Day Out With Thomas train rides
Thomas & Friends
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional character living on the make-believe island of Sodor. With his human-like qualities and ability to talk, Thomas is a cute steam-powered locomotive that has mesmerized children for generations from within illustrated books and the long-running television series Thomas & Friends. Thomas is a small but vital, strong-willed engine that wants to be useful on the Sodor Railway. With railway manager Sir Topham Hatt and other engine friends to help him out, Thomas bravely maneuvers through risky situations and succeeds at completing his adventures safely. This shiny blue engine has become a role-model that has morphed into a common icon for today’s railroads and train museums to utilize for children’s events.
The tale begins
Wilbert Vere Awdry created this ever-so-popular character from stories he told his son, Christopher. The Three Railway Engines was published in 1945 with more books to follow until the early 1970s. In 1983, Christopher continued the story, transcending it into a television show that aired in the United Kingdom in 1984. It was introduced to the American audience in 1989 as part of the Public Broadcasting System series Shining Time Station.
Let’s get colorful event
As an endearing image for children, the Day Out With Thomas events — licensed by Mattel — have grown nationally and are conducted at many locations throughout the United States. Other countries host these events as well — some locations are listed below. This year’s theme is “The Color Tour.”
Fun facts about Thomas
- The first Day Out With Thomas event took place at Green Bay, Wis., at the National Railroad Museum in 1996.
- Day Out With Thomas events may include interactive train rides, stage shows (live entertainment), scavenger hunts, bounce houses, mazes, lawn games, and more.
- The Nene Valley Railway at Peterborough in England was the first railway to possess a full-scale replica of Thomas.
- Some railroads, like Strasburg Rail Road, built a full-size, fully operational steam locomotive that is a Thomas the Tank Engine replica.
- Strasburg built six traveling Thomas engines — only one is steam.
- Thomas (globally) produces roughly $1 billion in retail sales annually.
- In 2011, Mattel paid $680 million for Hit Entertainment, the British owner of Thomas.
- Fisher-Price’s Thomas & Friends Day Out With Thomas 2020 is a specially decorated wooden train engine exclusive to the Day Out With Thomas live events.
U.S. Day Out With Thomas train rides
(Note: More countries below)
California
Where: Southern California Railway Museum (Perris)
Tickets: Coming soon — early bird sales in July
Dates: Nov. 4-5 & 10-12
Website: socalrailway.org
https://socalrailway.org/scrm-events/thomas/
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads (Felton)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: Oct. 14-15, 21-22, & 28-29
Website: www.roaringcamp.com
https://www.roaringcamp.com/events#706
Colorado
Where: Colorado Railroad Museum (Golden)
Tickets: Coming soon — on sale Aug. 1 (Walk-up sales will not be available)
Dates: Sept. 9-10, 16-17, & 23-24 (Saturdays & Sunday)
Website: coloradorailroadmuseum.org
https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/day-out-with-thomas/
Connecticut
Where: The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat (Essex)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: April 22-23 & 29-30
Website: essexsteamtrain.com
https://essexsteamtrain.com/experiences-2/day-out-with-thomas/
Florida
Where: Florida Railroad Museum (Parrish)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: March 10-12 & 18-19
Website: www.frrm.org
https://www.frrm.org/day-out-with-thomas/
Georgia
Where: SAM Shortline Railroad (Cordele)
Tickets: Coming soon
Dates: June 3-4, 10-11, & 17-18
Website: www.samshortline.com
https://www.samshortline.com/copy-of-presidential-flyer-1
Illinois
Where: Illinois Railway Museum (Union)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: July 15-16 & 22-23
Website: www.irm.org
https://www.irm.org/event/day-out-with-thomas/
Iowa
Where: Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad (Boone)
Tickets: Coming soon
