According to Britt Allcroft, the film was partially inspired by the fourth series episode, Thomas and the Special Letter. Template:Ref

Originally, Sir Topham Hatt was to be casted in a live-action appearance but this was eventually dropped because no actor "of the right size" could be found. For unknown reasons, when the film aired on the Playhouse Disney channel in Australia in July 2007, the scene with Junior surfing on Diesel 10 was cut after he says "Oh no, my beach bag!"Series 11 - Thomas and the Storyteller, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Don't be Silly, Billy, Edward and the Mail, Thomas in Trouble and Percy and the Left Luggage

On 10 Years of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, the whistle sound used by George Carlin's Mr. Conductor during the second and third seasons of Shining Time Station is heard at the start of each episode. The only time until the seventeenth series where all the engines aside from Thomas, Percy, and Toby have headlamps, albeit only used on the night scenes. Nomination - YoungStar Awards - Best Young Actress/Performance in a Motion Picture Comedy, 2000, to Mara WilsonThe 2014 television series map of the Island of Sodor incorrectly notes the windmill as being on Thomas' Branch Line between Crowe's Farm Crossing and Dryaw, likely based on the usage of the model in Ghost Train. Diesel 10 was a new engine who came to help while Sir Topham Hatt was away, instead creating problems on the railway. Mr. Conductor goes to the windmill in search of more gold dust, but gets lost. Meanwhile, the engines gather for a meeting. As Bertie passes by and tells them to smile, all have their individual concerns about Diesel 10 destroying Lady. Thomas heads off to look for Mr. Conductor to help him. Bertie offers a race with Thomas, but Thomas apologises to him when he is unable to accept Bertie's offer for a race and decides to help Mr. Conductor solve some mysteries. The last Thomas and Friends production ever produced in the 20th century (1901-2000). All other Thomas media content would be released in the 21st century starting in 2001.

This movie takes place between fifth and sixth series of Thomas & Friends, and after the cancellation of Shining Time Station.In the first teaser for the film, Thomas has his regular whistle sound, albeit pitched down a few tones. Thomas and the Toy Workshop/Thomas and the Really Brave Engines and Other Adventures Double Feature

Originally, Percy and Toby were going to be introduced hauling scrap from the scrapyard. Percy speaks about how he is glad to be out of the scrapyard as he finds it scary. He also tells Toby about Sir Topham Hatt going on holiday. Toby assures him everything will be alright. Splatter and Dodge are revealed to be listening in and leave to tell the boss, Diesel 10. The town beside Knapford is replaced with trees, however, many cottages and houses are seen elsewhere at Knapford and at the windmill. Additionally, James' prototype incorrectly portrayed him as an 0-6-2 and his tender had a removable coal load, like the Motorized Interactive Talking James from the original series. James' whistle disappears in the scene of Junior falling on his cab roof but reappears later when he and Junior are teleported to the grotto. Later that night, Mr. Conductor has a nightmare of Shining Time in ruins and realises that his universe is in danger and that he needs more gold dust, Percy overhears this.The film aired in the US on Sprout on 3rd July and 11th July 2015 and in Canada on Family Jr. in 2017 where, like with the UK and Irish DVDs, it was fitted as a widescreen image. Mr. Conductor goes to the windmill in search of more gold dust, but ends up lost. He tries to blow his whistle, but his gold dust is completely gone. Meanwhile, the engines gather for a meeting. As Bertie passes by and tells them to smile, all have their individual concerns about Diesel 10 destroying Lady. Thomas heads off to look for Mr. Conductor to help him. Bertie offers a race with Thomas, but Thomas declines the offer and decides to help Mr. Conductor solve some mysteries. In the trailers, Mr. Conductor is heard saying "I've run out of gold dust, and because of that, I'm losing my energy as well," a line originally from the uncut version. Similarly, Diesel 10 is also heard saying "I'll get you, you blue puffball!" which was also originally from the uncut version.