarry
Pulling and Pushing, heaving and hauling.
Working together
Winston honked and Luke chuffed away. Sir Topham Hatt and Mr. Percival, the narrow gauge controller (or Thin Controller) arrived to tell Thomas that Paxton was fixed and would take over. Thomas was to go back to his branch line.
Thomas told Luke goodbye and asked why he hides. Luke told him as Paxton pulled up and overheard.
Luke told Thomas that he was loaded on to a ship to Sodor and was very excited. There on the ship was a yellow engine who spoke a language he could not understand. There was a storm but they arrived at Brendam Docks. The dock men wanted to take off the yellow engine first, but Luke begged to be taken off first. So the dock men took Luke and Luke knocked the yellow engine in to the sea.
Luke was sent to the Steamworks to be fixed and heard the storm for a long time. He heard that the yellow engine was in the sea for a long time and was rusted badly. They yellow engine was never heard from again, so he must have been sent to the Smelter’s yard at the Ironworks. Luke admitted that if had just waited his turn, he would have never caused the death of the yellow engine!
Thomas assured Luke that this was a long time ago. Luke was sure that if other engines found out, they would tell Mr. Percival, who would tell Sir Topham Hatt, the standard gauge controller (or Fat Controller), who would have him sent away from causing this trouble and death.
Skarloey came up to Paxton and urged him to get working. Luke realized that Paxton had heard everything and ran away. Thomas asked what Paxton was doing there. Paxton told Thomas he was there to do his job, taking slate from the Blue Mountain Quarry to Brendam Docks.
Thomas returned to his branch line the next day. Thomas was busy thinking about Luke and missed a red signal to stop. Annie and Clarabel made him stop and return to the signal. Toby chuffed up and Thomas asked him to take Annie and Clarabel, even though Toby was very busy. Toby, Annie, and Clarabel asked Thomas questions, but he just chuffed off in silence.
Thomas had an idea. Maybe he could find the yellow engine after all. Thomas looked at Knapford Station, the Shunting Yards, all the coastal tracks, and even at the rubbish dump, but he found no yellow engine. He asked Edward who suggested the Dieselworks. Edward asked him why, but Thomas chuffed off without answering. At the Dieselworks Thomas looked and found no yellow engine. However he saw Paxton telling Diesel about how Luke had pushed a yellow engine in to the sea and how the yellow engine was never seen from again!
Diesel told Paxton he was right to tell him. They did not want an engine on their island that was impatient and self-centered, pushing other engines in to the sea. He could knock one of them in to the sea next. Diesel said they would tell the Fat Controller who would tell the Thin Controller and get Luke taken away from their Island of Sodor forever. Thomas gasped loudly and chuffed away. Diesel saw him and told Paxton that they must go wherever Thomas was going, as Thomas was a tricky tank engine. Diesel and Paxton chuffed off.
Thomas decided to go ask Cranky the Crane at Brendam Docks. Cranky said the yellow engine had a broken light and that he could not understand him. Diesel pulled up. Thomas asked what he was doing there. Diesel asked Cranky where Sir Topham Hatt was. Cranky was tired of questions. Thomas had an idea and sped off. James asked Thomas where he was going, he told him he was going to the Steamworks. James asked why, but Thomas sped off without answering him either!
At the Steamworks, Thomas ignored Kevin’s hello and rushed up to Victor and asked about the yellow engine. Victor told him that it was him. Victor told Thomas it was a long time ago and that Victor had never spoken of this.
Victor was yellow with green wheels when he came from Cuba. It was a long journey. They stopped along the way and another engine was loaded. Luke was loaded shortly before the storm broke the chains holding him down. Victor told Luke he had a problem, but Luke ignored him, since he did not speak Spanish.
Victor protested Luke’s cries to be taken off first, but it was in vain. Luke was loaded and swung around, hitting Victor’s light and knocking him in to the sea. The storm was bad for many days so he became covered in moss and when he could be taken out, he was taken to the Steamworks, where he started to learn English. His first word was red, which he spoke when the workmen asked what color of paint he wanted to be repainted with. A bright new color for his bright new life on Sodor!
Thomas thanked Victor and took off, ignoring Victor’s questions and Kevin’s goodbye. Thomas took off to the Blue Mountain Quarry. He saw Diesel up ahead speaking to the Fat Controller, Sir Topham Hatt. He told Hatt how Paxton had told him all about it and how Luke was hiding in the hills. Diesel was scared that he was a danger to all of the engines. Hatt told Diesel that he doesn't know what he is talking about and to shunt Mavis to the Dieselworks for repair. Mavis thanked Diesel and told him he is very kind and useful. Hatt told Paxton to stop following Diesel about and go to work at the Blue Mountain Quarry.
