Thomas Puffs into New and Uncharted Territory in the Special ‘Hero of the Rails’ For nearly 65 years, Thomas & Friends has been taking young children on fun adventures around the Island of Sodor. But Thomas and his friends have their biggest adventure yet later this year when they are spectacularly brought to life using ground-breaking computer animation (CGI) in the beautifully crafted ‘Hero of the Rails’ feature length special. Watch the residents of the Island of Sodor become fully animated with the ability to talk with their own unique voices, truly bringing them to life as never before. In this all-new action packed story of friendship, kindness, co-operation and determination, Thomas discovers Hiro, an old Japanese engine, whom Thomas sets out to help become a Really Useful Engine again. With new friends Kevin and Victor and the rest of the ‘steam team’ from new destination Sodor Steamworks, Thomas embarks on an exciting adventure to restore Hiro back to his former glory. But will suspicious and mean-spirited Spencer catch them out and report them to The Fat Controller before they can finish?