Thomas the Tank Engine is thrilling thousands

July 12 was the first Day Out With Thomas for 2019 at the Northwest Railway Museum.  Thousands of children and their families came to see and experience Thomas the Tank Engine at his very best.  Check out these scenes from the first day; tickets and information are at Thomas.TrainMuseum.org

Day Out With Thomas 2018

2018 is Day Out With Thomas' "Sweet 16" at the Northwest Railway Museum!  It all began in 2002 with the first event in Snoqualmie, and this year's "Big Adventures, Bigger Memories" tour continues the tradition; tickets are on sale now for July 13 - 15 and 20 - 22.

Day Out With Thomas is an experience with Thomas the Tank Engine, the fabled storybook character first introduced to children in 1945.  Thomas is "the really useful engine" who has adventures on the Island of Sodor.  Once a year, Thomas the Tank Engine travels off the island to visit children at heritage railways. The Snoqualmie Valley is one of the regular stops.

Day Out With Thomas in Snoqualmie is a fun-filled experience for children of all ages, but is designed for children 3 - 5 years of age.  Motor car rides, a bouncy house, live music, train tables, story time, a puppet show, and a model train are some of the activities included with admission.  For an extra charge, professional photos are available, and food vendors are located on site and across the street. A gift shop has unique Thomas-themed merchandise too.

New in 2018 is a special sensory-friendly train on Sunday, July 22 at 9 AM.  This limited event time is for families with children who have special needs.  Please contact the Snoqualmie Depot Bookstore at (425) 888-3030 Extension 7202 daily from 10 AM - 5 PM to make a reservation and purchase a ticket. Or call after hours and leave a message!

Live music in 2018 will feature noted artists Eric Ode, Nancy Stewart, and the talented Brian Vogan and his Good Buddies.  These local artists have produced unique children's music, and are excellent live performers too.  Do you know your Animal ABC's?  How about that Barn Cat? Come and check out the live music too!

Day Out With Thomas is running July 13 - 15 and July 20 - 22.  Tickets are available through an online ticketing system, or from the Depot Bookstore in Snoqualmie.

Thomas we love you . . .

 The Northwest Railway Museum's annual Day Out With Thomas 2017 is underway!  Thomas the Tank Engine is visiting the Museum this week and next, and more than 16,000 people will see the Really Useful Engine as he pulls the Museum's train to Snoqualmie Falls. Tickets are available at TicketWeb!  Check out some scenes from the first day, and as always click on the image to enlarge:

The train passes Puget Sound Energy's Hydro plant museum.

Brian Vogan and his Good Buddies!

Visitors arriving at Day Out With Thomas.

Ready, set, go!

Locomotive 4024

Thomas the Tank Engine

Will call tickets

Engine drivers

Thomas the Tank Engine in depot square park

Motor car rides

Eric Ode

Train tables

Thomas the Tank Engine arrives at the Snoqualmie Falls depot

Steam trains return July 4 & 5!

Steam trains are returning to the Northwest Railway Museum on July 4 and 5, 2015!  The first departure is at 11:30 AM from Snoqualmie.  Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, and $12 for children.  You can purchase tickets in advance and pickup them up at will call prior to boarding the train. There is no service charge for using the Museum's online ticketing system, and it will reserve space for you and your family!  So why wait?  Order here today!

 

Trains will be pulled by Santa Cruz Portland Cement steam locomotive 2.  There will be departures from Snoqualmie each day at 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4:00 PM.  Just a year into service after years of effort were expended restoring this early 20th Century gem, "The Chiggen" is ready to steam for the weekend. This will be the last weekend of regular trains before Thomas the Tank Engine visits Snoqualmie so come and ride the line in style, behind SCPC 2!

