| Spoiler warning! This article contains plot details about an upcoming episode. |
Sodor's Ultimate Railway Showdown is an upcoming special based on Thomas & Friends. Featuring the voices of John Hasler and Joseph May as Thomas the Tank Engine in the UK and US respectively, it also stars the recurring voices of Kerry Shale, Keith Wickham, Rob Rackstraw, Nigel Pilkington, Christopher Ragland, Yvonne Grundy, Rachael Miller, Jules de Jongh, Teresa Gallagher, Rasmus Hardiker, Mike Grady, Matt Wilkinson, Glenn Wrage, Steven Kynman, Tim Whitnall, David Menkin and Bob Golding, with Mark Moraghan narrating the special since 2017's Journey Beyond Sodor. The special was made to celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Railway Series, and it's dedicated to the memory of Michael Angelis, the series' former UK narrator (1991-2012).
It received positive reviews from critics and fans, who lauded the emotional weight of the story, voice cast and direction, but criticized the relying on previous Thomas films and animation.
Production
Development
The special was confirmed to be "part one" of a conclusion to previous Thomas & Friends films, including The Adventure Begins, Hero of the Rails, Blue Mountain Mystery, Tale of the Brave, Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, The Great Race, King of the Railway, Misty Island Rescue, Day of the Diesels, Journey Beyond Sodor, and Big World! Big Adventures!. Known as the sequel to Steam Team to the Rescue, Thomas and the Royal Engine, A New Arrival and World of Tomorrow, Sodor's Ultimate Railway Showdown was to be based on Thomas and his Friends, the last book of The Railway Series, alongside an untitled sequel in post-production.
Plot
Synopsis
When an evil diesel lurks in the shadows, Thomas and the rest of the Steam Team have to come to the rescue. Trying his hardest to make sure each engine is being really useful, Sir Topham Hatt leaves Thomas in charge, while taking a holiday. Meanwhile, Diesel 10 plans to take over the Steelworks and threatens the Experimental Engines along the way. With many goods trains and coaches left in halt, engines across Sodor help Thomas in aiding the solution. Alongside the best of his friends, Thomas meets Diesel 10 in a huge confrontation.
Summary
Determined to prove his importance, Diesel 10 starts to rise up from the Vicarstown Dieselworks to go against the engines on the Mainland.
With each month passing by, Thomas and his friends work busier than ever. One morning, Sir Topham Hatt announces to the Steam Team, engines of the Sodor China Clay Company, Sonny and Ruth about a holiday that he and Lady Hatt are to attend, leaving Mr. Percival and Dowager Hatt on handling the engines and diesels. While being lauded in helping everyone, Percival assigns James, Percy, Nia and Thomas to take a special to Ulfstead Castle. However, they are unaware of being spied by Den and Dart.
At the Steelworks, Diesel 10, aided by Diesel, Paxton, Sidney and Norman, meet Merlin, Hurricane, Theo, Lexi and Frankie. Taking over emptying slag, arranging trucks and making deliveries, Diesel 10 becomes in charge, as Diesel and Paxton head back to Sodor in hearing what Den and Dart received. Merlin finds a clear track and escapes on it, while Hurricane, Theo, Lexi and Frankie are back-cornered by Sidney and Norman. Finding himself face-to-face with Merlin, Beresford lets him get through in emergency.
Sir Robert Norramby, alongside Stephen, await the arrival of Spencer. Before going to Ulfstead Castle, Thomas senses trouble that's near the Mainland. Although Cranky ignores the engine's warning, Thomas, Percy, Nia and James take their row of trucks to Norramby. Meanwhile, Merlin, not knowing any other engines to help, rushes to Sodor to meet Edward and Henry, who soon explains Diesel 10's attack. At night, returning to the Dieselworks, Diesel plots to threaten the engines by slowing down their time of jobs, which hesitates Philip, but Bulgy is impressed by this, while driving by.
