Thomas the Tank Engine returned to the Snoqualmie Valley in July, but it wasn’t just any visit. During last year’s pandemic closure, the Northwest Railway Museum made many site improvements to the Railway History Center. This prepared the new campus for its first-ever visit with Thomas the Tank Engine!
Prior Day Out With Thomas events were held in historic downtown Snoqualmie. The grounds around the Snoqualmie Depot were fenced off, tents were erected, and a variety of event-related infrastructure was set up to support the event. This resulted in successful events, but the site was smaller than the Museum preferred, and it was costly to provide all the temporary infrastructure.
The “new” Day Out With Thomas was a very different experience: Thomas the Tank Engine took all his guests to a museum.
Passengers boarded the train downtown at the historic Snoqualmie Depot for a short excursion to the Railway History Center. They arrived and were greeted with a Thomas-themed museum experience that included a visit with Sir Topham Hatt, live music by Eric Ode on the BIG Cedar Tree Stage, bubble tables, a hay bale labyrinth, outdoor games, model trains and more.
Guests got to tour the exhibit hall and see steam locomotive 924, the chapel car, and even tour a caboose. Then they boarded a train with Thomas the Tank Engine for a SECOND excursion that took them to Snoqualmie Falls, and then safely returned them to the Snoqualmie Depot.
The “new” Day Out With Thomas was so successful that a second event is now planned for September 11 & 12, 2021. Why not let Thomas take you on a trip? Please visit Thomas.TrainMuseum.org for more details or to purchase tickets.
