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Maryland's Thomas The Train Rides
Published: January 6, 2026
By: Adam Burns
If you’ve got a little engineer in the family (or you’re a grown-up one yourself), Day Out With Thomas™ is one of those “circle it on the calendar” weekends—part train ride, part festival, and part all-day museum adventure.
In 2026, the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore welcomes the Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour with four event days that combine a Thomas-themed excursion ride with hands-on play zones, photo ops, and full access to one of America’s most important historic railroad sites.
2026 event dates (official)
At the B&O Railroad Museum, Day Out With Thomas™ runs on two spring weekends:
April 25–26, 2026
May 2–3, 2026
Site hours are listed as: Saturdays 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM and Sundays 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
The main event: a real Thomas train ride
At Baltimore’s Day Out With Thomas™, the headline experience is a full-sized, talking Thomas the Tank Engine™ pulling an excursion on the museum’s trackage. The ride is described as about 25 minutes roundtrip. Seating is not assigned, so you’ll want your whole group together when you line up to board.
If your kids are the “again, again!” type, note that each ticket includes one ride; additional rides require additional tickets
What else is there to do?
Think of the event like a themed fair spread across a rail museum campus. According to the B&O’s event listing, highlights include:
- Photo opportunities throughout the event (including time with Thomas)
- Meet Sir Topham Hatt (Controller of the Railway)
- Live entertainment
- Free rides on the museum’s kid trains (Happy Train & Choo Choo Blueville)
- A Play Pod with train tables, Mega Bloks, and a Thomas & Friends™ tattoo station
- A Celebration Station with inflatable racing games plus classic lawn games (corn hole, hopscotch, badminton, and more)
- Moonbounces, plus arts and crafts
- An exclusive gift shop with Thomas & Friends merchandise
- Food and drinks for purchase on site
- Full museum admission so you can also explore the exhibits and historic equipment
The 2026 tour theme is music-forward (“Rock, Let’s Roll”), and the museum specifically calls out a Music Corner and music-inspired activities to keep the energy up between your ride time and your museum exploring.
Practical info: parking, strollers, weather, and accessibility
A few details that make the day smoother:
Parking: The museum notes event parking at 1100 James Street (their additional lot used for Polar Express operations as well). If that lot fills, staff may direct you to the front lot at 901 W. Pratt Street.
Strollers: There’s a designated stroller parking area during the train ride; strollers are not permitted on the train platform or on the train.
Rain or shine: Events operate rain or shine, so dress for spring variability.
Amenities: The event listing also mentions a baby-changing/nursing station and a calming area—helpful for families planning for younger kids or sensory breaks
Why this venue is special: a quick look at the Museum
Day Out With Thomas is fun anywhere, but the B&O Railroad Museum adds something extra: you’re celebrating Thomas at the birthplace of American railroading.
The museum sits on the historic Mt. Clare campus—recognized as a National Historic Landmark and described by the museum as the original site where the B&O Railroad founded America’s first commercial railroad in 1827. The site also saw what it calls the first passenger and freight station in the United States and the first railroad manufacturing complex in the country.
At the center of your visit is the museum’s most iconic structure: the B&O Roundhouse (completed 1884), a 22-sided National Historic Landmark that the museum describes as a spectacular focal point of the campus. It’s also home to the signature exhibit hall—often called the “Cathedral of Railroading”—where visitors can view a sweeping collection of locomotives and rolling stock under the roundhouse roofline.
Even during a Thomas weekend, it’s worth carving out time to step inside the Roundhouse and wander the museum grounds. Between the big locomotives, historic cars, interactive exhibits, and kid-friendly spaces, the B&O is built for multi-generational visits—perfect for pairing “character day” excitement with real railroad history in a way kids can actually feel (and hear) around them.
A simple game plan for the day
If you want the smoothest experience:
- Pick your train time strategically. Earlier rides can reduce the “countdown pressure,” while later rides let you explore exhibits first and end with the big payoff. (Either way works—just plan your arrival accordingly.)
- Arrive early and pace yourselves. With play zones, crafts, inflatables, and museum exhibits, most families can easily fill the whole day.
- Visit the Roundhouse when you need a reset. It’s immersive, visually impressive, and a great way to balance high-energy activities with “wow” moments.
With four spring dates—April 25–26 and May 2–3, 2026—the B&O’s Day Out With Thomas™ is an easy win for families in the Mid-Atlantic looking for a train ride, a festival atmosphere, and a museum visit rolled into one.
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