Successful Santa Train 2014

Last Saturday, the Northwest Railway Museum wrapped up a successful Santa Train, an event that was first hosted in 1969.  Reflecting on the eight-day event, 11,200 guests were served, more than 24,000 cookies were baked, about 320 gallons of hot cocoa were prepared, and 40 gallons of coffee were brewed.  This year's event also featured the first steam-powered Santa Train in 25 years.  In all, this was the largest Santa Train by numbers served, with 500 more guests than the previous record.

Many thanks are in order.  First and foremost, to the 61 volunteers that contributed time and talent to running the event and making it successful.  Volunteers put up seasonal decorations, served as Santa's helpers, addressed any problems as they occurred, served on the train crew, baked cookies, served the refreshments, helped in the gift shop, cleaned up garbage, and helped direct guests to Santa and the kitchen car.

Thanks are also in order to the many Museum supporters.  Many thanks to Continental Mills who donated Krusteaz cookie dough to the event; to the many media partners who helped spread the word; the City of Snoqualmie parks staff who helped clean the restrooms in the Snoqualmie Depot; the Si View Park District who maintained the restrooms in the North Bend Depot; the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce staff who helped publicize the event and host the ice rink for several days in downtown Snoqualmie; 4Culture and City of Snoqualmie who provided sustained support grants to the Museum using lodging taxes collected at the Salish Lodge and Spa, and hotels and motels across King County; and last but certainly not least, anyone who helped support the event who Spike has inadvertently omitted from this important list.

There are also thanks owed to the Museum's Board of Trustees who provide the governance and oversight that allow this event to continue, to the part and full-time staff who work additional hours to ensure the event operated smoothly (even helping clean the restrooms!), and especially to the two very talented Santa actors and their two elf actors!

And thanks to all the guests who purchased tickets, enjoyed the event, and made all the other efforts worthwhile!

Seasons Greetings from all of us at the Northwest Railway Museum.

Thomas the Tank Engine returns!

Thomas the Tank Engine has returned to the Northwest Railway Museum!  More than 15,000 children with their adults are expected for this year's extraveganga, which got underway today (July 11, 2014).  
Brian Vogan and his Good Buddies, Nancy Stewart and Eric Ode are making beautiful music live at the event, and a variety of activities are thrilling children of all ages.  Live steam models, a puppet show, train tables, model trains, motor car rides and more are operating during the event, which runs July 11 - 13 and 18 - 20. You even have an opportunity to get your picture taken with Thomas the Tank Engine!  And new this year is "talking Thomas," which allows Thomas the Thank Engine to give your little engineers a few words of wisdom.  Tickets include everything except merchandise and food, and can be purchased at the gate for $24 each, or in advance for $23 via TicketWeb.  All aboard for fun!

Thomas the Tank Engine arrives!

Thomas the Tank Engine has returned  to the Snoqualmie Valley for Day Out With Thomas 2013!  The really useful engine arrived at the North Bend depot today for a visit from the Island of Sodor.  He will be visiting with young children and their families in Snoqualmie on July 12 - 14 and 19 - 21, 2013.  Tickets are $21 and are available via the link or phone number here.  You may also purchase tickets in person (and avoid service fees) at the Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 SE King Street, Snoqualmie daily from 10 AM - 5 PM.

 

Day Out With Thomas is a fun-filled event for young children and their families.  Admission includes a ride on a train with Thomas the Tank Engine, but also a variety of activities including a bouncy house, story time, a puppet theatre, motor car rides, locomotive cab tours, model trains including live steam, temporary tattoos, and live music by Eric Ode, Nancy Stewart, and Brian Vogan and his good buddies.  Check out the accompanying video images from one of our recent Day Out With Thomas events (this year will be similar, but even better!) and see what you have been missing!  Why not join the fun this year?

 

Thomas the Tank Engine thrills thousands

Day Out With Thomas has been a successful event at the Northwest Railway Museum for eight seasons. This past weekend was the first of two for this year's event and by all accounts it was a roaring success.

Of course Thomas the Tank Engine was the star. He pulled trains for three days - July 10 - 12 - and posed for photos with children of all ages. But the event is so much more than a visit with Thomas.

