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Thomas the Train Activities

The Thomas the Tank Engine stories began as a series of books called The Railway Series by a clergyman named Reverend Wilbert Awdry. He wrote them for his young son who was recovering from an illness and drew pictures to accompany them. The first ones were published in 1945. Since then, the stories have turned into merchandise, and Thomas the Train activities involve playing with model railway engines, toys, video games and jigsaw puzzles and watching DVDs. The brand has introduced new characters, not in the original books, over the years.

Website Activities
- Various activities on the Thomas and Friends website engage young children with the different characters. Virtual games include building an engine, painting an engine and racing engines. There are 23 puzzles to play with involving various engines and the Fat Controller. Children can also make birthday cards or fill in coloring sheets with pictures of Thomas, Emily, Gordon, Henry, James, Percy, Edward or Toby.
Thomas Town Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
- The Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park in Vallejo, CA contains a themed area based on the fictional Island of Sodor and Knapford Station where the Thomas and Friends stories are set. The attractions include rides on Harold the Helicopter, Bertie the Bus and a replica of Thomas the Tank Engine. Visitors have the chance to pose for a photograph with the railway boss, Sir Topham Hatt. The gift store sells merchandise for the franchise including the storybooks, toys and diecast model trains. Other Six Flags parks have Thomas the Tank Engine areas, at Six Flags New England in Springfield, MA, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles, CA, Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta, GA and Six Flags America in Mitchellville, Maryland.
Day Out With Thomas
- A Day Out With Thomas is an annual event and the 2011 event chose the theme of the Leader of the Track Tour. The 2010 tour, which took in more than 45 U.S. and Canadian cities, was the Celebration Tour to mark the 65th birthday of Thomas. The 2010 tour was the fifteenth to take place, and children enjoy riding on the full size trains pulled by Thomas and other characters and meeting Sir Topham Hatt. Other activities have included making birthday cards for Thomas, face painting sessions, magic shows, bouncing houses, mini golf, arts and crafts displays and petting zoos. Storytellers entertain the children and they can watch videos of the TV show. Days Out also take place in the Netherlands and the U.K.

Character Toys