Day Out With Thomas train rides
Let’s get … bubbly? You’ve guessed it. This year’s theme is bubbles.
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.
“‘Pop’ on board a train ride adventure with Thomas the Tank Engine! Day Out With Thomas: Bubble Tour is heading to heritage railways across the country with loads of bubble themed games and activities! Enjoy live entertainment, photo ops, the exclusive gift shop, photo ops, lawn games and so much more. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family.” — Mattel
Note: Tickets on sale now for various locations. Dates vary with tours beginning in March.
United States
California
Where: Southern California Railway Museum (Perris)
Dates: Nov. 2-3 & 9-11
Website: socalrailway.org
https://socalrailway.org/scrm-events/thomas/
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads (Felton)
Dates: Oct. 12-13, 19-20, & 26-27
Website: www.roaringcamp.com
https://www.roaringcamp.com/events#706
Colorado
Where: Colorado Railroad Museum (Golden)
Dates: Sept. 7-8, 14-15, & 21-22 (Saturdays & Sunday)
Website: coloradorailroadmuseum.org
https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/day-out-with-thomas/
Connecticut
Where: The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat (Essex)
Dates: April 27-28 & May 4-5
Website: essexsteamtrain.com
https://essexsteamtrain.com/experiences-2/day-out-with-thomas/
Florida
Where: Florida Railroad Museum (Parrish)
Dates: March 15-17 & 23-24
Website: www.frrm.org
https://www.frrm.org/day-out-with-thomas/
Georgia
Where: SAM Shortline Railroad (Cordele)
Dates: June 1-2, 8-9, & 15-16
Website: www.samshortline.com
https://www.samshortline.com/copy-of-presidential-flyer-1
Illinois
Where: Illinois Railway Museum (Union)
Dates: July 13-14 & 20-21
Website: www.irm.org
https://www.irm.org/event/day-out-with-thomas/
Iowa
Where: Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad (Boone)
Dates: Sept. 7-8 & 14-15
Website: bsvrr.com
https://bsvrr.com/event/day-out-with-thomas-14/
Kentucky
Where: Kentucky Railway Museum (New Haven)
Dates: June 1-2 & 8-9
Website: www.kyrail.org
https://www.kyrail.org/take-a-train-ride-with-thomas-the-tank-engine/
Michigan
Where: Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad (Flint)
Dates: Aug. 16-18 & 23-25
Website: geneseecountyparks.org/crossroads-village-huckleberry-railroad-1a/
https://geneseecountyparks.org/day-out-with-thomas/
Where: The Henry Ford Museum — Greenfield Village (Dearborn)
Dates: May 4-5, 11-12, & 18-19
Website: www.thehenryford.org
https://www.thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/day-out-with-thomas/
Minnesota
Where: North Shore Scenic Railroad (Duluth)
Dates: Aug. 2-5 & 9-11
Website: duluthtrains.com
https://duluthtrains.com/thomas/
New Jersey
Where: The Delaware River Railroad Excursions (Phillipsburg)
Dates: Aug. 16-18
Website: www.877trainride.com
https://www.877trainride.com/thomas.htm
North Carolina
Where: Tweetsie Railroad (Blowing Rock)
Dates: June 7-10 & 13-186
Website: tweetsie.com
https://tweetsie.com/special-events/day-out-with-thomas
Where: North Carolina Transportation Museum (Spencer)
Dates: Sept. 27-29 & Oct. 4-5
Website: www.nctransportationmuseum.org
Pennsylvania
Where: Strasburg Rail Road (Ronks)
Dates: June 15-17, 20-23, Sept. 14-15 & 19-23
Website: www.strasburgrailroad.com
https://www.strasburgrailroad.com/special-events/ride-with-thomas/
Tennessee
Where: Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (Chattanooga)
Dates: April 20-21 & 27-28
Website: www.tvrail.com
https://www.tvrail.com/train-rides/day-out-with-thomas-2023/
Texas
Where: Grapevine Vintage Railroad (Grapevine)
Dates: Oct. 11-13 & 18-20
Website: www.gvrr.com
https://www.gvrr.com/special-events/day-out-with-thomas/
Washington
Where: Northwest Railway Museum (Snoqualmie)
Dates: July 12-14, 19-21, & 26-28
Website: www.trainmuseum.org
https://www.trainmuseum.org/thomas/index.html
Canada
Alberta
Where: Heritage Park (Calgary)
Dates: May 4-5 & 10-12
Website: www.heritagepark.ca
https://www.heritagepark.ca/plan-your-visit/event-calendar/day-out-with-thomas
British Columbia
Where: Railway Museum of BC (Squamish)
Dates: May 25-26 & June 1-2
Website: www.wcra.org
https://www.wcra.org/day-out-with-thomas/
Australia
Queenscliff
Where: Bellarina (Geelong Steam Preservation Society)
Dates: April 6-7 & Oct. 5-6
Website: bellarinerailway.com.au
https://bellarinerailway.com.au/day-out-with-thomas/
Thirlmere
Where: NSW Rail Museum (Transport Heritage NSW Limited)
Dates: March 15-17 & 22-24
Website: www.thnsw.com.au
https://www.nswrailmuseum.com.au/day-out-with-thomas
United Kingdom
Aylesbury
Where: Buckinghamshire Railway Centre (Quainton)
Dates: March 29-31 & May 5-6 & July 13-14 & Oct. 5-6
Website: www.bucksrailcentre.org
https://bucksrailcentre.org/events/day-out-with-thomas/
Colchester
Where: East Anglian Railway Museum (Colchester)
Dates: March 29-31 & April 1 & Aug. 24-26 & Oct. 26-27
Website: www.earm.co.uk
https://www.earm.co.uk/events/day-out-with-thomas/
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.
For more information visit Mattel’s Day Out With Thomas event page.