This year, the friends of the Northwest Railway Museum built a new HO scale model railway custom designed to fit the Snoqualmie Depot freight room. Of course, the children can run the trains around the loop just like the old train layout. And it will also be set up for Railroad Days, and possibly travel to some off-site events later this year or early next year.

Day Out With Thomas also features live entertainment. Singer Nancy Stewart appeared again this year, but also Eric Ode. What would Day Out With Thomas be without "B-A-R-N-C-A-T I'm a barn cat?" And Clay Martin's Puppet Theater presented Punch and Judy.

What else? Dan Parker's Lego Thomas and Friends, a visit with Sir Topham Hatt, temporary tattoos, train tables, Thomas and Friends videos, and of course motor car rides!

Day Out With Thomas is a family event that the Northwest Railway Museum really enjoys hosting. There are still a few tickets available for next Friday and a few for 5:15 on Saturday, but otherwise you will have to wait 'til next year! Check out the Museum's web site for more information.

Thomas the Tank Engine arrives in Snoqualmie

This is a true story but the narrative has been adapted to suit the occasion!

Thomas the Tank EngineTM arrived in North Bend early in July 7, 2009. Unfortunately, the Fat Controller made a mistake and loaded Thomas on the lorry facing the wrong direction! Thomas insisted that he be turned around and everyone at the Northwest Railway Museum agreed. Some clever work from Steve P. and Earl W. (with help from Dan C., Vern S., and Hugh H.) using the Northwest Railway Museum's Pettibone Speedswing accomplished the feat in no time and then it was official: Thomas the Tank Engine was ready to haul some freight!

Wagon NP 14794 was loaded with some precious cargo and was coupled to Thomas. Then the nice diesel 4012 was coupled on the rear so the guard would have a nice place to ride. And then they departed for Snoqualmie pausing on bridge 35 to chat with the fisherman and fisherwoman who were beneath the bridge. A short time later, Thomas arrived in Snoqualmie right on time!

Thomas the Tank Engine is visiting Snoqualmie for the next two weeks and will be hosting 8th annual Day Out With Thomas TM here on July 10 - 12 and 17 - 19. He would love to take you for trip to the scenic Snoqualmie Falls on the Museum's railroad. There are still a few tickets available so why not join him? Information is available on the Museum web site.

Thomas the Tank Engine and Day Out With Thomas are copyright 2009 Gullane (Thomas) Limited.

Steampunks!

There were "Steampunks" aplenty at the Snoqualmie Depot today! The trip was arranged by Steamrats, an association of Steampunks living in and around Seattle. They planned this delightful outing to ride the train, see the falls, and all the assorted steam engines and logging contraptions in and around the Northwest Railway Museum. Naturally, most made time for high tea, but all remained vigilant for aerial pirates.

Today’s informal gathering allowed participants to dress the part, visit a Victorian-era depot, and ride inside railroad coaches built when steam was king. Now how appropriate was that?!

Certainly Spike was quite impressed with their period clothing, and especially with several sets of brass goggles. And check out the young lad. Not so visible in this photo taken with steam locomotive 11 is his steam-powered jet pack!

For those new to the term, Steampunk refers to a category of fiction somewhere between fantasy and speculative fiction that is often set in Victorian times when nearly everything was powered by steam. So think Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, dirigibles, and of course lots of steam engines.

Steampunk is developing a following across the country and a “steamposium” is planned for this October right here in the Seattle area. It sounds like a lot of fun so check out their web site for more information: http://www.steam-con.com/

Thomas the Tank Engine is coming to town!

Come spend a Day Out With Thomas! This July 10 - 12 and 17 -19, 2009, Thomas the Tank Engine will be visiting the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie. Tickets are available in person at the Snoqualmie Depot for $18, or via TicketWeb for $18 plus a dispensing fee. Tickets are required for everyone 2 years and older and include everything except food and merchandise.

