Mines of Mystery

Mines of Mystery is the third and final double-length episode of the twenty-third series.

Plot

Thomas wants to impress his friends by finding an amazing discovery. It is not long before his wish is granted, although not in the way he had expected.

Characters

• Thomas
• Gina
• Lorenzo
• Beppe
• Jack
• Alfie
• Oliver
• Max and Monty
• Brenda
• Ester
• Stefano
• The Archeologists (do not speak)
• Sir Topham Hatt (statue)
• Byron (indirectly mentioned)
• Kevin (dropped)

Locations

• Italy
  • Rome
    • The Colosseum
  • The Italian Construction Site
  • The First Italian Station
  • The Old Italian Mines
  • The Italian Seaside Station
  • Pisa (stock footage)
    • Leaning Tower of Pisa (stock footage)
• Brazil (fantasy)
  • Amazon Rainforest (fantasy)
• Island of Sodor (mentioned)

Cast

UK

• John Hasler as Thomas
• Anna Francolini as Gina, the Children and the Passengers
• Vincenzo Nicoli as Lorenzo, Beppe and a Worker
• Steven Kynman as Jack
• Tom Stourton as Alfie
• Tim Whitnall as Oliver and Max
• Rasmus Hardiker as Monty
• Teresa Gallagher as Brenda
• Flaminia Cinque as Ester
• Antonio Magro as Stefano

US

• Joseph May as Thomas
• Anna Francolini as Gina, the Children and the Passengers
• Vincenzo Nicoli as Lorenzo, Beppe and a Worker
• David Menkin as Jack
• Tom Stourton as Alfie
• Tim Whitnall as Oliver
• Kerry Shale as Max
• Rob Rackstraw as Monty
• Teresa Gallagher as Brenda
• Antonio Magro as Stefano

Trivia

• As this episode is among the three double-length special episodes of the twenty-third series, the other two being Steam Team to the Rescue and All Tracks Lead to Rome, it actually has no fixed placement among the twenty regular episodes, according to SiF's Twitter.^[1] However, this episode and its predecessor All Tracks Lead to Rome take place before all the Sodor-based episodes due to Thomas being on his worldwide adventure, and they both also take place directly prior to the two regular-length Italy-based episodes of the series, Lorenzo's Solo and Too Loud, Thomas!
• Stock footage of All Tracks Lead to Rome is used.
• Jack mentions the events of the first series episode, Down the Mine.
• A brief instrumental of The Work Song is heard when Thomas and Gina travel to the dig site with the Sodor Construction Company.
• The fantasy sequence is a parody of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
• This is the first episode where other Sudrian vehicles join Thomas in an international location. Wish You Were Here is the first instance, but only in a fantasy sequence.
• Kevin may have been planned to appear in this episode, as he was featured in multiple pieces of merchandise under the Digs and Discoveries banner. However, he did not make an appearance in any of the episodes featuring Italy or the Sodor Construction Company in the twenty-third series, possibly due to his role being cut at the last minute. Therefore, his only appearance in this series was Gordon Gets the Giggles.
• This episode marks the first of a few things:
  • The first appearance of Brenda.
  • The first appearances of Lorenzo and Beppe outside of their fantasy appearances in the previous episode.
  • The first time since the Pack miniseries to even indirectly mention any currently absent pack members; in this case, it's Byron.
  • Jack and Oliver's first speaking roles since the twentieth series episode, Mucking About, as well as Alfie's first appearance since then, and the first time he is voiced by Tom Stourton after the departure of Nathan Clarke.
• This episode along with the previous marks the only two to feature Andrew Brenner as head writer.

Goofs

• When Thomas was talking to the Sodor Construction Company, Gina was derailed.
• When Lorenzo's fire is being stoked up, the cab interior shown is actually Gordon's.
• When Thomas was pulling Lorenzo and Beppe out of the Old Mines, Lorenzo was clean, but seconds later, he was dirty again.
• Montserrat Lombard is credited despite not voicing any characters in the episode.
• In one scene, Alfie's conflat and Oliver's low-loader clip into each other.

In Other Languages

Home Media Releases

UK/AUS

• Digs and Discoveries

External Links

• [1]

References