Thomas realized he too should be working his branch line, but he chuffed off to the Blue Mountain Quarry. James said hello as Thomas approached, but Thomas told him he had no time. James said that for a tank engine, he could be quite fast.
At the quarry, Rheneas was telling Skarloey that he had been bumped again and needed to be repainted. Skarloey told him to be more careful. Thomas pulled up and asked for Luke. Luke pulled up. Thomas told him that he spoke to Victor about him. All the narrow gauge engines were cross and chuffed away, except for Luke, who stayed put, and Rusty, who continued to work.
All of a sudden Diesel pulled up with Paxton. He asked if this was Luke, who pushes engines in to the sea? Thomas told them not to listen to Diesel. The narrow gauge engines told him to go away and to go to work on his branch line. Thomas felt bad.
Diesel told Thomas that the Controllers were going to straighten this all out. Thomas asked Rocky to put Thomas on Owen’s platform so he could go up the incline to where the narrow gauge steam engines were hiding. Thomas said Thomas was too heavy, but tried and pulled him to the top.
Diesel yelled to Luke that they knew what he did, that what he did was bad, and that he would need to leave Sodor forever! Thomas again told Luke not to listen to Diesel.
Diesel told Paxton to go get Sir Topham Hatt. Thomas told him to ignore Diesel and to go get Victor instead. Paxton was confused. Diesel told him to just go.
When Thomas got to the top he found that his wheels were too wide for the narrow gauge tracks. He ended up following the track to a ledge where he hung off. Luke raced up to Thomas. Diesel was scared and yelled to Thomas. Diesel thought Luke would push Thomas off just like he had pushed the yellow engine in to the sea!
Luke told Thomas not to worry, that he would pull Thomas back to Owen. Amazingly, Luke, the tiny engine was successful and did exactly as he promised. The narrow gauge engines whistled, honked, & cheered. But once Thomas was on Owen, he went down the incline, pulling Luke with him. Luckily, everyone was okay.
Suddenly all the engines heard the honking of Winston with a cross Fat Controller and Thin Controller. Sir Topham Hatt was cross with Thomas was not working his branch line as he was told to do. Mr. Percival told Rocky to bring Thomas and Luke down from the loading platform.
Diesel told the controllers about Luke and how he had knocked a yellow engine in to the sea. He also told them that Thomas had been hiding him at the Blue Mountain Quarry! All of a sudden Paxton pulled up with Victor. Hatt asked what Victor was doing here. Victor said he came to meet an engine he had not seen in a long time, Luke. Victor told Luke what had happened. Victor forgave him and told him it was not his fault. Victor invited Luke to come visit him at the Steamworks. Rheneas mentioned he would like to be repainted. Mr. Percival welcomed Luke to his railway and introduced himself.
Sir Topham Hatt told Diesel that it seem he did not have the full story before he caused confusion and delay. He told Diesel that what really happened is what really matters. Diesel agreed and blushed. Hatt said that today was a happy day for Mr. Percival and the narrow gauge engines. Hatt also said that he was proud of Thomas, so he would forgive him this time for not working his branch line. Thomas thanked him. Hatt told Percival that they should both be very proud of all of their engines, old and new. They agreed that their engines were all Very useful Engines! The engines whistled and honked in agreement.
Cue the Blue Mountain Mystery music video. Good stuff!
Everyday down in the quarry
work, work, work so hard
Haul that load, careful don't hurry
everyone plays a part
But deep inside the old tunnels
someone hides away
Too scared to come out and see us
and too scared to say his name.
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
All the narrow gauge engines
decide to tell a friend
about the little green engine
from start, to very end
So Thomas wants to be useful
give Luke a helping hand
to find that old yellow engine
get the answer if he can.
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
A few days later Thomas pulled up to the Steamworks and Victor & Luke came out. He told Thomas that he had found the yellow engine that he was looking for. Thomas was confused. Out chuffed the once orange Rheneas,who finally had gotten his new coat of paint, a yellow coat of paint! All the engines laughed.
Cue a new Blue Mountain Mystery music video. Good stuff!
Everyday down in the quarry
work, work, work so hard
Haul that load, careful don't hurry
everyone plays a part
But deep inside the old tunnels
someone hides away
Too scared to come out and see us
and too scared to say his name.
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
All the narrow gauge engines
decide to tell a friend
about the little green engine
from start, to very end
So Thomas wants to be useful
give Luke a helping hand
to find that old yellow engine
get the answer if he can.
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
Come on, sing along!
