Meet the Contenders

"Welcome, you fans of steam! Welcome, fans of speed! Welcome one and all to this years Great Railway Show! Only here can you witness the mightiest locomotives from all over the world competing in feats of strength, speed, and skill!"

- The Announcer

Meet the Contenders was a series of online promotional videos that tied into The Great Race, written by Ian McCue. The videos were narrated by the Announcer (voiced by Rob Rackstraw) and each video (one uploaded every Wednesday at 10:00 A.M. until the release of the film in both the UK and US) showed the participants of The Great Railway Show and their stats, event and country of origin. None of the characters that were shown in the videos speak.

The shorts were included as bonus features on the DVD and Blu-Ray releases of The Great Race.

Philip of Sodor
Philip of Sodor, titled Philip of the UK on the UK channel, is the first video for The Great Railway Show. It was uploaded on the television series' official YouTube channel on April 13, 2016.

Description
First engine up, Philip! Recently arriving on the Island of Sodor, he's an engine favorite amongst his engine friends. Philip will play the role of Sodor Representative and flag carrier.

Characters

 * Philip
 * Gordon

Location

 * Knapford Station Yard

Country

 * Sodor

Trivia

 * The Race Announcer mentions the events of The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead. Stock footage from said episode is also used.

Axel of Belgium
Axel of Belgium is the second video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on April 20, 2016.

Description
Axel of Belgium is an amazing looking engine that was built for speed. The lean mean racing machine won over his army of fans with his charms and looks.

Character

 * Axel

Location

 * Belgium

Country

 * Belgium

Event

 * The Great Race

Trivia

 * The Main Line, unmodified, is used to represent Belgium for this video.

Goofs

 * In the final scene of the video, Axel's trailing wheels are missing and his tender merges into his cab. This error was later corrected in the PBS Kids release, however, his trailing wheels remained missing.

Yong Bao of China
Yong Bao of China is the third video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on April 27, 2016.

Description
Strong, sleek and steamy, Yong Bao of China knows how to put on a show!

Character

 * Yong Bao

Event

 * Best Decorated Engine Parade

Location

 * China

Country

 * China

Trivia

 * The hill from Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure was redressed to represent China for this video.

Goofs

 * During the scene of Yong Bao in China, his tender running board disappears.

Raul of Brazil
Raul of Brazil is the fourth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on May 4, 2016.

Description
Introducing Raul of Brazil. A one time champion a few years back, he is well respected throughout the railway.

Character

 * Raul

Event

 * Shunting Challenge

Location

 * Brazil

Country

 * Brazil

Trivia

 * Knapford Yards was redressed with palm trees to represent a Brazilian shunting yard for this video.

Goofs

 * Raul is incorrectly described as being based on the Sentinel 7109, which was the inspiration for Logan's number.
 * Despite the fact that Raul is implied to be working in Brazil, the rolling stocks he's shunting are British.

Ashima of India
Ashima of India is the fifth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on May 18, 2016.

Description
Meet Ashima of India. A simply breathtaking engine that brings mystery and wonder.

Character

 * Ashima

Event

 * Shunting Challenge

Location

 * India

Country

 * India

Trivia

 * The Main Line was redressed with flowers to represent India for this video.

Ivan of Russia
Ivan of Russia is the sixth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on May 25, 2016.

Description
Meet Ivan of Russia. A very strong diesel engine who finished second in the shunting challenge.

Character

 * Ivan

Event

 * Shunting Challenge

Location

 * Russia

Country

 * Russia

Trivia

 * The Sodor Dieselworks, covered in snow, was used to represent a Russian shunting yard.

Goofs

 * Despite the fact that Ivan is implied to be working in Russia, the rolling stocks he's shunting are British.

Gina of Italy
Gina of Italy is the seventh video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on June 1, 2016.

Description
Don't let Gina's looks deceive you. This small and compact engine can match the boys pound for pound.

Character

 * Gina

Event

 * Shunting Challenge

Location

 * Italy

Country

 * Italy

Trivia

 * Arlesburgh Harbour was redressed to represent an Italian seaside town.
 * Gina's stats say that she is a 0-2-0. In Italy, the wheel arrangement is counted by the amount of axles on an engine rather than the amount of wheels.

Goofs

 * Despite the fact that Gina is implied to be working in Italy, the rolling stocks she's shunting are British.

Spencer of UK
Spencer of UK is the eighth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on June 8, 2016.

Description
Meet Spencer. Serving as the private engine to the Duke and Duchess, Spencer is known as a regal engine that holds the land speed record for a steam locomotive.

