Little blue engine ‘first’ in a Great Western depot!
THE Isle of Sodor has annexed Tyseley Locomotive Works – and Thomas the Tank Engine will be making a historical first appearance there for four days in April.
The Warwick Road home of Vintage Trains has joined heritage venues in hosting Day Out With Thomas: Bubble Tour this year, after securing the world-famous railway franchise.
There will be unlimited rides behind Thomas, aka ex-NCB Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0T No. 3781 of 1952, which was converted from a saddle tank to a side tank at the Mid-Hants Railway in 1994 to take on the role of the Rev W Awdry’s most famous character.
More on offer
Thomas will be adorned in bubbles, and all children will receive a bubble giveaway onsite.
Visitors can meet Diesel, Duck and the Troublesome Trucks, and there will be singalongs and performances from Rusty and Dusty and Sir Topham
Hatt, storytelling sessions, a play pod with Thomas and Friends activities, a themed scavenger hunt, garden games, a roundabout fairground ride, a balloon modeler, a bubble artist and Thomas and Friends giveaways for every child.
There will also be a grand finale engine race between Thomas
and Diesel!
Tyseley’s Class 88 No. 13029 will play Diesel and GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7752 will be Duck.
Two sessions of family activities will be held each day from April 3-6, the morning sessions from 10am to 1pm and the afternoons from 2-5pm.
When Tyseley last held a similar event 30 years ago, Thomas was not present, and other locomotives and rolling stock played the part of different characters.
This year, Tyseley has joined Mattel’s Day Out With Thomas franchise, along with the Spa Valley Railway, to bring the number of participating venues up to 12. Hopes were widespread that the shows on offer at each heritage line would encourage families to make return visits on normal operating days and instigate an interest in all things steam on steel wheels for a new, younger generation.
‘Significant’
Vintage Trains chairman Michael Whitehouse said:“This makes our second significant franchise as this year will be our fourth Polar Express franchise operation which, on its own, grosses just under £1 million with us.”
Free car parking is available onsite for up to 100 vehicles, including a few Blue Badge holder spaces. There is also on-street parking nearby.
The other Bubble Tour venues for 2024 are: Buckinghamshire Railway Centre (March 29-31, May 5/6, July 13/14 and October 5/6); East Anglian Railway Museum (March 29-April1, August 24-26, October 26/27); Mid
Hants Railway (May 25-June 2); Spa Valley Railway (April 27/28, May 4-6); East Lancashire Railway (May 4-6, August 3/4, October 5/6); Caledonian Railway (July 27/28, August 24/25); Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway (May 11/12, July 13/14, September 7/8); Swindon & Cricklade Railway (August 24-26) and Whistlestop Valley (April 20/21, July 20/21, October 12/13).
➜ To book tickets and for more details, visit www.quaytickets.com/ dayoutwiththomas