Blue Mountain Mystery
Blue Mountain Mystery
The secret in the hills!
The End.
Click the following links to buy this story on BOOK and DVD.
Pros: The songs, a Steamie villain, 2 great character introductions (Hiro & Victor), great morals, excellent CGI. Cons: No Diesels. As Thomas and Friends did their normal tasks, a silver streak flew by each of them. Once he slowed down, and said hello at Knapford Station, they saw that it was Spencer, here to help build the Duke and Duchess of Boxford build their new summer home. Thomas was upset that Thomas would be on Sodor for the whole summer. Spencer mocked the Steam Team for their slowness and age as he came upon them doing their jobs. Spencer was taking loads 5 times as big as the Steam team. Thomas stated that he could pull just as heavy loads as Spencer and go just as fast as him, so Spencer challenged him to a contest of strength and speed. Thomas was worried; he knew he had boasted too much. Both trains were carrying 7 cars, but this proved to be too much for Thomas. His brakes broke as he reached the top of a hill. Thomas raced down the hill and hit other cars, getting on an old railway track through overgrown bushes and trees. Thomas did not know where he was or what he should do. Suddenly, Thomas heard a voice. It was from the tracks ahead. Very slowly Thomas chuffed ahead and gasped. There was a very old, rusty, and broken engine smiling at him. He looked kind and gentle but Thomas was a little scared. The old engine introduced himself, his name was Hiro. Hiro told Thomas about how he came from Japan a long time ago. He was the strongest engine in Japan and called “The Master of the Railway”. He had the same nickname when he came to Sodor. Hiro eventually started to break down, but on Sodor they had no parts for the Japanese engine, so he was pushed to a siding to wait, but the parts never came and eventually he was forgotten. Thomas wanted to go tell Sir Topham Hatt, but Hiro refused to let him, afraid that he would be taken to the Smelting Yard since they could not have the parts on Sodor and Hiro could not be a Very useful Engine. Thomas agreed not to tell Hatt and to take care of him, to make him the Master of the Railway again. Hiro smiled. Later that morning, Thomas made it to the Steamworks and had his brakes fixed. Thomas liked the Steamworks and its manager, Victor. Spencer came to gloat, but Thomas simply congratulated him. Victor shooed Spencer away, which made Spencer cross. Behind Kevin the Crane, Thomas saw a car full of supplies. He hoped he could take them to Hiro. After Thomas was done with his work for the day, he asked Victor about the parts. Victor said they were old, so Thomas offered to take them away. Spencer almost caught Thomas taking the parts to Hiro, but Thomas was able to take the parts, but found out the Duke and Duchess of Boxford’s new summer home was very close to Hiro’s location. He carefully chuffed back to Tidmouth Sheds. Sir Topham Hatt arrived to tell them that they all would need to work extra hard and extra early tomorrow. Hatt said Thomas should not pull heavily loads, as he did not need very broken engines, but Very Useful Engines. Now Thomas was very afraid for Hiro.
The next day, Thomas asked others to do his work, so he could help Hiro. Percy left his mail trucks is a hidden siding while he took away Thomas’ load. Spencer saw Thomas and was suspicious. Thomas was not on his Branch Line. Thomas eventually made it to Hiro and his driver and fireman helped put the new parts on Thomas. As Thomas left, Spencer followed him and came upon a broken down Percy. Thomas shunted Percy to the Steamworks. Percy was scared that Sir Topham Hatt would be cross since he failed to deliver the mail today. Thomas promised to help him tomorrow. Victor chastised Thomas for giving his work to Percy. Thomas saw more old parts and asked for help. Thomas told Victor about Hiro. Looking after another engine, especially an old engine, is very important, said Victor. Victor wanted to tell Sir Topham Hatt, but agreed not to after he shared his concerns about Hiro being scrapped. That night Hatt was cross and chastised Thomas for having Percy do his work, causing the mail to not be delivered. Now Percy’s mail cars were missing. Thomas promised to help find them tomorrow. Once Hatt left, he told his friends about Hiro and asked for their help. The next day Thomas worked extra hard. Spencer did not work, but watched Thomas’ every move. After a full day’s work, Thomas headed to the Sodor Steamworks. On the way, he met Gordon, who had taken parts to Hiro that day. Sir Topham Hatt was at the Steamworks and cross that the mail cars still had not been found. Thomas and Percy left and Victor told Thomas he would have something for him when he returned. Thomas took Percy to meet Hiro. Hiro told the 2 small engines how he loved Gordon’s