Thomas and the Magic Railroad Production Timeline (1994-2000) by

Circa Spring/Summer 1996

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 02:57:45 UTC

Test sequence with 3.5 Gauge models is filmed.

Late 1995/Early 1996

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 02:57:54 UTC

Barry London approaches Britt Allcroft to discuss the film.

February 22, 1996

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 02:58:20 UTC

Britt Allcroft signs film contract with Paramount Pictures. George Carlin is set to play Mr.Conductor, with filming at Shepperton Studios for a 1997 release date.

September 1996

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 02:59:15 UTC

Barry London leaves Paramount, and the film falls to PolyGram, who show interest. Allcroft is given "the best part of a year" to write the script.

Summer 1998

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 02:59:37 UTC

Britt Allcroft visits the Isle of Man as a potential filming locations.

Early 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:00:21 UTC

Destination Films teams up with Britt Allcroft for the film.

April 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:00:31 UTC

Storyboards for the film are made.

May 19, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:07:47 UTC

Revised production draft script is completed.

Late July 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:08:24 UTC

Models are shipped to Toronto, Canada.

Early August 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:09:18 UTC

Final draft script is completed.

September 13, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:09:46 UTC

Rainbow Sun traveling scenes are filmed on the Strasburg Railroad, Pennsylvania.

October 15, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:10:11 UTC

Principal photography concludes.

Late March 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:10:42 UTC

Film goes through a 2nd test screening and heavily cut again. Around this time composer Hummie Mann is hired and the film's soundtrack is underway.

Late June 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:11:07 UTC

Editing process on the film's final cut is finished.

July 14, 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 03:11:45 UTC

Thomas and the Magic Railroad is released in theaters.

September 12, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 05:27:35 UTC

Big City Train Station scenes are filmed at Amtrak's Harrisburg Station, Pennsylvania.

February 11, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 06:20:45 UTC

Destination Films and Gullane Pictures announce the film's release for July 2000.

December 15, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 06:26:57 UTC

P. T. Boomer with Diesel 10 chase/sludge segments filmed.

August 2, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 06:32:33 UTC

Principal photography begins.

August 13, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-24 21:18:27 UTC

P.T.Boomer newspaper scenes filmed.

September 1-2, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-26 21:21:29 UTC

Original voice cast record their lines.

August 3, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-27 22:20:23 UTC

Filming on the Isle of Man begins.

August 26, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-27 22:21:03 UTC

Filming on the Isle of Man concludes.

October 18, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-27 22:27:33 UTC

Composer John Barry signs deal, writing several songs with Don Black. The film however "didn't go the way he had envisaged" and left.

Late January 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-27 22:34:24 UTC

Post Production Sound begins.

Prior to Christmas 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-27 22:39:32 UTC

Picture editing is under way.

Early March 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-27 22:41:39 UTC

Alec Baldwin's narration recorded.

May 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-27 23:22:44 UTC

Summer Sunday song recorded.

July 15, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-27 23:55:44 UTC

Peter Fonda, Mara Wilson, and Alec Baldwin's roles are announced.

September 7, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-28 00:01:08 UTC

Model scenes filming begins.

November 6, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-28 00:02:41 UTC

Original deadline for model scenes to finish filming missed.

November 8, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-28 00:04:47 UTC

Human studio sets and green screen filming begins.

April 29, 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-28 00:12:31 UTC

Doug Lennox's role is cut, and Thomas, Percy and James get new voice actors.

May 10, 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-28 00:15:41 UTC

New voice actors' lines recorded.

August 24-25, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-04-30 05:18:22 UTC

Burnett Stone's workshop scenes filmed.

September 14, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-05-03 19:15:13 UTC

P.T.Boomer and Rainbow Sun crossing scenes filmed.

December 17, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-06-15 17:49:52 UTC

All filming is complete.

December 5, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-06-15 18:30:19 UTC

Mr. Conductor carrot scene filmed.

December 9, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-06-15 18:36:30 UTC

Mr Conductor landing at the Windmill and Junior and Lily meeting him scenes filmed.

November 25, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2021-06-15 18:39:24 UTC

Live action segments of Lady on the Magic Railroad filmed.

May 1996

ClickClackTrack — 2023-01-17 22:52:44 UTC

The first outline of the film's script is completed.

February 27, 1996

ClickClackTrack — 2023-01-20 04:38:58 UTC

Storyboard for test sequence is completed.

September 3, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2023-01-20 05:03:22 UTC

Model shoot tests filmed.

Late April 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2023-01-25 16:59:56 UTC

Construction and refurbishment of model props begins

August 6, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-10 07:19:03 UTC

Stacy talking to Mr Conductor filmed.

August 17, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-10 07:27:02 UTC

Lily and Burnett dinner scene filmed.

August 16, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-10 07:28:58 UTC

Cross roads scene filmed.

August 17, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-10 07:34:06 UTC

Original opening and ending scenes filmed.

May 1998

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-10 08:19:00 UTC

PolyGram is bought out, and the film is left without a studio.

Circa February 2000

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-12 05:39:35 UTC

The film has its 1st test screening, with cuts being made, including the "Adult Lily" narration being scrapped.

Circa Summer 1997

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-12 05:48:25 UTC

While writing Series 5, Britt reads an advertisement in the paper about the Isle of Man wanting to build themselves up as a filming location.

July 16, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-12 05:50:08 UTC

John Bellis announces his role as Thomas the Tank Engine.

Summer 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-12 05:59:52 UTC

During location scouting on the Isle of Man, Allcroft meets John Bellis, the future voice actor for Thomas.

March 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-18 06:12:24 UTC

Casting for the film begins.

November 11, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-21 03:09:32 UTC

Thomas and Gordon conversation with Diesel 10 introduction refilmed.

August 4, 1999

ClickClackTrack — 2025-01-21 03:26:21 UTC

November 1994

ClickClackTrack — 2025-02-24 03:26:53 UTC

Report comes in that "Hollywood" has expressed interest in a Thomas movie.