Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins

Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins is a 2015 CGI-animated 45 minute direct-to video film of Thomas & Friends. It is based on the first two books of The Railway Series The Three Railway Engines and Thomas The Tank Engine and commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Thomas & Friends franchise. It is also based on the first seven episodes of Series 1 (1984) of the television series.

Joseph May and John Hasler take over the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine as new voice actor in the U.S. and U.K., respectively. Rob Rackstraw joins the U.S. cast as James the Red Engine and Christopher Ragland takes the role the Troublesome Trucks in the U.K. and U.S., respectively. It also co-stars the voices of Keith Wickham, Tim Whitnall, Teresa Gallagher, William Hope and Kerry Shale.

Gordon the Big Engine is unhappy about having to pull goods trains and tells Edward the Blue Engine that he won't have to pull them for much longer because Sir Topham Hatt, the railway's director, is hiring a new engine. Later, Gordon becomes stuck at the foot of a steep hill on the main line. With no other engines available, Edward is sent to help Gordon up the hill by pushing the train from behind.

Later, Edward is shunting at Knapford Station when he hears James talking to Thomas, Sir Topham Hatt's new tank engine. Gordon is rather skeptical of his size, which upsets Thomas, until Sir Topham arrives and asks Edward to teach him how to work in the yard. Initially, Thomas manages to occasionally get in the way and sometimes causes minor accidents, which Gordon and James seem to sometimes find funny. He also cheekily whistles at Gordon one day while he is resting and wakes him up, much to Gordon's displeasure.