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Kentucky Thomas The Train Rides
Published: January 7, 2026
By: Adam Burns
If you’ve got a Thomas fan in the house (or you just want a genuinely easy, smiles-all-day outing), Day Out With Thomas at the Kentucky Railway Museum is one of those “circle it on the calendar” weekends. In 2026, the tour is scheduled to stop in New Haven, Kentucky on June 6–7 and June 13–14, 2026.
Held at the museum’s depot and grounds, the event combines a short, kid-friendly train ride with a festival-like atmosphere—photo ops, hands-on activities, live entertainment, and plenty of opportunities for little conductors to burn off energy between train times. And because it takes place at a working railway museum, it’s also a sneaky-good way to sprinkle in a bit of real rail history while the kids are busy chasing bubbles and waving at Sir Topham Hatt.
The 2026 dates (and what that actually means)
Mark these weekends:
- Saturday–Sunday, June 6–7, 2026
- Saturday–Sunday, June 13–14, 2026
The “Day Out With Thomas” schedule is typically built around timed departures, and your ticket time is tied to the moment the train leaves the station—so arriving early matters. The Kentucky Railway Museum specifically notes that the time you purchase is for when the train departs, and they recommend arriving at least one hour before departure.
Also helpful: activities are not a quick in-and-out. The museum notes that event activities are open from 9:00 a.m. each day until one hour after the last Thomas train returns. That’s a nice built-in cushion for families—especially if you’re juggling snacks, strollers, or a child who suddenly must see one more thing before leaving.
The headline attraction: the train ride with Thomas
At Kentucky Railway Museum, the core experience is a 25-minute interactive train ride featuring a “talking” Thomas locomotive.
For many kids, this is the moment—the first sight of Thomas near the platform, the “all aboard,” the feeling of actually rolling down the rails, and the excitement of hearing Thomas “respond” during the trip.
A good tip for parents: treat the train ride as the anchor, but not the whole day. The ride is short by design (perfect attention span length), and the rest of the event is set up to keep families entertained before and after their scheduled departure.
What you’ll do between rides: activities, shows, characters, and photos
The KRM lists a full slate of event highlights. Expect:
- hands-on activity zones (including a bubble play zone and spin art)
- a live diesel miniature train ride
- photo opportunities around the event grounds and with Thomas
- a magic show (noted as PJ’s Family Entertainment)
- a chance to meet Sir Topham Hatt
- a pop-up Thomas & Friends gift shop with event-exclusive merchandise
In other words: if you’re trying to plan the day, think of it like a family festival that happens to have a train ride in the middle—rather than a museum visit that happens to have a few extras.
About The Museum
While Day Out With Thomas is the big draw, the venue is a worthwhile stop even outside the event weekends—and it’s easy to weave “museum moments” into your Thomas day.
The museum invites visitors to stroll through an exhibit hall featuring artifacts and memorabilia, plus a large HO model train layout.
Even for kids who are only vaguely interested in “history,” model layouts tend to be a guaranteed win—lots of motion, tiny details, and that satisfying feeling of spotting something new every time you look.
Outside, the museum also notes outdoor displays and historic cars that you can view from the exterior.
That’s perfect for quick “walk-and-look” breaks between activities—especially if you’re traveling with a mixed-age group where older kids (or grandparents) want a little more rail content than the Thomas festivities alone.
If you’re the kind of family that likes to build in a calmer add-on, the museum also offers Behind the Scenes Guided Tours (April–October) on Wednesdays and Fridays by reservation—not a Day Out With Thomas feature specifically, but something to keep in mind for a return visit.
Final Thoughts
For 2026, Day Out With Thomas at the Kentucky Railway Museum lands on June 6–7 and June 13–14, turning New Haven into a Thomas-themed, family-fun hub for two big weekends. With a timed 25-minute train ride, all-day activities, live entertainment, and classic photo ops, it’s designed to be a full, easy-to-plan outing. And when you want a breather from the festival energy, the museum’s exhibit hall—especially the large HO model train layout—adds a welcome “real railroad” layer to the day. To learn more about Thomas visiting the museum this year please check out the KRM website.
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