The Adventure Begins

"Off to see the world now, Thomas?" "Yes, Edward, I am!"

- Edward and Thomas as Thomas leaves for his Branch Line.

The Adventure Begins is a forty-four minute special based on the first two books of the Railway Series. It was released as a Walmart exclusive in the US and later as an ASDA exclusive in the UK.

Adaptation
The Adventure Begins is a re-telling of the first two Railway Series books, The Three Railway Engines and Thomas the Tank Engine, which were previously adapted in the first season of the television series in 1984. It contains elements from both the orignal stories and television version, along with new characters and a different narrative.

Plot
A little tank engine discovers a big new world when he arrives on the Island of Sodor. Escapades abound as Thomas explores his new home and meets some Really Useful new friends. Finding the true blue meaning of hard work and friendship, Thomas transforms into the Number one engine.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Glynn
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Jerome and Judy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Gordon's Driver
 * James' Guard
 * Two Signalmen
 * Wellsworth Station Speaker
 * Knapford Station Speaker
 * Jem Cole (cameo)
 * Farmer McColl (cameo)
 * The Teacher (cameo)
 * Dowager Hatt (portrait cameo)

A station worker at Knapford also speaks, he is voiced by Keith Wickham in the US dub. Some passengers and workmen also speak; some of them are also voiced by Keith Wickham.

Locations

 * The Watermill
 * Tidmouth Tunnel
 * Kellsthorpe Road
 * Gordon's Hill
 * Wellsworth
 * Knapford
 * Maron
 * Ffarquhar
 * The Fishing Village
 * Sodor Suspension Bridge
 * Sodor Steamworks
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Henry's Tunnel
 * Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox
 * Vicarstown (mentioned)
 * Brighton (mentioned)

UK

 * Mark Moraghan as the narrator
 * John Hasler as Thomas
 * Keith Wickham as Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Glynn, Sir Topham Hatt and the other human characters
 * Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel and Judy
 * Tim Whitnall as Jerome
 * Christopher Ragland as the Troublesome Trucks

US

 * Mark Moraghan as the narrator
 * Joseph May as Thomas
 * Kerry Shale as Henry and Gordon
 * William Hope as Edward
 * Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel and Judy
 * Rob Rackstraw as James
 * Tim Whitnall as Jerome
 * Christopher Ragland as the Troublesome Trucks
 * Keith Wickham as Glynn, Sir Topham Hatt, and the other human characters

US/UK
*Only on the UK Release
 * Really Useful Engine music video
 * Troublesome trucks music video
 * Old Reliable Edward (bonus episode)
 * The Best Friends Express music video*

Trivia

 * John Hasler, Christopher Ragland, Rob Rackstraw and Joseph May join the voice cast, and John Hasler takes over the role of Thomas in the UK dub. Keith Wickham also takes over the role of Sir Topham Hatt in the US dub and James gains a new voice.
 * This special was made to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the franchise
 * The events of Edward and Gordon, Thomas and Gordon, The Sad Story of Henry, Thomas' Train, Thomas and the Trucks and Thomas and the Breakdown Train are featured. The events of Edward, Gordon and Henry are also mentioned.
 * Several recomposed pieces of music from the Classic Series are featured. Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell receive credit for "original songs and themes".
 * Just before Edward says "What are you so happy about today, Thomas?" Thomas is humming "Really Useful Engine."
 * The end credits feature original illustrations from the Railway Series.
 * Sodor Island Fansite hinted on Twitter that, if the special sells well, a followup is possible.
 * This special marks the first of several things:
 * The first time Thomas has been seen in a livery other than North Western Blue.
 * The first time James is seen in his black livery in the television series.
 * The first time the North Western Railway is referred to by name in the television series.
 * The first television series production since the fourth season to directly adapt Railway Series stories.
 * The first appearance of Ffarquhar in CGI.
 * The first time Peter Hartshorne has composed the music for a special on his own.
 * The first appearance of the red lining on Thomas' coal bunker since the third season episode, Trust Thomas.
 * This special was shown in Theatres at Mall of America, Minnesota on Tuesday May 12th, 2015 and was also shown on PBS Kids on May 11th.

Goofs

 * In a close up of Gordon as James goes past him, James' tender is in his red livery.
 * When James moves away from blocking Gordon's line at the beginning, his pony truck doesn't turn.
 * When Henry approaches Tidmouth Sheds for the first time, there appears to be no one in his cab.
 * The carriage shed in Knapford Yard changes from a double track shed to a single track shed between scenes.
 * When Edward says "It's not as easy as you think, Thomas!" the points he's going over are against him and a crew member's hand is emerging through the wall of Edward's cab.
 * When Gordon says "The last one he got, with the wooden brake blocks" he passes a signal, but in the next shot he passes it again. Also the light of the signal changes from red to green between shots.
 * At the Steamworks there are some narrow gauge buffers that don't have tracks.
 * The brake van on James' train changes during the runaway scene.
 * The branch that Thomas hits while chasing James seems to appear out of nowhere.
 * When Thomas arrives at Ffarquhar he is not coupled to his coaches, and Annie's wheels are missing.