Thomas The Train, The Tank Engine: 2013 Schedule And Dates

Thomas The Train, also affectionately known as Thomas the tank engine, has been a pop culture icon since the late 1970s with the TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. The television series, written and produced by Britt Allcroft, is actually based off the The Railway Series of books written by Englishmen Wilbert Awdry and his son in the 1940s. Thomas himself is based from a real steam locomotive design, the E2 Class, an 0-6-0T ("T" referred to tank) wheel arrangement conceived by Lawson Billinton of the early 20th century.  Included below is a listing of where the train can be seen in 2013.

Black Hills Central Railroad 2-6-2T #104 has an excursion near Hill City, South Dakota on October 10, 2012.

While the history of Thomas the train is interesting, this section looks to highlight the "real life" tank engine which is featured at tourist railroads during special events all across the US during the summertime operating season. Thomas the tank engine is actually featured worldwide at various tourist railroads and museums to allow visitors, especially kids of course, to view and sometimes ride behind replica versions of the locomotive. Thomas the train himself in this regard is licensed by HiT Entertainment, which acquired Allcroft's company (Britt Allcroft Company PLC), and has become an explosively popular draw wherever he goes, especially here in the United States.

Many tourist railroads and museums see their peak visitor numbers annually if they have Thomas the tank engine booked and scheduled (officially known as the "Day Out With Thomas") to make a visit on a particular date or weekend. Listed below are the revised for 2013 scheduled dates Thomas the train is to make an appearance at tourist railroads and railroad museums in the United States. Lastly, it should be noted that there is only one operating Thomas the tank engine used for the "Day Out With Thomas" events. It operates exclusively at the North Carolina Transportation Museum, on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (also in North Carolina), and on the Essex Steam Train in Connecticut. The engine is not a E2 Class, as none survive, but modeled to look like so.

There are also four other replica locomotives meant to look like Thomas the train, two of which are standard gauge and two others of which are narrow gauge. To make these replicas appear to be operational they usually have a diesel or steam locomotive pushing them along and use the operating locomotive's air compressor to operate Thomas' whistle.

A Day Out With Thomas 2013 Schedule And Train Rides

Alabama 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Heart of Dixie RR Museum: April 12-14, 20-21

Alaska 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No Events Known.

Arizona 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No Events Known.

Arkansas 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No Events Known.

California 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Fillmore & Western Railway: April 19-21, 26-28

Roaring Camp Railroads: July 26-28, August 2-4

Orange Empire Railway Museum: November 9-12, 16-17

Colorado 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Colorado Railroad Museum: September 14-15, 21-22, 28-29

Connecticut 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Essex Steam Train: April 27-28, May 4-5

Delaware 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No Events Known.

Florida 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Florida Railroad Museum: March 16-17, 23-24

Gold Coast Railroad Museum: March 2-3, 9-10, 16-17

Georgia 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

SAM Shortline Railway: October 19-20, 26-27

Hawaii 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No Events Known.

Idaho 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No Events Known.

Illinois 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Illinois Railway Museum: August 16-18, 24-25

Indiana 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Whitewater Valley Railroad: June 14-16, 21-23

Iowa 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Boone & Scenic Valley Railway: September 14-15, 20-22

Kansas 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Midland Railway: May 31, June 1-2, and June 7-9

Sierra Railroad 4-6-0 #3 pulls a consist through rural Jamestown, California during September of 1964. The author notes the movement was part of filming the pilot episode of the western "The Big Valley," which ran from 1965 through 1969.

Kentucky 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Kentucky Railway Museum: June 1-2, 8-9

Louisiana 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Maine 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Boothbay Railway Village: August 2-4, 9-11

Maryland 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Balitmore & Ohio Railroad Museum: April 26-28 and May 3-5

Massachusetts 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Edaville, USA: June 15-16, June 21-24, August 31-September 2, September 6-8

Michigan 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Henry Ford Museum:  April 27-28, May 4-5 and May 11-12

Huckleberry Railroad: August 16-18, 23-25

Minnesota 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

North Coast Scenic Railroad: August 2-4, 9-11

Mississippi 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Missouri 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Montana 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Nebraska 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Nevada 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Nevada Southern Railway: April 6-7, 13-14

New Hampshire 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Conway Scenic Railway: July 12-14, 19-21

New Jersey 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Delware River Railroad Excursions (New York Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society): July 5-7, 12-14

New Mexico 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

New York 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Medina Railroad Museum: May 10-12, 17-19

North Carolina 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

North Carolina Transportation Museum: September 20-22, 27-29

Tweetsie Railroad: May 31-June 9

North Dakota 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Ohio 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad: May 18-19, 24-26

Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad: September 6-8, 13-15

Oklahoma 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Oklahoma Railway Museum: September 27-29, October 4-6

Oregon 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Pennsylvania 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Strasburg Railroad: June 15-23, September 14-22, November 22-24

Rhode Island 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

South Carolina 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

South Dakota 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Tennessee 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Tennessee Central Railway Museum: August 31-September 1, September 7-8

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum:  April 27-28, May 4-5, and May 11

Texas 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Austin Steam Train: September 28-29

Grapevine Railroad: April 12-14, 19-21

Utah 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Heber Valley Railroad: May 24-27

Vermont 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Virginia 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Washington 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Northwest Railway Museum: July 12-14, 19-21

West Virginia 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Wisconsin 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

National Railroad Museum: June 12-16

Wyoming 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

No events known.

Canadian 2013 Thomas The Train Rides

Bay of Fundy Railway:  August 9-11, 16-18

Elgin County Railway Museum:  July 19-21, 26-28

Heritage Park Historical Village:  May 4-5, 11-12

West Coast Railway:  June 1-2, 8-9

Southern Pacific #4449 steams along southbound outside of Madras, Oregon on October 21, 2012.

For more information about Thomas the train, and his friends, please visit his official website by clicking here. Today, there are dozens and dozens of Thomas the tank engine stories, many of which have been written since the TV series took off after 1979. One book in particular which your kids or young ones you know are sure to enjoy is Thomas the Tank Engine Story Collection by Reverend Wilbert Awdry himself. This book spans more than 500 pages and features many of the most well known and classic Thomas the train stories Mr. Awdry ever wrote. If you are interested in perhaps picking up a copy of this book please visit the link below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online retail store.