Flying Scotsman has been unveiled as the UK’s representative in new animated movie Thomas And Friends: The Great Race.
Fans of the series about Thomas The Tank Engine and his friends who live on the island of Sodor will see engines from across the globe gather to complete at the Great Railway Show.
Representing the UK will be Flying Scotsman, an express passenger train service that has been running between Edinburgh and London since 1862. It holds the record for being the first engine to officially run at 100 mph.
Images of the animation reveal the engine painted in the train’s traditional colours – green and red.
Flying Scotsman is also revealed as a brother to regular character, Gordon.
The movie shows Thomas The Tank Engine as an underdog – but that does not stop him testing his mettle against the other engines in his bid to represent Sodor at the Great Railway Show.
Thirteen new international characters will be introduced, including Ashima of India, Axel of Belgium and Carlos of Mexico.
The CGI engines hail from India, China, the US, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Mexico, Australia and the UK.
Bollywood actress Tina Desai is set to voice Ashima, who is hailed by the film makers as a “strong female lead character”.
Desai, who starred in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, said: “I am delighted to be part of this exciting new film as I’m a huge fan of Thomas!
“With new characters from around the world, the film has a wonderfully diverse and multi-cultural feel that I hope every child should be able to relate to and be inspired by in some way.
“My character Ashima really shines through as being strong and adventurous and I am particularly pleased that she will be such a positive role model for so many girls across the globe.”
The musical adventure will be the 11th feature-length Thomas And Friends movie.
Thomas The Tank Engine was originally created over 70 years ago by the British clergyman Rev W Awdry, as a storybook for his son.
* Thomas And Friends: The Great Race will be released in May.