Characters

 * Spencer
 * The Duke and Duchess of Boxford (mentioned)

Event

 * The Great Race

Location

 * The Mainland

Country

 * England

Trivia

 * Sir Nigel Gresley is mentioned by the Race Announcer.
 * Interestingly, despite the title saying that Spencer is from the United Kingdom, his stats say that his country is simply "Mainland".
 * The Main Line, particularly the autumn version seen in Two Wheels Good, Etienne's, and Frieda's is used to represent the English Main Line.
 * Spencer is said to be the one who holds the fastest speed record for a steam engine. In real life, this title is held by his brother Mallard.

Rajiv of India
Rajiv of India is the ninth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on June 15, 2016.

Description
All hail the emperor of India, Rajiv. Rajiv is a small tank engine but bursts with color!

Character

 * Rajiv

Event

 * Best Decorated Engine Parade

Location

 * India

Country

 * India

Trivia

 * The Fenland Track was redressed to represent India. Additionally, the Taj Mahal was used as a landscape in the video.

Goofs

 * Rajiv's animation begins to rotate before the announcer says "Rajiv of India".

Percy of Sodor
Percy of Sodor is the tenth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on June 22, 2016.

Description
Meet Percy. Picked at the last minute for the shunting challenge, Percy is an unlikely hero.

Characters

 * Percy
 * James (not named)

Event

 * Shunting Challenge

Location

 * Sodor China Clay Company

Country

 * Sodor

Trivia

 * The Race Announcer mentions the events of Tale of the Brave. Stock footage from said special is also used.
 * The text in the event box says "Shunting" in the video, despite Percy not participating in the shunting challenge in the actual movie, likely due to the fact that Percy was the original Sudrian contestant for the Shunting challenge when Thomas was left on Sodor after his accident.

Shooting Star Gordon of Sodor
Shooting Star Gordon of Sodor is the eleventh video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on June 29, 2016.

Description
The streamlined power house, Gordon the Shooting Star, is a lean mean moody machine that is heading to the front of the race.

Character

 * Gordon

Event

 * The Great Race

Location

 * Gordon's Hill

Country

 * Sodor

Goofs

 * Gordon's basis stats say that he is based on an LNER A3 Pacific like his brother Flying Scotsman. But he is actually an experimental GNR A0 Pacific locomotive.

Shane of Australia
Shane of Australia is the twelfth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on July 6, 2016, but was previously shown on an Australian news website when Shane was first publicly revealed.

Description
Meet Shane of Australia. Shane is a big, strong engine who works tirelessly to ensure he's in the best shape for the strongest engine race.

Character

 * Shane

Event

 * Strength Competition

Location

 * Australia

Country

 * Australia

Trivia

 * Bluff's Cove was redressed to represent the Australian coast for this video.
 * There are a few differences between the original and the newer video:
 * When Shane is shown in Australia, the newer video shows him pulling rolling stock.
 * The newer video has more 'sparkles' in the background.
 * His speed stat was changed and the event category was fixed to say he is in the strength competition instead of the Great Race.

Goofs

 * In the original video, Shane's stats say that he is competing in the Great Race. However, in the film, he competes in the strength competition. The Race Announcer even says that the strength competition is the event that Shane competes in. This was later fixed in the official upload on the Thomas and Friends YouTube Channel.
 * Shane's tender wheels and chain coupling are not rendered properly towards the end of the showcase video.
 * Although Shane is implied to be working in Australia, the rolling stocks he's pulling are British.

Emily of Sodor
Emily of Sodor is the thirteenth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on July 13, 2016.

Description
Looking better than ever, Emily has two extra large driving wheels and one of the tallest funnels on Sodor.

Character

 * Emily

Event

 * Best Decorated Engine Parade

Location

 * Ulfstead Castle

Country

 * Sodor

Goofs

 * Emily's wheel configuration stats incorrectly stated her as a 4-2-0 instead of a 4-2-2.

Vinnie of North America
Vinnie of North America is the fourteenth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on July 20, 2016.

Description
Meet Vinnie, the tough, rule-bending engine who will do anything to come in first place.

Character

 * Vinnie

Event

 * Strength Competition

Location

 * North America

Country

 * North America

Trivia

 * Anopha Quarry was redressed to represent North America for this video.
 * Although Vinnie represents North America, his flag for this video represents the United States of America (USA).

Goofs

 * Vinnie's basis stats is incorrectly describes him as a U-4-b instead of a U-4-a steam locomotive.
 * Although Vinnie is implied to be working in North America, the rolling stocks he's pulling are British.
 * The flag for Vinnie's video is that of the United States, but his prototype was built and operated largely in Canada.
 * Vinnie's brake van was not rendered properly as it can be seen through the roof of it.

The Flying Scotsman
The Flying Scotsman is the fifteenth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on July 27, 2016.

