Day Out with Thomas returns to Essex, CT

http://essexsteamtrain.com/special-event...th-thomas/

Went there about 3 years ago, it was interesting and for $20 you get to see life size thomas up close. Other than that there isn't much else to do but if you are near by I think it's a reasonable cost.

[Super]

Thanks Pablo

Those are always great fun for the kids and for the Adults if they have other things going on. That looks like a pretty neat train place especially Essex Station and they have events going on all year round and that North Pole Express is very cool.

I would love to do something like this with my kids but it's a bit out of the way to go for just that purpose.

I'm still a little gun shy after my last experience taking them on a train. We just knew our son would love it and instead, he had a meltdown freak out!

I would love to do something like this with my kids but it's a bit out of the way to go for just that purpose.

I'm still a little gun shy after my last experience taking them on a train. We just knew our son would love it and instead, he had a meltdown freak out!

My son was like that at first, it really goes with age. Kids have irrational fear of random things, and they seem to rotate. Also, the environment matters, at events like that there are so many kids wanting to get on the train, he seemed to go along with them. If there were kids crying & panicking, I think he would act like that. He would love watching the trains passing by the tracks, but he would freak out and ask mommy to cover his ears when we were down in subway, but a few days later he would ask again to ride the train. So we decided to take him to Thomas, he didn't know where to hide when Thomas approached blowing his loud whistle.

His biggest freakout was when he met life-sized Sir Topham Hatt Then he realized it was just a guy in costume and not really guy out of a cartoon.

@Pablo392-
Oh yeah, it definitely makes a difference in terms of age and exposure to new things. My kids are constantly asking to go downtown to watch the Amtrak come in, then it scares the hell out of them when it shows up!
We're still planning a return to the nearby railroad society for another ride on the train that freaked him out. It's been long enough now that I think he'll handle it better. OTOH, it'll be interesting to see how my daughter reacts this time around.

Try 3M headphones from Home Depot. I have a pair for each kid. We originally got them for Monster Trucks. They have come in handy for trains, the trolley, car races and even Disneyland. They have stopped full on meltdowns in the middle of shopping too!

Try 3M headphones from Home Depot. I have a pair for each kid. We originally got them for Monster Trucks. They have come in handy for trains, the trolley, car races and even Disneyland. They have stopped full on meltdowns in the middle of shopping too!

That's a cool idea! Thanks!

There are two Day Out With Thomas locations close to me this year. Contemplating trying it out this year, but it sure doesn't seem like a whole lot to do after the Train ride and a dressed up Topham Hatt.

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I went on a train ride with my boys last summer up north. They were good and fascinated. It was a real slow scenic ride. I've been meaning to take them on our local Go trains that travel through the Greater Toronto area at very fast speeds. Wonder what they'll think about that.

[Super]

We are lucky here as The Day Out With Thomas is held at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfild Village in Dearborn Michigan with tons of stuff to do.

There are two Day Out With Thomas locations close to me this year. Contemplating trying it out this year, but it sure doesn't seem like a whole lot to do after the Train ride and a dressed up Topham Hatt.

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I went on a train ride with my boys last summer up north. They were good and fascinated. It was a real slow scenic ride. I've been meaning to take them on our local Go trains that travel through the Greater Toronto area at very fast speeds. Wonder what they'll think about that.

There really isn't (or wasn't when we went) much else to do, but this year they seem to add more stuff, there is at least one more engine, Percy, But I think it's just going to be a model not an actual engine. They also have several play areas with trains, mock trains, control rooms, etc. There are also carnival type rides outside, but my son didn't get on those. Lines were OK but I caught this little nugget while walking around:



Zoom in to the plate:



True classic!

Oh and where else can you get exposed to soot?



When I hear soot, I immediately think of: