A documentary exploring Thomas the Tank Engine’s enduring legacy will receive its UK premiere at Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering this summer.
The screening of the documentary ‘An Unlikely Fandom: The Impact of Thomas the Tank Engine’, directed by Brannon Carty, will mark the 80th anniversary of the franchise and the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
The documentary explores the origins of Thomas the Tank Engine, its global impact, and the community of fans that have grown around it.
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It will screen on Saturday 2 August as part of The Greatest Gathering, a three-day festival at Alstom’s Derby factory set to be the largest-ever gathering of historic and modern rolling stock.
The festival forms part of the wider festivities for Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) on 27 September 1825.
An Unlikely Fandom director Brannon Carty will travel from his home in the USA to take part in a Q&A following the screening, where he will be joined by the film’s producers, Ahmad Akfa, Joshua Hood and Nicholas Maniscalco, along with co-producer James Garder.
“For many of us railfans, it was watching episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine as children that drew us into the wonderful world of trains and railways. Therefore, it was only fitting that we shone a spotlight on Thomas and his friends at The Greatest Gathering, and invite the filmmakers to premiere their fantastic documentary at our historic site. For visitors coming to our festival on Saturday 2 August, this will be a perfect way to end their day,” said Ben Goodwin, Director of Communications UK and Ireland at Alstom.
Thomas first appeared in 1946 in Rev. W. Awdry’s book Thomas the Tank Engine. Awdry’s stories were later adapted by Britt Allcroft into a television show which ran from 1984 until 2021.
“Collaborating with Alstom for the UK premiere of An Unlikely Fandom is an incredible honour. Longtime fans and newcomers can finally experience the film that moved audiences at our New York premiere in November 2023,” said Brannon Carty.
He added: “At its core, this documentary tells the story of how one little blue train connects fans across generations, cultures and communities. Sharing our passion project at such a landmark event feels like the perfect way to celebrate Thomas’ 80th anniversary.”
The Greatest Gathering takes place from 1-3 August at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane Site in Derby, the first time the site has opened to the public in almost 50 years.
An Unlikely Fandom will premiere at 17.00 on Saturday 2 August, once the main event has closed for the day. Tickets are available to purchase only by existing ticketholders of The Greatest Gathering on Sunday 2 August only. Priced £10 per person (plus booking fees), they are available via the event’s official website and See Tickets.
