Thomas the Tank Engine

An old friend was in town for the holiday weekend, Thomas the Tank Engine, and we just had to visit!  Coleman loves trains, and has been very excited to see Thomas.  He thought we were going to the Island of Sodor, which is very far away, but Thomas came to the Heber Valley Railway, which is just over the mountains.  What a magical experience it is to see Thomas the Tank Engine when you are four years old!

We took Bud to see Thomas three years in a row when he was younger, and it was fun for him to come along now that it is Coleman's turn. Here the kids are getting their picture taken with Thomas the Tank Engine and with Sir Toppam Hatt.  Sir Toppam Hatt is the Head of the Railway and likes to tell Thomas, "You are really useful engine."  He rewards the engines for good work with a wash-down and a new coat of paint.  Naughty engines are sent to the docks to work with the grumpy freight cars.

This is Mr. Conductor.  He was so kind and all the kids on the train wanted to shake his hand.  We are so excited to be riding Thomas and his coaches along one of the branch lines!

Coleman's favorite train is James, so he was very excited to find a seat by this picture of the red engine.  James grumbles alot and gets into mishaps.  In Coleman's favorite book, James gets pushed off the rails by the naughty freight cars and Thomas finds him laying on the side of the tracks in the mud.  In another story, James crashes into a tanker and gets covered with tar.

We should have waited until Thomas actually started moving before we took the next picture, so we had a different background besides the parking lot.  I got home from Heber, looked at my pictures, and thought my photography teacher would not be pleased!  Please pretend not to notice the pole coming out of Coleman's head in the picture coming up. 

 

Thomas took us on a very beautiful journey through the Heber Valley.  It was a very slooww, but picturesque trip.  Rosie couldn't believe it, "Doesn't Thomas go any faster?" she yelled.

After our ride, we participated in lots of fun activities.  We rode this little train and petted animals from the Island of Sodor.  Have you ever seen a baby camel?  We also played with trains, watched an amazing lego train display, raced through a hay maze, ate cotton candy and shopped in a train-lovers dream store.  Coleman picked out a remote control James.  He was so excited, and so was Bud!

We had a wonderful time at the Railway!  Good-bye Gordon, Percy, James, and Thomas the Tank Engine, we'll be back next year!