All little engineers and their families are invited to take a ride on Thomas and participate in fun Thomas-themed activities. The event, which takes place April 28 and 29 and May 5, 6 and 12, will be hosted by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and presented by HIT Entertainment and sponsored by MEGA Brands, a leading toy company.
For 67 years, children have been captivated by the courageous adventures of Thomas and his engine friends. Pulling out of the station for its 17th consecutive ride on the rails, the Day Out With Thomas: Mystery on the Rails Tour 2012 will visit more than 45 cities in the United States and Canada.
Day Out With Thomas is the only place for families to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of everybody’s favorite No. 1 engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, and enjoy Thomas-themed activities at the Imagination Station, including stamps, temporary tattoos and hands-on arts and crafts. Each year the tour grows, traveling to new destinations, adding new activities and welcoming new visitors.
Thomas the Tank Engine, star of Thomas & Friends, on PBS KIDS and Sprout kicks off his Day Out With Thomas: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012 in March and is expected to welcome more than 1 million passengers through November. During Day Out With Thomas, children will ride with Thomas against scenic backdrops while discovering some mysterious surprises! Day Out With Thomas 2012 activities include:
— A 25-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine.
— Games and activities featuring a mystery element.
— The opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway.
— A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables, and coloring sheets.
— Commemorative activities, merchandise and giveaways including a special reveal poster previewing new engines and a new destination from the upcoming 2012 Thomas & Friends feature, “Blue Mountain Mystery”
— Storytelling, video viewing and live music
The tour provides a unique, interactive family experience at every station, offering a variety of entertaining activities that reflect the local flavor of each stop. At the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum activities will include: magic shows, miniature golf, crane demonstrations, blacksmithing and more.
The approximately 25-minute train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine will depart every hour, rain or shine, with departure times at 9 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. each day of the event. Tickets for the Day Out With Thomas: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012 are $19 plus tax for ages 2 and up.
Tickets are on sale now by calling toll-free 866-468-7630 or logging onto http://www.ticketweb.com/thomas.html.
For more information and directions, contact the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum at 423-894-8028 or www.tvrail.com.
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is a nonprofit, educational organization founded by volunteers in 1961 with a mission to preserve, restore, and operate historic railway equipment. Trains operate within Chattanooga daily in season with many additional special events and excursion trips throughout each year. Every ticket sold is a fundraiser to keep the history of American railroading alive and available for the public to experience.
About Thomas & Friends
Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son over 65 years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 185 territories and in 30 languages. The No. 1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Children embark on adventures with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation. Thomas & Friends makes tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS, Sprout and with downloadable episodes available through iTunes. For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, visit http://www.thomasandfriends.com. Follow Thomas on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thomasandfriends and Twitter @TrueBlueEngine.
