| For other uses, see Sir Handel. |
Sir Handel is a 2025 short film created by volunteers at the Talyllyn Railway in honour of the 80th Anniversary of The Railway Series. It is based on the Railway Series story of the same name from the book, Four Little Engines.
The film was first shown at the Magic Lantern Cinema to people who attended Awdry Extravaganza 5 on 19 July 2025. It was broadcast during the Awdry Extravaganza 5 live stream on the Talyllyn Railway's YouTube channel the following day. The film was released as its own separate upload on Friday, 25 July 2025.
Production[]
The film was shot on location at the Talyllyn Railway from 15-16 June, with Talyllyn Railway locomotives and rolling stock playing their Skarloey Railway counterparts. 2D computer animation techniques were used to animate the faces on the engines and coaches. Gordon and his express coaches were similarly created using 3D computer animation for the scene where he talks to Sir Handel at Crovan's Gate.
The narration for this film is taken from an archived recording of Wilbert Awdry reading the story from the book, Four Little Engines. The human characters in the film were played by Talyllyn Railway volunteers, who lip synced their lines to Awdry's narration.
Plot[]
Two new engines arrive at the Skarloey Railway. Peter Sam is good natured but Sir Handel is having a bad temper. The next morning, he insults the furious coaches by calling them cattle trucks and they get back at him by holding back on a hill. The Thin Controller scolds Sir Handel and he behaves until he is sent to work at the quarry one day. He deliberately derails himself and when he is put back on the rails, he is sent to the shed in disgrace.
Characters[]
- Gordon
- Sir Handel
- Peter Sam
- Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy and Beatrice
- Mr. Peter Sam
- The Driver
- The Fireman
- The Guard
- Skarloey (does not speak)
- Mabel (cameo)
Locations[]
Cast[]
- Wilbert Awdry as the Storyteller (archive audio)
- Nathan Spence as the Driver
- Neil Leighton as the Fireman
- Luke Ryan as the Guard
- David Ventry as Mr. Peter Sam
- Keira Thompson as the Passenger
- Sir Haydn as Sir Handel
In a credits gag, Sir Handel is credited as "Himself", though the actual engine that is used to represent him is called Sir Haydn, the real engine that Sir Handel was based on in the first place. Peter Sam, Skarloey and Gordon are not credited this way in the short.
Trivia[]
- This story was previously adapted for the fourth series of Thomas & Friends as A Bad Day for Sir Handel. Unlike that adaptation, this version mostly follows Wilbert Awdry's text, while large portions of the script for A Bad Day for Sir Handel were re-written and the scene where the coaches slow Sir Handel down on the hill was cut.
- This is the first narrative Thomas film since 2000's Thomas and the Magic Railroad to feature live-action actors as the human characters.
- The Gordon MK2 model that appears in the production was made by Ioan Rhys Martin, a.k.a. TheWelshEngineer. (Minus the face mesh)
- Additional dialogue is taken from narrations of "Bertie's Chase" and "Wrong Road" for the Guard and Sir Handel, respectively.
Gallery[]
Video[]