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Duck
- Donald and Douglas
- Emily
- Flying Scotsman
- Bill and Ben
- Rosie
- Whiff
- Stanley
- Charlie
- Scruff
- Belle
- Stephen
- Porter
- Timothy
- Marion
- Theo
- Lexi
- Hurricane
- Merlin
- Nia
- Rebecca
- Diesel
- Daisy
- Mavis
- Salty
- Sidney
- Paxton
- Philip
- Frankie
- Skarloey
- Rheneas
- Victor
- Mike
- Rex
- Bert
- Annie and Clarabel
- Bulgy
- Kevin
- Skiff
- Cranky
- Beresford
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Sir Robert Norramby
- Mr. Percival
- Fergus Duncan
- Willie
- Captain Joe
- Oliver (cameo)
- 'Arry and Bert (cameo)
- Norman (cameo)
- Millie (cameo)
- Henrietta (cameo)
- Toad (cameo)
- Slip Coaches (cameo)
- Rocky (cameo)
- Troublesome Trucks (cameo)
- Bradford (cameo)
- Harold (cameo)
- Captain (cameo)
- Butch (cameo)
- Big Mickey (cameo)
- Carly (cameo)
- The Thin Clergyman (cameo)
- The Fat Clergyman (cameo)
- The Grumpy Passenger (cameo)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Farmer McColl (cameo)
- Farmer Trotter (cameo)
- Lady Hatt (cameo)
- Bridget Hatt (cameo)
- Tom Tipper (cameo)
- Dowager Hatt (cameo)
- Willie (cameo)
- The Mayor of Sodor (cameo)
- Lord Callan (cameo)
- Mr. Bubbles (cameo)
- Sodor Brass Band (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameo)
- Ferdinand (portrait cameo)
- Spencer (mentioned)
- Hiro (mentioned)
- The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (mentioned)
Locations
- Knapford
- Vicarstown
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Wellsworth
- The Steelworks
- Sodor Steamworks
- Brendam Docks
- Vicarstown Dieselworks
- Ulfstead Castle
- The Mainland
- Skarloey Railway
- Blue Mountain Quarry
- Kirk Ronan Junction
Cast
UK, AUS and NZ
- John Hasler as Thomas and Rheneas
- Keith Wickham as Edward, Henry, Gordon, Whiff, Salty, Den, Skarloey, Bert, Sir Topham Hatt and Mr. Percival
- Rob Rackstraw as James, Toby and Fergus Duncan
- Nigel Pilkington as Percy and Trevor
- Steven Kynman as Duck, Charlie, Porter, Paxton and Willie
- Teresa Gallagher as Emily, Belle, Mavis, Annie and Clarabel
- Rufus Jones as Flying Scotsman
- Rasmus Hardiker as Bill and Philip
- Matt Wilkinson as Ben, Kevin, Cranky and Captain Joe
- Nicola Stapleton as Rosie
- Tim Whitnall as Timothy and Mike
- Lucy Montgomery as Marion and Lexi
- Darren Boyd as Theo
- Jim Howick as Hurricane
- Hugh Bonneville as Merlin
- Yvonne Grundy as Nia
- Rachael Miller as Rebecca
- Kerry Shale as Diesel and Scruff
- Tracy-Ann Oberman as Daisy
- Bob Golding as Stephen and Sidney
- Sophie Colquhoun as Frankie
- David Bedella as Victor
- Tom Stourton as Rex
- Colin McFarlane as Bulgy and Beresford
- Jamie Campbell Bower as Skiff
- Christopher Ragland as Jem Cole
- Mike Grady as Sir Robert Norramby
US and CAN
- Joseph May as Thomas
- William Hope as Edward and Whiff
- Kerry Shale as Henry, Gordon, Diesel, Scruff, Kevin and Mr. Percival
- Rob Rackstraw as James, Toby and Fergus Duncan
- Christopher Ragland as Percy, Trevor and Jem Cole
- Steven Kynman as Duck, Charlie, Dart, Paxton and Willie
- Jules de Jongh as Emily
- Rufus Jones as Flying Scotsman
- Rasmus Hardiker as Bill and Philip
- Matt Wilkinson as Ben and Captain Joe
- Nicola Stapleton as Rosie
- Teresa Gallagher as Belle, Mavis, Annie and Clarabel
- David Menkin as Porter
- Tim Whitnall as Timothy and Mike
- Lucy Montgomery as Marion and Lexi
- Darren Boyd as Theo
- Jim Howick as Hurricane
- Hugh Bonneville as Merlin
- Yvonne Grundy as Nia
- Rachael Miller as Rebecca
- John Hasler as Rheneas
- Tracy-Ann Oberman as Daisy
- Keith Wickham as Salty, Skarloey, Den, Norman, Bert and Sir Topham Hatt
- Bob Golding as Sidney and Stephen
- Sophie Colquhoun as Frankie
- David Bedella as Victor
- Tom Stourton as Rex
- Colin McFarlane as Bulgy and Beresford
- Jamie Campbell Bower as Skiff
- Glenn Wrage as Cranky
- Mike Grady as Sir Robert Norramby
Songs
TBA
Gallery
Trivia
- This special marks the appearances of Lexi, Theo, Hurricane, Frankie, Timothy, Mavis, Stafford, Donald, Douglas, Charlie and Merlin since Journey Beyond Sodor, Big World! Big Adventures!, Counting on Nia and Seeing Is Believing.
- The chase scene's theme is a restored variant of the chase in Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
- The special is dedicated to the memory of former Thomas & Friends UK narrator Michael Angelis, who passed away in May 2020.
- Rearrangements of Thomas, Edward, Gordon and Percy's themes from Series 1 and 8 are heard.
- Hurricane and Frankie are fully redeemed after the Experimental Engines help them in Journey Beyond Sodor.
- Glynn, Ryan, Vinnie, Hugo, Skiff, Judy and Jerome were all considered to appear, but were moved up towards the special's sequel.
Goofs
Reception
Rotten Tomatoes holds an average score of 78%.
Sequel
Main article: Thomas and the Great Centenary
A sequel to Sodor's Ultimate Railway Showdown, entitled Thomas and the Great Centenary, is currently in development.