By Meredith Broussard
Babble
November 13, 2008

What would happen if you told your train-loving tot that he could take a train ride with a real, full-size, honest-to-goodness Thomas the Tank Engine?
Would it blow his mind? Would he dance around and call you the best parent ever? Would there be fireworks? Probably!

Day Out With Thomas at the Strasburg Rail Road, held December 5-7, includes a train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine; storytelling; videos; temporary tattoos of Island of Sodor inhabitants; an Imagination Station; and a visit to the Thomas the Tank Engine toy store. Kids can also get their photos taken with Sir Topham Hatt, the Chairman of the Railway on the Island of Sodor.

Day Out With Thomas takes place at the Strasburg Railroad, a seriously cool vintage railway in the heart of Amish country that features impeccably restored steam engines and coaches. In addition to riding a Really Useful Engine, you and your kids can ride an historic full-size coal-burning steam train, or drive a miniature Cagney steam train built for an amusement park in the 1920s. Big kids can operate a hand-powered pump car, and small kids can “steer” a hand-cranked 1930s Cranky Car around a track. There’s even a wine and cheese car for grownups.

Day Out With Thomas, December 5 - 7, 2008, Strasburg, PA. Tickets start at $18 for ages 2 and up: buy online at Ticketweb.com or call 866.468.7630. Thomas is only in Strasburg for a limited time.