A Day Out With Thomas

Once a year the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad hosts a Day Out With Thomas. Gavin has been wanting to visit Thomas the Train for several years now, and for a long time has wanted to be a "train driver". Year after year we've put it off for different reasons, but this year we made it work. Gavin's fascination with trains has proven not to be a passing thing and I knew he'd be in a real live dreamland at the railroad. It also gave the other boys the chance to ride on a train for the first time.

Pulling into the parking lot, there were trains everywhere. Gavin could hardly contain his excitement.

We were given maps at the ticket booth and instructed to get them stamped as we hit certain checkpoints, or "stamp stations". We could turn them in before we left for a prize. (This was a sly way of guaranteeing people didn't miss anything.)

Some were more excited than others to be here....

Inside the gift shop there were all sorts of exciting things to see. Ian loved the train that chugged it's way around the two front rooms' upper walls.

We got to see Thomas pulling out of the station!

There was a tent set up full of everything Thomas. It was definitely a Thomas fanatic's dream, though unsuspecting parents were caught in the predicament of either buying outrageously priced things--no clearance aisle in sight--or disappointing little eager shoppers. (Oddly enough, they made it a "stamp station".)

Ian turned out to be more of a Thomas enthusiast than I previously thought he was. I worried he'd be the child who screamed at meeting Sir Topham Hatt, who threw a fit about getting on the train, and all manner of other issues. He did the best that a tired two-year-old could do.

I was seriously having an "off" day; I forgot the stroller, I forgot Ian's shoes, I forgot to pack sandwiches for the trip. And everyone lived! Ian got to enjoy shoulder rides from Mom and Dad in lieu of a stroller. I wouldn't say it out loud but I think it worked out for the best that way.

Sir Topham Hatt and Thomas were out by the time we got to this end of the yard, so we headed back to the museum for storytelling and videos. Thomas left the station each hour at the top of the hour and we had 30 minutes to kill.

Ian couldn't hold still through the story so we took a walk through the museum. He wanted to take this train set home with us. It wouldn't budge, however.

We then got in line to meet Sir Topham Hatt. I was a little concerned about Liam meeting him. The day before he was in a bad mood and said he didn't want to go see Thomas at all, and he would only see Sir Topham Hatt if he could punch him. I'm not sure what inspired that reaction, but I made him promise he wouldn't be mean to anyone.

The boys didn't really know what to do when it was their turn; Sir Topham Hatt wasn't talking, his faced remained expressionless. I was afraid they were all going to take off running (and they wouldn't have been the first kids to do that, as we witnessed while standing there.) I talked them into high-fives.

Ian did the best, surprisingly. He almost flew out of my arms trying to give Sir Topham Hatt a high-five. Aidan remained disturbed by the encounter.

I think Sir Topham Hatt had his eye on the hot dog stand?

It was time to board Thomas!

We got our tickets punched...

And climbed aboard...

We made sure to head forward to the second coach so that we were riding on Clarabel. Details matter. :) These coaches were old, and had a definite funk about them.

Ian was all over the place. His seat was empty most of the ride.

A "shunting diesel" (Gavin informed us) pulled us a few miles out into the country, and then Thomas pulled us back into the station. The ride took about 25 minutes.

We waited in line after the ride to have pictures taken with Thomas. Thomas' face moved from an open-mouthed smile to a close-mouthed smile, but Gavin was disappointed that Thomas never talked.

Gavin asked if we were coming back tomorrow!