smile. The next morning Thomas and Percy looked for the missing mail cars. Emily was busy doing Thomas’ work. Spencer asked Emily why Thomas had been by the new summer house. Emily replied that Thomas was a very busy engine and that is why she was helping him. Edward took parts to Hiro. Hiro thought Edward was very wise. Thomas and Percy still could not find the mail cars. They even checked the Ffarquhar Quarry. Spencer arrived and Mavis the Diesel Engine ran interference for the small Steamies. Spencer backed up and slate went in his funnel, making him inoperative. He had to be taken to the Steamworks! James, Emily, and Thomas all chuffed parts to Hiro the next day. Hiro was starting to look like a complete steam engine. Thomas promised Hiro that tomorrow Percy would get the last part. That night, Sir Topham Hatt was cross. The mail cars were still missing and Thomas had not been working on his branch line. His friends promised that tomorrow everything would be alright. The next day Spencer was fixed. Spencer searched for clues. He found Percy’s mail cars. James and Toby chased Spencer away from Hiro. Thomas boxed in Spencer and told Hatt that Spencer had taken the mail cars. Hatt ordered Spencer to take the mail cars to Percy. When Thomas visited Hiro, they heard Spencer. He had found them! The two trains chuffed away and Spencer caught up to them. Hiro’s parts started to shake. Without the last part, Hiro started to have problems. Parts started to come off. Hiro could not chuff anymore. Gordon distracted Spencer by challenging him to a race. Thomas hid Hiro is a siding. When they got to Maithwaite Station, the Duke and Duchess chastised him for not getting the work done. Thomas pulled up and offered to help Spencer get the work completed. Hiro was depressed, he was sure he would go to the Smelter’s Yard now. Thomas decided that after he helped build the summer house, he had to tell Sir Topham Hatt about Hiro, as their attempts at fixing him had failed. While Thomas and Spencer worked on the summer house, the rest of the Steam Team visited Hiro and kept him very happy. After many days Thomas visited Hiro and promised him everything would be fixed.
Thomas headed to Knapford to speak to Hatt, but Spencer started to chase him, wanting to get Hiro taken to the Smelting Yard. Thomas went over a rickety raised railway that was too fragile for a big, heavy train like Spencer and the small bridge collapsed under Spencer’s weight (4 bridges destroyed in 4 movies)! Thomas promised to go get help for Spencer. Thomas told Sir Topham Hatt everything. Hatt was familiar with the Master of the Railway. He was very excited and anxious to help him. Hatt ordered that Hiro be sent to the Steamworks, not the Ironworks! After Hiro was fixed, Spencer would be fixed. After Hiro was fixed, Spencer was pulled out of the mud by Hiro, who was pulling Rocky, and taken to the Sodor Steamworks. Once Spencer was fixed, Spencer, Hiro, and Thomas worked together on the summer house. Spencer apologized to the other engines and told them that they were good friends. Hiro loved his new friends but missed his old friends in Japan. He had not been in Japan in a very long time. Thomas asked Sir Topham Hatt to let him go home for a visit. Hatt agreed. As Hiro was loaded on the ship for Japan, Thomas reminded Hiro that Sodor will always be his home too. Cue “Go, Go, Thomas” music video. Great stuff!
Go, go Thomas... Go, go Thomas... Go, go, number one... Go, go Thomas! Something good is gonna happen today Oh my my, hey hey hey! Use your ears, use your eyes Thomas is in for a big surprise! On the track, behind the trees Far away, where nobody sees Lives an engine, Hiro by name And Thomas is going to help him shine again! Edward, Emily, James, and Toby too, Gordon, Henry, Percy coming through! Thomas and Friends making Hiro brand new, They're the really useful crew! Go, go Thomas... Thomas number one! Go, go Thomas... Thomas number one! Little by little, day by day Oh my my, hey hey hey! All the friends are helping him out Now we get ready to shout it out! Edward, Emily, James, and Toby too, Gordon, Henry, Percy coming through! Thomas and Friends making Hiro brand new, They're the really useful crew! Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Thomas and Hiro. Thomas and Hiro. Good, good friends. Thomas and Hiro. Thomas and Hiro. Good, good friends. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one. Go go Thomas... Thomas number one.
Thomas and Hiro. Thomas and Hiro. Good, good friends. Thomas and Hiro. Thomas and Hiro. Good, good friends. Thomas and Hiro. Thomas and Hiro. Good, good friends. Thomas and Hiro. Thomas and Hiro. Good, good friends. Thomas and Hiro. Thomas and Hiro. Good, good friends. Thomas and Hiro. Thomas and Hiro. Good, good friends.
The end.
Click the following links to buy this story on BOOK and DVD.