Description
Meet The Flying Scotsman, the first locomotive to reach 100 mph!

Characters

 * Flying Scotsman
 * Gordon (mentioned)

Event

 * The Great Race

Location

 * East Coast Main Line, England

Country

 * England

Trivia

 * This is the only video not to have the engine's nationality in the title.
 * The Main Line, unmodified, was used to represent the East Coast Main Line for this video.
 * The video states that the Scotsman was the first to reach 100 mph; however, this is not entirely true. He was the first official engine to do so, as the City of Truro unofficially held the title.
 * This promotional video marks the first time the red express coaches have been seen since Season 12 and in CGI.

Carlos of Mexico
Carlos of Mexico is the sixteenth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on August 3, 2016.

Description
Meet Carlos. He won the strength competition at the first Great Railway Show, but now he's back and competing in the best decorated parade!

Character

 * Carlos

Event

 * Best Decorated Engine Parade

Location

 * The first Great Railway Show

Country

 * Mexico

Trivia

 * The upper terrace of the Shunting Yards, unmodified, was used to represent the first Great Railway Show.
 * This is the only Great Railway Show video that doesn't show the engine somehow moving (shunting, chuffing along); instead it remains stationary.

Goofs

 * Despite the fact Carlos is implied to have been in Mexico, the rolling stocks behind him are British.

Henry of Sodor
Henry of Sodor is the seventeenth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on August 10, 2016.

Description
Meet Henry, one of Sir Topham Hatt's first engines! He may not be the strongest, but we'll see if this engine can win the strength competition!

Character

 * Henry

Event

 * Strength Competition

Location

 * Gordon's Hill
 * Henry's Tunnel (mentioned)

Country

 * Sodor

Trivia

 * The Race Announcer mentions the events of The Sad Story of Henry/The Adventure Begins and indirectly references his former need of special coal.

Goofs

 * In Henry's basis stats, William Stanier's name is misspelled as "Stannier".
 * The description incorrectly spells Hatt's as "Hat's".

Etienne of France
Etienne of France is the eighteenth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on August 24, 2016.

Description
Meet The Great Race's most modern engine, Etienne of France! He may be the fastest engine, but he always plays fair!

Character

 * Etienne

Event

 * The Great Race

Location

 * France

Country

 * France

Trivia

 * The Main Line, particularly the autumn version seen in Two Wheels Good, Spencer's, and Frieda's video's was redressed with catenary-power lines to represent the French Main Line.

Goofs

 * Etienne's basis stats incorrectly give his wheel arrangement as Co-Co instead of Bo-Bo.

Frieda of Germany
Frieda of Germany is the nineteenth video for The Great Railway Show. It was released on August 31, 2016.

Description
Meet Frieda. This streamlined engine is competing to win the strength competition.

Characters

 * Frieda

Event

 * Strength Competition

Location

 * Germany

Country

 * Germany

Trivia

 * The Main Line, particularly the autumn version seen in Two Wheels Good and Spencer's and Etienne's videos is used to represent the German Main Line. The background actually bears resemblance to Grunewald forest in autumn season.

Goofs

 * Although Frieda is implied to be working in Germany, the rolling stocks she's pulling are British.

Thomas of Sodor
Thomas of Sodor is the twentieth video to go and the last to be uploaded for The Great Railway Show. It was released on September 7, 2016.

Description
Here's the engine you've all been waiting for: Thomas the Tank Engine! What race will this champion compete in?

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Hiro
 * Annie and Clarabel

Event

 * Shunting Challenge

Locations

 * The Main Line
 * The Construction Yard
 * Tidmouth Sheds

Country

 * Sodor

Trivia

 * Stock footage from Helping Hiro, Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, Thomas the Babysitter and Lost Property is used.
 * This is the only "Meet The Contenders" video to have different terms from the UK and US. When the announcer said "from shunting trucks" in the UK and "from shunting cars" in the US.
 * For some reason, the "event" box in the video has three question marks in place of the event Thomas is competing in, despite competing in the Shunting Challenge. This is a reference to the fact that in the special, Thomas entering the Shunting Challenge was a last-minute decision.

Goofs

 * In comparison to the other stats, the stats featured indicate that Thomas's length is shorter than Philip and Percy, despite Thomas clearly being longer than both of them.

Trivia

 * There were no videos shown on May 11 and August 17, the latter date instead showing a nine-minute sneak peak of the upcoming special.
 * Despite participating in, helping with or visiting the Great Railway Show:
 * Henry, Hiro, Stephen and The Great Railway Show Diesels are not in the background lineup of each video.
 * James, Hiro, Stephen and The Great Railway Show Diesels do not receive videos of their own, despite James being in the background lineup.

External Link

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