He takes them with permission from Victor (the engine who works at the Steamworks), only to later discover that Hiro's hiding place is dangerously close to the Duke and Duchess's new summer house.

With nobody else to ask for help, Thomas and Percy tell the rest of their friends (Gordon, James, Edward, Henry, Toby, and Emily) about Hiro.

They all work together in bringing Hiro new parts, distracting Spencer, and keeping the operation secret from Sir Topham Hatt while Thomas and Percy try to find the missing mail trucks.

On the day that the last necessary part for Hiro is to be delivered, Spencer discovers Percy's mail trucks, only to be cornered by Thomas, James and Toby.

When Thomas finally decides to tell Sir Topham Hatt about Hiro, Spencer tries to stop him, but he is foiled by a rickety bridge that collapses beneath him.

This special entered pre-production in September 2008, was produced alongside the thirteenth series starting with January 2009 and was delivered in May 2009.

[4] A mobile app (entitled Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails) was developed by Callaway Digital Arts and released on 13 May 2011.

[5] Kirkus Reviews rated the app positively, commenting that it "delivers the same predictable experience they relish in video and book form, gently augmented with interactive enhancements.

"[8] Common Sense Media gave the film three stars, as they felt that it would not disappoint fans of the series but that it was also your "typical Thomas tale".