This is the story about a magical moment — if not an actual, physical place — where the realms of a child’s fantasy and some of the most attractive elements of the adult’s reality effortlessly intersect.
For those who have somehow managed to advance a bit or perhaps more into years of maturity in blissful ignorance, “Thomas the Tank Engine” is a fictional steam locomotive and, according to an “All Things Considered” segment on NPR, “star of stories that the Reverend Wilbert Awdry told his son Christopher in 1942, when Christopher was sick in bed with the measles.” [1]
Although destined to command top billing in the popular television series that first appeared on the small screen in 1984, Thomas was not among The Three Railway Engines featured in the original 1945 book. [2-4]
Notably, Reverend Awdry “was a lifelong railroad enthusiast” who “always felt it was important to model his fictional stories and characters around real-life trains …. [5]
An obscure 0-6-0T Class E2 shunting engine built for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was the model for Thomas. Gordon was based on a Gresley A3 Pacific from the London and North Eastern Railway. Percy was pattered after an old Avonside locomotive, and the Scottish Twins, Donald and Douglas, are based on members of the 812 Caledonian class of 1899.
From the outside, attempts to develop Thomas programming for BBC depended upon the use of real model trains as a basis. When British producer Britt Allcroft was finally successful with the effort in 1981, her team used 1:32-scale railways, eventually built up to seventy 16′ x 20′ sets. [6,7]
For many grownups who are a part of Generation Y or prior, bits of the history above likely serve to whet the appetite for the real thing. A trip to Age of Steam Roundhouse the ultimate immersion in learning. [8]
But it’s tough to keep Gen Z engaged for long with detailed setting inside our own 1906 Lake Shore & Michigan Southern caboose restoration outside the old Saline Depot. Those same parents are often challenged to keep their young charges engaged beyond the feeling of novelty even with a ride on quite richly immersive Weiser Railroad at Greenfield Village. [9-11]
Enter a real life, on-the-rails Thomas the Tank Engine. [12]
When Saline Journal was asked to cover the opening of “Thomas & Friends: Day Out with Thomas – The Steam Tour” at Greenfield Village this past Saturday, it stood against one of our more packed schedules for coverage of events most relevant to our readers. At best, it appeared to be a charming novelty worth passing note. [13,14]
What we found when we arrived late that day and on into closing was something quite different, however. This Thomas is an actual 0-4-0 steam engine, built in the Strasburg Rail Road shops and making its debut there in 1998. This Thomas operates on the same heritage railway that takes guests for a brief trip back in time around Greenfield Village, pulling passenger cars. [15-17]
As we were taking our own photographs of Thomas’ final return to his station, a large group of children and parents appeared from seemingly nowhere to have the pictures taken by other family members and Village staff. Subtly, yet assertively, other team members deployed in anticipation of this, assuring an impressively high level of safety — often explaining, mechanically, why their rules and guidance were necessary in this particular situation.
We then followed our own path as this locomotive was shunted to a spur off its daytime route, to the roundouse. A still noticable number of youth accompanied by their guardians turned up not far behind. They were hooked on every move and could be heard asking questions of any adult in earshot. [18]
- “How much coal was being loaded into Thomas’ hopper right now?” “How long can he run on it?”
- “How heavy is he?” and “how hard will that make it to turn the table with his tracks so he can get into his shed?”
- “If Thomas drives straight-in tonight, will he be able to see his way back out in tomorrow morning?”
For those who want no more than delightful escape, any “Day Out With Thomas” at Greenfield Village will surely deliver, imposing no more burden of learning or message than than the whimsical titling suggests. [19]
But for those who are looking for a magic hook through which future generations are likely to be engaged with an important bygone era of transportation and technology, this is your opportunity to ride — on the weekends of May 4 and 5, and May 11 and 12, 2019.
References
- “Full Steam Ahead: Thomas The Tank Engine Turns 65” (September 24, 2010) NPR.
- “Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends” IMDb.
- Thomas & Friends (home page).
- “The Three Railway Engines” Wilbert Awdry (1945) Goodreads.
- “Ultimate Guide to Thomas the Tank Engine” Michael Mallory & Natalie Walker Whitlock, How Stuff Works.
- “Thomas the Tank Engine and TV” Michael Mallory & Natalie Walker Whitlock, How Stuff Works.
- “How Thomas the Tank Engine Is Created” Michael Mallory & Natalie Walker Whitlock, How Stuff Works.
- Age of Steam Roundhouse (home page).
- “2014 Fantasies of white Christmas” Janet Deaton (December 24, 2015) d2 Saline.
- “History & Depot Museum” Saline Area Historical Society.
- “Rides at Greenfield Village” The Henry Ford.
- Thomas & Friends: Day Out with Thomas – The Steam Team Tour (home page).
- “Senator Gary Peters uses Earth Day to spotlight climate change issues with summit held at Michigan State University” Dell Deaton (April 22, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship gets real at Cobo Center in Detroit as 2019 season showcases winners” Dell Deaton (April 26, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “Steam Locomotive Wheel Arrangements” Steam Locomotive.
- “15 Fun Facts About Thomas the Tank Engine” (August 15, 2017) Strasburg Rail Road.
- “Railroad Junction” The Henry Ford.
- “The Railroad Roundhouse” The Henry Ford.
- “Day Out With Thomas” The Henry Ford.
