Mr. Conductor and Lily camp out with Thomas. After a conversation, they realise that Burnett may hold the key to the clue of the gold dust. This is the longest Thomas & Friends production ever made, running at 85 minutes (1 hour and 25 minutes) in the final cut. 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.

Mr. Conductor then introduces the town of Shining Time, where we see happy residents, full of life at the station. Originally, there was a scene where Junior would get covered in chocolate ice cream that dripped from his straw. This was ultimately cut from the final film, and according to Mara Wilson, Britt Allcroft took Michael E. Rodgers to dinner as an apology.There are many beautiful places on Sodor, such as the water mill, the canals, and Lord Callan's Castle, but Toby's favorite place on Sodor is an old windmill owned by Dusty Miller. Because of how worn the windmill is, it cannot produce much flour now, but Toby loves to watch the sails spin around, and Dusty is his friend. The windmill being in a field along the Headland Line near Lower Tidmouth in the third series episode Time for Trouble. Mr. Conductor would have remained in his original size of ten inches on the Island of Sodor in certain scenes. The items in Sir Topham Hatt's office are described as being as large as him. After Britt Allcroft had proposed the idea of a full-length theatrical film, the crew were worried that the gauge 1 models would not be up to cinematic condition and the models imperfections, perfectly fine on television screens, would look problematic on the big screen. Because of this, the film crew had the idea of filming the fifth series and every previous series with larger gauge 3.5 models.

Despite Sir Topham Hatt's voice being unintelligible over the phone, it is still changed in the foreign language dubs. Cranky was meant to have a nonspeaking role. In the scene where Splatter and Dodge ask Diesel 10 why he let Mr. Conductor escape, Cranky would have dropped a crate of fruits and vegetables on them. There was a second idea which had him drop oil on Diesel 10. In the final film, Diesel 10 is covered in coal from a hopper. Cranky's model still appears in the film, albeit as set dressing at Knapford. Junior is mentioned to have shoved party poppers down Thomas' funnel as a joke during his most recent visit to Sodor. While the others found the prank to be funny, Thomas was not amused, and held a grudge against him for it. 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.

The Korean VHS/DVD does not contain any of the UK or US company logos; instead, it only had DVD Acadamy's logo. The scene of Burnett Stone saying "Well done, Thomas! Well done," before blowing Lady's whistle after Thomas crossed the viaduct that was about to collapse. 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.

The only production of Thomas' first movie not to have a music composed by Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell although the movie was composed by Hummie Mann worked on scores & songs for the film. The scene where Thomas was meant to be covered in dust by Harold was intended to carry on through the night at Tidmouth Sheds, with Diesel 10 dumping sneezing powder down Thomas' funnel. Toby goes home to his shed, sad about the trouble he had caused. That night, a fierce storm sweeps across the island and lightning strikes the windmill, destroying it. The next morning, Toby carefully puffs along surveying the storm damage, especially the old windmill. The miller is unable to afford any timber, so he has lost his job. Not wanting to lose the windmill, Toby tries his best to help. 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.Scrap models of Thomas, Gordon, City of Truro, Toad and Donald or Douglas appear in the smelters yard scenes.

Aside from Bertie's driver, Sodor appears to be entirely devoid of people, including the engines' crews, guards and workmen, thus making the engines self-driven. Despite this, the passengers' shadows can be seen in some of the windows of the coaches. The posters of Sir Topham Hatt reading "Sir Topham Needs You" featured throughout the film are a reference to the Lord Kitchener and Uncle Sam recruiting posters. The first Thomas & Friends production to feature separate voice actors for the characters in the English dub and the first to use this format worldwide. This is the only time CGI animation was used until Thomas and the Billboard. Also, these techniques would not be done fully again until nine years later, with 2009's Hero of the Rails, the first full CGI Thomas & Friends production (excluding a 1990's German Ad for Thomas Wooden Railway), all the way to the twenty-fourth series. The only production of Thomas' first movie not to have a narration by Michael Angelis in the UK until The Great Discovery. 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 Director's Cut.Thomas is later talking to James at Tidmouth Sheds, after Thomas accidentally bumps into some buffers and James being shut up in the sheds by Sir Topham Hatt for being naughty, when Diesel 10 shows up and voices his plan to destroy a lost engine named Lady and thus establish Diesels as the dominant engines on Sodor. While James is confused, Thomas is worried and goes to find Mr. Conductor. Lyrics This is the story of Thomas's winter wonderland. It's a winter wonderland See the snow lay all around Bells are ringing, Ding-a-ling-a-ling, Ding, dong Sleigh bells jingle Home for the holiday we go Rushing to our winter wonderland It's a winter wonderland Little engine working hard His snowplough heaving, Chug-a-chug-a-chug, Chug Choo Bother this silly snow! Don't hold me up, please don't delay Must get to my winter wonderland It's Thomas's winter wonderland Climb aboard and join us if you can See main line engines rushing to and fro Festive decorations, people rushing home Branch line engines circle through the snow Firesides blaze, through winter haze Happy holidays Look, everybody! There's Thomas. And Percy. And James and Gordon and Henry. And look! Edward and Toby, too! Home for the holiday we go Rushing to our winter wonderland It's Thomas's winter wonderland Climb aboard and join us if you can See Terence the Tractor clear away the snow Bertie Bus is wonderful. Just look at him go! Seasons greetings; Happy Holidays Close your eyes, dream your dreams See how the magic stays It's a winter wonderland See the snow lay all around Bells are ringing, Ding-a-ling-a-ling, Ding, dong Children singing Home for the holiday we go Rushing to our winter wonderland Our winter wonderland Our winter wonderland Characters