DEARBORN, Michigan — Help Thomas the Tank Engine™ find the clues and solve the mystery! Our favorite No. 1 engine just rolled into Greenfield Village for the Day Out with Thomas™: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012. All little engineers and their families are invited to take a ride on Thomas and participate in fun Thomas-themed activities. The events, which began April 28-29 — will continue on May 5-6 and 12-13, 2012.
For 67 years, children have been captivated by the courageous adventures of Thomas and his engine friends. Pulling out of the station for its 17th consecutive ride on the rails, the Day Out With Thomas: Mystery on the Rails Tour 2012 will visit more than 45 cities in the United States and Canada. Day Out With Thomas is the only place for families to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of everybody’s favorite No. 1 engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, and enjoy Thomas-themed activities at the Imagination Station, including stamps, temporary tattoos and hands-on arts and crafts. Each year the tour grows, traveling to new destinations, adding new activities and welcoming new visitors.
Thomas the Tank Engine, star of Thomas & Friends™, on PBS KIDS® and Sprout® kicks off his Day Out With Thomas: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012 in March and is expected to welcome more than one million passengers through November. During Day Out With Thomas, children will ride with Thomas against scenic backdrops while discovering some mysterious surprises! Day Out With Thomas 2012 activities include:
- A 25-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
- Games and activities featuring a mystery element
- The opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, Controller of the Railway
- A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables, and coloring sheets
- Commemorative activities, merchandise and giveaways including a special reveal poster previewing new engines and a new destination from the upcoming 2012 Thomas & Friends feature, “Blue Mountain Mystery”
- Storytelling, video viewing and live music
The tour provides a unique, interactive family experience at every station, offering a variety of entertaining activities that reflect the local flavor of each stop. At Greenfield Village the activities will include: Pedal cars, bubbles, playground games, Duck-Duck-Goose, Hot Potato, sidewalk chalk as well as hands-on trains.
The approximately 25-minute train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine will depart every 45 minutes, rain or shine, with departure times at 9:30 am through 5:00 pm each day of the event. Tickets for the Day Out With Thomas: Leader of the Track Tour 2011 for members are $11.75 per person, age 1 year and older and includes free admission to Greenfield Village. Non-member ticket prices include admission to Greenfield Village and train ride. For non-member, children 1-4 years is $11.75, youth age 5-12 is $29.25, adults age 13-61 is $35.75 and Seniors age 62 and up is $33.75.
Tickets are on sale now by calling The Henry Ford at 313-982-6001 or visiting www.thehenryford.org.
For general information or to find a Day Out With Thomas: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012 event near you, visit www.thomasandfriends.com/dowt.