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Georgia Thomas The Train Rides

Published:  December 29, 2025

By: Adam Burns

Day Out With Thomas is set to roll back into Cordele in 2026, bringing Thomas the Tank Engine and a full family festival to the SAM Shortline at Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park. It’s a “big day out” experience built around a short scenic train ride pulled by Thomas, plus a busy event “grounds” area with kid-friendly activities, entertainment, and plenty of photo ops.

2026 event dates at SAM Shortline (Cordele, GA)

For 2026, the SAM Shortline’s Day Out With Thomas weekends are scheduled for: March 14–15, March 21–22, and March 28–29, 2026.

Because this is a limited-run event (six total dates), tickets for popular departure times can go quickly—especially late morning and early afternoon slots on Saturdays.

What the experience is like

Think of Day Out With Thomas as two attractions bundled together:

• Your timed Thomas train ride

Families board a SAM Shortline passenger train for a ~30-minute trip featuring Thomas.
SAM Shortline

This is the “anchor” of your visit—your ticket time is typically tied to your train departure, so you’ll want to arrive early enough to park, get oriented, and still make your boarding window.

• The festival-style activity area (before/after your ride)

The on-site event area is designed for lingering. The SAM Shortline advertises a variety of activities that can include things like bouncy houses, live entertainment, a bubble station, food trucks, model train displays, a hay bale maze, and more.
SAM Shortline

In other words: even though the train ride itself is half an hour, most families comfortably turn this into a half-day outing (or longer) by building in time for the grounds.

Hours and ride schedule

SAM Shortline posts a clear operating framework for the event:

• Grounds open: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

• Train ride departures (30-minute trips): 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM (noon), 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM 

• Important note from SAM Shortline: these trips do not go to Plains, GA (this is a different SAM Shortline route used for other excursions).

Practical tip: if you can, aim for an earlier departure. You’ll beat some of the midday lines and still have plenty of time for activities afterward.

Tickets and policies to know before you go

Day Out With Thomas is typically a pre-purchase event, and SAM Shortline’s general ticket policies are worth keeping in mind as you plan:

• Tickets are non-refundable, though you may be able to transfer to another date based on availability (with a change fee). 
• Sales tax is added to listed prices. 
• Outside food and beverages aren’t permitted on the train, and coolers are generally not allowed (with limited exceptions for certain school groups).

For the most accurate, up-to-the-minute pricing and inventory by departure time, SAM Shortline and the official Day Out With Thomas ticketing pages are the places to confirm, especially as event weekends approach.

How to plan your day (a simple itinerary)

Here’s a smooth “no-stress” flow that works well for most families:

Arrive 45–60 minutes before your departure time.
This gives you cushion for parking, checking in, and letting kids explore a bit without feeling rushed.

Do a quick lap of the grounds first.
Knock out must-dos early—photos, a bouncy-house stop, or a quick snack—then head toward boarding.

Ride with Thomas (30 minutes).
The ride is short and sweet, which is perfect for younger kids (and a relief if you’ve got toddlers).

Finish the day on the activity area.
After the train ride, you can take your time with the attractions you skipped, grab food, and let kids burn off energy before the drive home.

Why SAM Shortline is a great fit for Thomas

SAM Shortline’s setting inside Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park gives Day Out With Thomas a fun “destination” feel—green space, room for event activities, and a classic excursion-railroad atmosphere. And because SAM Shortline is already known for special-event trains (like seasonal excursions), they’re set up to handle crowds and keep the day moving.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a spring family trip in Georgia that’s structured, kid-focused, and easy to plan, Day Out With Thomas at SAM Shortline is one of those events that delivers exactly what it promises—Thomas up close, a real train ride, and a festival day that feels like a mini theme park.