Day Out With Thomas features a variety of activities including story telling, railway motor car rides, model trains, Lego trains, video viewing, temporary tattoos, and of course a ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine to Snoqualmie Falls!

So who is Thomas the Tank Engine? The Reverend Wilbert Awdry, an Anglican clergyman, developed the idea that became Thomas the Tank Engine in 1943. Thomas and his railway friends were invented by Awdry to entertain his young son Christopher, who was in isolation recovering from the measles. The Reverend made up the early stories and young Christopher insisted on hearing each story again and again. But when the Vicar retold a story from memory, he sometimes amended some of the details, which Christopher instantly recognized. To ensure consistency, Awdry had to begin keeping notes to remind him of the details, a record that later developed into the stories that were first published in 1945. Since then, Thomas has captivated generations of children with his adventures on the Island of Sodor. These stories have grown in popularity and were depicted on the children's television program called Shining Time Station, and remain popular in print and on video.

Thomas the Tank Engine first appeared in Awdry’s stories in 1946. He is (technically speaking) based on a 0-6-0T Class E2 shunting engine built for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway in the late 19th Century. The Thomas the Tank Engine that will visit the Northwest Railway Museum is a replica that is visiting railway museums up and down the west coast.

Day Out With Thomas is one of the largest events the Museum hosts and is expected to attract nearly 17,000 people to Snoqualmie. Advance tickets were offered beginning in late April; the event often sells out. Visit the Northwest Railway Museum web site for more information.

Day Out With Thomas is a trademark of Gullane (Thomas) Ltd. and is licensed by Hit Entertainment.

Whistle stop birthday parties

Happy Birthday To You!

Whistle Stop Birthday parties are all the rage at the Museum for ages 2 and up. During the last several weekends, the Northwest Railway Museum has hosted twelve parties.

A great time was had last weekend by four different family groups and their friends. Diego W. and family had a super time with over 40 friends. They made the party festive with their bubble machine, piñata, picnic and colorful balloons. Party-perfect weather was the rule of the day, and everyone enjoyed being outside, with a light breeze swaying through the trees.

Lilianna S. and family celebrated her second birthday playing on the train tables in the baggage car and on the Whitcomb engine outside, too.

Patrick H. and family loved the train ride. Patrick received a framed drawing of the Snoqualmie Depot from his wife, Jan.

Apollo D. turned 3 recently, and was thrilled to celebrate at the Museum. The train ride is everybody’s favorite part of the party. We wave to them as they pull out of the Snoqualmie Depot, headed for the top of the Snoqualmie Falls and the panoramic view of the valley below.

This picture of Ben L. taken by his mother, Kim, says it all.

A Train Runs Through It

Attribute it to luck, good fortune or just plain hard work. Once again, the beauty of the upper scenic Snoqualmie Valley will be showcased through the windows of our antique train, as it glides along the rails of our newly restored right-of-way. We’re pleased and grateful to announce that thanks to public agencies, such as 4Culture, the City of Snoqualmie, and the heroic efforts of private individuals who donated funds and/or volunteer hours to aid in the clean up, the Northwest Railway Museum season will officially open April 4, resuming full train service through the scenic Upper Snoqualmie Valley. While there are still repairs to perform and funds to raise, repairing the track is well underway and work on that segment of the flood damage should be completed in another week. So beginning on Saturday, April 4, and on each Saturday and Sunday through October, the Northwest Railway Museum will offer 75-minute round-trip train rides to the top of Snoqualmie Falls. A full schedule is available here .

Snoqualmie Valley Railroad’s 2009 season features two new offerings on its schedule: Easter Train (April 11 & 12) and Snoqualmie Railroad Days (August 22.) Greatly anticipated are the return of the Museum’s other popular family programs, including Mothers Ride Free, Fathers Ride Free, Grandparents’ Grand Excursion, Halloween Train, Santa Train® and Day Out with ThomasTM.

