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Tennessee's Thomas The Train Rides
Published: January 6, 2026
By: Adam Burns
Few spring traditions are as reliably joyful for families as Day Out With Thomas™, and in 2026 the event returns to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM) in Chattanooga with a full weekend schedule of rides, activities, and photo opportunities. Set on the grounds of one of the Southeast’s best-known operating railroad museums, the experience blends kid-friendly fun with the unmistakable sights, sounds, and atmosphere of a real working railroad.
2026 event dates (TVRM)
TVRM’s Day Out With Thomas 2026 is scheduled for two weekends:
April 18–19, 2026
April 25–26, 2026
Across these dates, TVRM lists event hours generally running 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern (with train departure times varying by ticket).
What the experience is like
The main event: a train ride with Thomas
At its heart, Day Out With Thomas is exactly what it sounds like—a chance for kids (and the kids-at-heart) to ride a train pulled by Thomas and step into a world they know from stories and screen time. The ride itself is a big “first railroad memory” moment: boarding a real passenger train, finding your seat, hearing the conductor’s announcements, and rolling out of the station while cameras click and little engineers wave from the windows.
TVRM notes the overall experience typically lasts about 2–3 hours, which includes more than just the ride—think of it as a half-day outing built around multiple activity stations.
“Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll” tour theme
For 2026, the event is part of the Day Out With Thomas™: Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour, which adds a music-inspired flavor to the day—activities, games, and themed fun designed to keep energy high between (and after) train departures.
Activities you can expect beyond the ride
While each museum’s layout is different, the Day Out With Thomas format is known for offering a “festival” feel: families arrive, ride at their reserved time, and spend the rest of the visit moving between kid-focused attractions. At TVRM, promotional materials highlight music-themed activities, photo ops, and exclusive merchandise, along with a dedicated outdoor activity area tied to the tour theme.
Common highlights families look for at TVRM’s event include:
- Meet-and-greet moments and themed photo backdrops
- Activity zones (hands-on play, games, and movement-based fun)
- Railroad atmosphere: equipment, shop areas, and the “real railroad” setting that makes TVRM special
- Thomas merchandise and souvenir options (a big part of the tradition for many families)
A quick spotlight on the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
One reason TVRM is such a perfect host for Day Out With Thomas is that it’s not just a static museum—it’s an operating railroad museum where the trains are the attraction. TVRM is widely known for offering excursion rides in the Chattanooga area and preserving the experience of mid-20th-century rail travel through restored equipment, stations, and working rail operations.
That “you’re on a real railroad” feeling shows up everywhere: the depot setting, the staff and volunteers who work like a traditional crew, and the sense that the site is alive with railroad purpose rather than being purely exhibit-based. For families, it’s a bonus—Day Out With Thomas may be the reason for the trip, but TVRM often becomes the surprise favorite that brings people back for other rides later in the year.Make a full museum day of it
If you can, plan to arrive with enough time to explore the museum atmosphere around your scheduled ride. Even a brief walk around the grounds can turn the visit into something bigger than a single departure time—especially for kids who are fascinated by “how trains work.”
Planning tips for 2026
1) Pick your date early
Because TVRM only hosts the event on four total days—April 18–19 and April 25–26—popular time slots can go quickly, especially late morning through mid-afternoon.
2) Build your day around your departure time
Most families find it easiest to:
- arrive well before their train time (to park, check in, and get oriented),
- ride Thomas at the reserved slot,
- then spend remaining time in the activity areas afterward.
That flow tends to reduce stress—especially with younger kids—because you’re not rushing to squeeze everything in before boarding.
3) Dress for spring weather
Late April in Chattanooga can be pleasantly warm—or surprisingly cool and rainy. Comfortable shoes are a must since Day Out With Thomas involves plenty of walking between stations and activity zones.
Why Day Out With Thomas at TVRM stands out
Day Out With Thomas is popular everywhere it appears, but TVRM’s setting gives it an extra dose of authenticity. Instead of feeling like a themed pop-up, the event happens in a place built for trains—where the tracks lead somewhere, the coaches look and feel like real passenger equipment, and the railroad environment naturally supports the storybook magic.
And if your family catches the “railroad bug,” TVRM provides a natural next step: come back for one of the museum’s other excursions when the Thomas banners are down and the railroad’s broader mission is on full display.
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