Thomas the Tank Engine gets an Aussie mate

While Thomas the Tank Engine has been a part of many childhoods around the world, it never had many friends from around the globe, apart from Hiro the Japanese train.

That's all set to change with Shane the Australian train joining the yard, one of 13 other international anthropomorphised trains that will be featured in a new movie called Thomas & Friends: The Great Race, News Corp reported.

Shane, nicknamed "The Whispering Giant," is modelled after the 520 class steam locomotive, which entered service on the South Australian Railways in November 1943. Painted in a green and gold livery, Shane is a big steam engine that has been built for passenger and freight work. 

In the great race, it'll go up against trains including ones from Brazil, China and Mexico. The film is set to be released in cinemas around Australia in August.

The increased diversity in a modern Thomas & Friends is arguably a bid for the children's series to become more inclusive, but there are concerns that these new global trains may be culturally stereotyping.

As to who will be voicing the Aussie train, we're yet to hear, but here are our thoughts on who should be the sound of Shane. No Aussie stereotypes here, we swear.

John Jarratt from Wolf Creek

Sir Les Patterson

Chris Hemsworth

Nick Cummins a.k.a. The Honey Badger

Sam Kekovich from those Australia Day lamb ads

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