Visitors to the Northwest Railway Museum experience the excitement of a working railroad while learning about the important role railroads played in shaping the character of the Pacific Northwest. The depot and bookstore are open to the public 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily.

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Day 7 of Santa Train. All trains are sold out and we are receiving calls asking if the train is still running today. It is of course (only one weekend in 40 years has been canceled) and a generator has been borrowed along other precautions to help ensure a happy experience for all. Certainly some people are concerned about driving on compact ice and snow – this is Western Washington after all – but many more seem happy to be here. The real concern is an approaching windstorm with projected gusts of 80 mph, but it isn’t expected to have a significant impact until after the last Santa Train has returned to North Bend.

So far Santa Train is running smoothly and it is beautiful to ride over the hill and through the snow to see Santa. And the hot cocoa tastes so much sweeter in the cold, at least to me. Radiant heaters are located in several areas to help keep the chill off, but some people are not dressed for freezing weather. Unfortunately that makes the experience less pleasant for them yet it is authentic. Imagine just a few short decades ago when the only practical intercity transportation choice was the train. If the weather changed while you were on a trip and you hadn’t made room to pack extra clothing, you had to make do. Today most of us are fortunate to have personal vehicles that allow us the freedom to move on our own schedule and to easily carry extra provisions. That’s one of the big changes the automobile has brought our society. It did mean giving up some all weather reliability though: Santa Train is running on schedule today yet nearly everyone spent a lot of extra time on the roads getting to North Bend.

P.S. Santa Trains all ran on 20 December without incident, although a few hundred people did not show up to use their tickets. On 21 December, Amtrak canceled nearly all their Pacific Northwest service. Why? Historically, the railroads had thousands of employees and therefore had the resources to clear snow and ice from turnouts, the arrangement of rails that allows a train to move from one track to another. In the mountains today, this work is done by impressively powerful automatic propane heaters. In the lowlands, snow is so infrequent that there are no automatic heaters. So frozen turnouts means very significant delays that make most passenger trains completely impracticable.

Santa Train is for families

Santa Train is a Northwest tradition that dates from 1969. What is it about the event that makes it so enduring? We regularly ask repeat visitors what brought them back and we use that information to help plan future events. So here they are, the top three factors (informally) cited by visitors:

1) Affordability/good value. Yes, the event is not inexpensive at a 2008 price of $15 per person. But how does that compare with a visit to a mall Santa where the photo prices begin at $45 and they won’t let you take your own pictures?

2) Non-commercial. The visit with Santa is not tied to the sale or use of a product or service, other than the museum visit itself and the inherent commercial message some argue Santa is sending. It is also not tied to a movie or trademarked character. And yes, according to the responses we have received, a lot of people do care.

3) Repeatable. Families can come back year after year and get a similar and predicable experience. That allows Santa Train to become their family tradition.

So there you have it, the three critical factors in the success of a 40 year tradition. We think there may be a consultant somewhere who would take issue with our findings, but their analysis of our success/failure would have cost thousands of dollars. And if you take issue with our findings and think we can be doing something better, our Executive Director would really like to hear from you. Please email him: director at trainmuseum dot org. (Sorry, you’ll have to type that as a real address because we can’t put a linked email in here without getting lots of solicitations for pharmaceuticals and enhancement products.)

Jingle all the way

Santa Train® riders have been singing along with Mr. Bells for six years now. Looking jaunty in his train cap decorated with giant jingle bells, Dick S. leads carols aboard seven Santa Trains each day, for seven days. Veteran riders look forward to celebrating the holidays with Mr. Bells.

Dick boards every train ready to make merry with the passengers. His delightful resonant voice rings out over the crowd, drawing them in. You can’t help singing along.

Dick and his wife, Charlsia have been volunteering at the Northwest Railway Museum for 8 years. They teach classes at School Train and help at events throughout the year as well as Santa Train. They first began riding Santa Train with their now grown children 40 years ago and are among the select few that can say they have attended every year since the event began in 1969!