Dates: Sept. 9-10 & 15-17
Website: bsvrr.com/wp/
https://bsvrr.com/wp/events-2/
Kentucky
Where: Kentucky Railway Museum (New Haven)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: June 10-11 & 17-18
Website: www.kyrail.org
Michigan
Where: Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad (Flint)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: Aug. 18-20 & 25-27
Website: geneseecountyparks.org/crossroads-village-huckleberry-railroad-1a/
https://geneseecountyparks.org/day-out-with-thomas/
Where: The Henry Ford Museum — Greenfield Village (Dearborn)
Tickets: Coming soon
Dates: May 6-7, 13-14, & 20-21
Website: www.thehenryford.org
https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/day-out-with-thomas/
Minnesota
Where: North Shore Scenic Railroad (Duluth)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: Aug. 4-6 & 11-13
Website: duluthtrains.com
https://duluthtrains.com/thomas/
New Jersey
Where: The Delaware River Railroad Excursions (Phillipsburg)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: Aug. 11-13
Website: www.877trainride.com
https://www.877trainride.com/thomas.htm
New York
Where: Medina Railroad Museum (Medina)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: May 20-21 & 27-28
Website: www.medinarailroadmuseum.org
https://www.medinarailroadmuseum.org/day-out-with-thomas
North Carolina
Where: Tweetsie Railroad (Blowing Rock)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: June 9-12 & 15-18
Website: tweetsie.com
https://tweetsie.com/special-events/day-out-with-thomas
Where: North Carolina Transportation Museum (Spencer)
Tickets: Coming soon — March 31 (member pre-sale) , April 1 (general public)
Dates: Sept. 22-24, & Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Website: www.nctransportationmuseum.org
Pennsylvania
Where: Strasburg Rail Road (Ronks)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: June 17-18, 19-20, & 22-26
Website: www.strasburgrailroad.com
https://www.strasburgrailroad.com/special-events/ride-with-thomas/
Tennessee
Where: Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (Chattanooga)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: April 22-23 & 29-30
Website: www.tvrail.com
https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/day-out-with-thomas-2023/
Texas
Where: Grapevine Vintage Railroad (Grapevine)
Tickets: Coming soon
Dates: Oct. 13-15 & 20-22
Website: www.gvrr.com
https://www.gvrr.com/special-events/day-out-with-thomas/
Washington
Where: Northwest Railway Museum (Snoqualmie)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: July 7-9, 14-16, & 22-23
Website: www.trainmuseum.org
https://www.trainmuseum.org/thomas/index.html
To view a list of Thomas train rides click here.
Canada
Alberta
Where: Heritage Park (Calgary)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: May 6-7 & 12-14
Website: www.heritagepark.ca
https://www.heritagepark.ca/plan-your-visit/event-calendar/day-out-with-thomas
British Columbia
Where: West Coast Railway (Squamish)
Tickets: Coming soon
Dates: May 27-28 & June 3-4
Website: www.wcra.org
Australia
Belgrave
Where: Puffing Billy Railway (Emerald Tourist Railway Board)
Tickets: SOLD OUT
Dates: March 4-5, 18-19, & 25-26, Nov. 11-12, 18-19, & 25-26
Website: puffingbilly.com.au
https://puffingbilly.com.au/events/dowt/
Queenscliff
Where: Bellarina (Geelong Steam Preservation Society)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: April 15-16 & Oct. 7-8
Website: bellarinerailway.com.au
https://bellarinerailway.com.au/day-out-with-thomas/
Thirlmere
Where: NSW Rail Museum (Transport Heritage NSW Limited)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: May 19-21, 26-28, & Sept. 1-3, 8-10
Website: www.thnsw.com.au
https://www.nswrailmuseum.com.au/day-out-with-thomas
United Kingdom
Aylesbury
Where: Buckinghamshire Railway Centre (Quainton)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: April 7-9
Website: www.bucksrailcentre.org
https://bucksrailcentre.org/product.php/3/day-out-with-thomas
Colchester
Where: East Anglian Railway Museum (Colchester)
Tickets: On sale now
Dates: April 7-10
Website: www.earm.co.uk
https://www.earm.co.uk/events/day-out-with-thomas/
To check out other events and/or reviews click here.
