The journey to Tokyo 2023 has been an absolute joy (although at mile 16 of every marathon, I can guarantee you I wasn’t thinking that!). I really can’t wait for the race!

The first appearance of the Breakdown Train since the twelfth series episode, Toby's Special Surprise and the first time its Works Unit Coach is seen in its orange/brown livery, as well as the first time its cranes have both names and faces. The first special not to have Steven Kynman, Bob Golding, David Menkin, Mike Grady, Jonathan Broadbent, Olivia Colman, Joe Mills, Robert Wilfort, Tom Stourton and Maggie Ollerenshaw as part of the voice cast since they joined the cast in Blue Mountain Mystery, King of the Railway, the seventeenth series, Tale of the Brave and the eighteenth series.In the close-up of Gordon when he almost runs into James at the beginning, James' tender appears in its red livery. Gordon Takes a Tumble | Henry and the Elephant | Percy Takes a Plunge | Thomas and the Special Letter | James and the Trouble with Trees | Spic and Span | Diesel from Thomas to the Rescue | Emily's Adventure

Norramby Fishing Village appears, despite it not being introduced in Thomas & Friends until the fifth series.

When Gordon first talks to Edward, he passes a signal at least three times between shots. Also, the light of the signal changes from red to green in between the shots. Calling All Engines! | The Great Discovery | Cancelled 2009 Special | Hero of the Rails | Misty Island Rescue | Day of the Diesels | Blue Mountain Mystery | King of the Railway | Tale of the Brave | The Adventure Begins | Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure | The Great Race | Journey Beyond Sodor | Big World! Big Adventures! In one of the promotional images of James during the runaway scene, he has a different brake van than the one in the rendered special. Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot Short adventure quotes: Final thoughts Tidmouth Sheds has seven berths, despite the seventh not being built until the events of Calling All Engines!.

At the beginning of the film, Edward is the first engine to be introduced and Gordon is the second. This is a direct reference to The Three Railway Engines, as Edward and Gordon were indeed the first two engines introduced. Also, Thomas is the fourth engine introduced in the special, which also references The Railway Series, as he was indeed the fourth engine introduced. However, James is the third engine introduced here rather than Henry. The US DVD is de-interlaced, thus presenting the feature in 240p instead of either 480p or 1080p in quality. Due to the nature of the film's production, several continuity errors are created by the inclusion of several things:

Between the close-up of Gordon stopping at Wellsworth and another close-up of him saying "Oh yes!", the lighting changes direction. Thomas spends all day working on his own, but it is hard work and he continues causing problems. Late in the afternoon, James pulls in with Annie and Clarabel and screeches to a stop next to Thomas, who notices a smoky smell. It is coming from James' wooden brakes, but James pretends not to notice. Thomas sees Henry taking on water and asks him why he is afraid of rain, explaining how it is only water, just like he puts in his boiler and that he should not spend all day worrying. Henry claims that he is usually very happy, when it is sunny. The first time the runaway theme has been heard since the sixth series in the US and the seventh series in the UK. Entertainment to Grow Up With* | Two Thomas Adventures* | Thomas' Sodor Stories* | Fun with Thomas | Thomas' Trainyard Adventures* | Starting This Fall on PBS* | Thomas to the Rescue | Quarry Adventures on Sodor | The Story of Thomas and the Jet Engine | Thomas Tries His Best | Thomas' Birthday Sampler | Thomas & Friends 2008 Sampler DVD | Go, Go Thomas! | Thomas' Railway Adventures! | Disappearing Diesels Race for the Sodor Cup | Thomas the Tank Engine Series 25 Vol. 1 ( coming soon) | Thomas the Tank Engine Series 25 Vol. 2 ( coming soon)