York: TV star with real pulling power

8:16am Friday 22nd February 2008

He commands attention like an A-list star.

Standing proud in his blue livery, Thomas the Tank Engine is an instant pull - for children and parents - but today he's looking a little sombre.

Perhaps he's weary from all that shunting trucks and hauling freight' (most parents will relate to the line from the catchy theme tune on Thomas and Friends!) But oh no, we discover it's far worse than that. Thomas has been naughty. After smashing through the Fat Controller's window, while he and his family were sitting down to breakfast, Thomas has been relegated to the engine shed for his misdemeanour.

There he will spend two weeks meeting thousands of youngsters who stop off at the National Railway Museum in York. That's more of a pleasure than punishment and the Fat Controller didn't look too disgruntled by the cheeky loco's actions as he struck his jolly pose to greet the youngsters eagerly queuing for that all-important souvenir snap.

Of course, those of us who are old enough to know better will recognise this scene setting as part of the makebelieve for the engine's annual Day Out with Thomas event.

Cries of mind the gap' from the conductor and small talk from the curly-haired blonde passenger dressed from a bygone era in pink and white spots and the luggage lad wheeling his trolley full of cases up and down helped to entertain the little ones.

All played their part in a very entertaining scene which was based on the original stories created by Anglican vicar, the Reverend W Awdry. The railway enthusiast is said to have created Thomas and his pals, Gordon, Henry, James, Percy, Edward, Toby, Annie and Clarabel, to entertain his young son while he was suffering from measles. The books and merchandise have made Thomas a global brand which continues to captivate children and educate them about friendship and good behaviour.

So when Thomas makes his annual stop off at the NRM, you can guarantee there'll be plenty of visitors to meet and have their photograph taken with him.

Our visit was planned a week after he'd arrived to avoid the half-term throng but it was still incredibly busy, hence the queues. It was quite surreal seeing the cheeky character we're used to watching making his way along, and often off, the rails, on the fictional island of Sodor. Our two-year-old Katy was a little overwhelmed by it all. At that age it is hard to comprehend how the character she sees on TV is suddenly right there in front of her. Intrigued, she stretched out a hand to touch.

Finally her turn came to meet Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt, aka the Fat Controller. She strode up the platform ramp for her photo, flanked by Thomas and Sir Topham. What a memorable moment!

Interactive games, table-top trains and a big screen showing some of Thomas' tales expanded the imagination but it was the live theatre group that really brought the characters escapades to life.

Meanwhile tigers and Thomases were among the myriad of characters emerging from the face-painting loco.

Conscious of the queues and eager for our little girl to have her very first train ride, we joined the line for Percy who had just pulled up to the platform with his beautiful wooden carriages, Annie and Clarabel.

Looking dapper in his racing green livery, he greeted his young passengers, puffing with pride. Climbing into Clarabel was like stepping back in time, with the quirky luggage nets and signs about gas masks and air raids. Katy gazed around taking it all in then, ever so slowly, we rolled away.

Our brief journey gave her a fascinating insight into rail travel, albeit from a bygone era. Reluctantly she finally got off!

Bidding farewell to Percy, our next stop was the picnic area for re-fuelling then on to the loco-related activity zone where Katy let off steam in the soft-play area.

You can even try your hand at operating the signals. Or why not learn about how a train tackles gradients? The ramp made a perfect slide or so Katy thought!

A spot of drawing on the creative tables transported us back to our schooldays. We helped Katy make a Thomas the Tank Engine mask and to colour and create her very own Thomas badge which she sported with pride for the rest of the day. and week!

We didn't have time for a ride on the miniature railway and Katy was too young for the three to eights play area but we did have one last stop to make before our departure - the Thomas shop - to buy Katy's memorable photo with Thomas and Sir Topham!

A fantastic day out and a must for all Thomas fans. Well worth the wait.

Considering our last visit here was when we were youngsters on a school trip, long before Thomas and his friends arrived, we couldn't leave without taking a look at some of the rail-related memorabilia and locomotives which have shaped transportation.

Hi-tech and interactive exhibitions have certainly made the NRM more stylish and have brought it up to date with the technological age. It is a fascinating place - and not just for trainspotters as, I suspect, some perceive.

Whether or not you are into trains, you can't fail to be moved by the impressive hulks of railway heritage housed in the Great Hall within the confines of what is the world's biggest railway museum and right here in Yorkshire. Incidentally, you can see our home county from the air. The Yorkshire Wheel, another fantastic feat of engineering, is sited within the NRM grounds.

The NRM hosts plenty of other activities and events throughout the year to keep you entertained. Cab-It, from March 8 to 9, gives open cab access to the locomotives and hands-on engineering and educational displays. The Duchess of Hamilton exhibition about the stunning art deco loco, runs through the summer onwards and from July 18 to 23, a professional theatre production will perform their version of The Railway Children, based on the classic book and subsequent 1970 film shot at Oakworth railway station and Haworth.

Throughout the year the museum is paying homage to the Chinese New Year with a 20-week celebration commemorating the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The programme includes a Chinese Festival from March 21 to April 6 with story-telling, face-painting, kite and dragon-making, Chinese calligraphy, the chance to try the ancient art of Tai Chi and much more.

So make the NRM your next stop!

Factfile

• Trains to York run from Bradford Interchange. The National Railway Museum is a short walk from York Railway Station.
  
  

• For more information contact the National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ; Tel. 0870 421 4001; email nrm@nmsi.ac.uk or visit nrm.org.uk. There is also a 24-hour recorded information line on 0870 421 4001.
  
  

• The annual Day Out With Thomas runs until Sunday but Thomas will be back next year.
  
  

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