"Why is there a screen being mounted, Sir?" asked Edward the Blue Engine one evening, after he and the other engines had all returned to Tidmouth Sheds. The Fat Controller had called for the Scottish Twins, Oliver and Mavis to come to the Sheds, which they did, as well as requesting that Thomas bring Annie and Clarabel to the Sheds with him, and now all of them were watching as some men put up a screen and a camera projector was placed in between James and Toby.
"We're watching a film, are we?" asked Percy excitedly. His driver liked films, and talked about them a lot, and so Percy, although not too bright in some areas (to the perpetual amusement of Gordon, James, Spencer and the less kind diesels), had learnt a lot over the years about films and how they were made.
"I have decided to show to you something which I had planned to view to you all for quite some time," said the Fat Controller.
"I hope it involves my beautiful paint and wheels," said James. He had once noticed a cameraman on Sodor and slowed down in order to show off. He did end up in the picture, and also spent a week doing goods duties on Duck's Branchline for breaking Rule 55.
"Why would they? They'd think it's just Manchester United's private engine," replied Duck, causing several snickers to be heard.
"At least there wouldn't be any quacking from you!"
"If you two begin to bicker, I'll leave you both in the Sheds and never let you out!" threatened the Fat Controller. This shut them up.
"This is a television series that started in 1984 and is based around the Island of Sodor-in particular, this very railway!"
"Hurrah!" cried Percy. "We're famous!"
Edward smirked. His driver had mentioned this television series a while back, and how it was about Thomas, himself (Edward) and all the other engines, but for some reason, a certain LBSCR E2 was the most popular.
"If it's about us, there may be parts made up about us that didn't actually happen," said Emily in a slightly concerned voice. She had heard about this series too, a few years before she came to Sodor, but she was concerned about, if she was in it, if her personality was portrayed correctly.
"There are a few, but I know for a fact that most of these were based on events that have happened on this railway over the years," said the Fat Controller, managing to reassure the green Stirling Single.
"All right then. When will I appear?" asked Oliver. "Wait a while, Oliver," said the Fat Controller as he took a reel and placed it into the camera and, once everything had been set up, began to play the film.
This premise of characters watching our films/TV shows about them or reading books about their exploits has been done a lot of times in various fandoms over the years, but I don't remember this being done here. Then again, in Thomas continuity the TV Show and the books exist too.
And if you think Tidmouth is too small for the number of engines there in this chapter, I'm using the 10-berth version from the RWS.
Thomas & Friends belongs to HiT Entertainment and Mattel.