When Thomas arrives at the Construction Yard, he his humming "Never Overlook a Little Engine".
Reverend W. Awdry appeared, although never speaking, twice in this movie. He is the author of the Railway Series stories that inspired the show. It's no coincidence, because this movie celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Railway Series stories.
This special marked the first appearance of the Small Railway and Reverend W. Awdry in the television series, as well as the first appearances of Donald and Douglas, Daisy, Alfie, Oliver (The Pack), Max, and Monty in CGI.
This is the first special in which engines sing an original song.
During the song, "Never overlook a little engine", the trains parade past a cake showing seventy years. This relates to the 70th Anniversary of the first Thomas and Friends story.