I love trains. One of the worst days of my young life was when we moved out of the city and my parental units gave away my Lionel Trains. Locomotive, coal car, cattle car with real fake little cows that would rumble down a chute into a pen, lumber car with logs that would roll off a ramp… I had a whole village, with little Bavarian farmers holding enough pitchforks to frighten Frankenstein. And just like that – poof – they were gone. To make matters worse, when we left Brooklyn, we also bid goodbye to the subway, with the el that ran along New Utrecht Avenue, all the way to Yankee Stadium. Some of my best days were spent on those D Trains, eNJoying a summer ride up to da Bronx to see Mantle and Maris. That too – gone.
I could not give my children those railway memories, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t love trains growing up at The Shore. They had New Jersey Transit when it was time to see the lights on the tree in Rock Center, and of course, they had toys.
And the toy they loved the most (along with the TV show and all the VHS tapes) was Thomas the Tank Engine. And all his friends.
Kids love Thomas. Doesn’t matter if they’re boys or girls. For the uninitiated:
Who is Thomas the Tank Engine?
Since Thomas the Tank Engine left the depot more than 65 years ago, this Really Useful Engine and his Island of Sodor friends have chugged their way into the hearts of preschoolers and grownups worldwide. Based on The Railway Series of classic stories authored by a father who loved trains and wanted a shared experience with his son, Thomas & Friends™ is a rite of passage that inspires the imagination while teaching the life lessons of friendship, exploration and cooperation.
Day Out With Thomas is a family event that offers children and their families the opportunity to ride with classic storybook friend Thomas the Tank Engine. Parents, grandparents and siblings can join their aspiring engineers in the fun. The Day Out With Thomas will engineer miles of smiles for the whole family and introduce a new generation to the timeless excitement of railroading. The train, located in Phillipsburg, is operated in the classic style by the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway. Thomas leaves every hour on the hour, 10am to 5pm. And you may ask:
What is included in the ticket price?
A ticket for Day Out With Thomas includes the train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as a variety of Thomas & Friends themed entertainment, including Storytelling and Video Viewing, Temporary Tattoos of Island of Sodor friends, and an Imagination Station with Arts & Crafts and more. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of the Railway on the Island of Sodor. And who can forget the two very different, very iconic gentlemen who played the character? Ringo Starr and George Carlin! Incredible!
So, parents, teach your children. You’ve got a toy Thomas at home, and now the kiddies can see the real thing up close and personal. Don’t forget the horn. That sound is magical. The little ones will think they’re on the Hogwart’s Express. Ah, but that’s a train for another day…
July 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19
Market Street, Phillipsburg
www.877trainride.com
