Day Out With Thomas™ — NSW Rail Museum

The NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere, run by Transport Heritage NSW, hosts Day Out With Thomas™ over two extended weekends in March. The museum says Thomas, James, Toby, Emily and their friends visit, and the program includes live entertainment, photo opportunities, a scavenger hunt and meetings with Sir Topham Hatt, Rusty and Dusty. Visitors can meet Thomas and climb into his cab.

Train rides run from the station, which the event renames Sodor Station. The steam train ride with James lasts 40 minutes, and there is also a short railmotor ride with Toby. Unlimited mini-train rides and jumping castles are on offer on the grounds.

Further activities include face painting, a Play Pod, a colouring competition and storytelling in the Theatrette. Food vendors, a self-serve BBQ and space for picnics are available. The museum lists sensory-friendly supports: optional badges that help staff see when extra assistance may be useful, a quiet space in a less busy part of the grounds, a downloadable social story, and museum building sounds turned off on weekday event days from 10:00am to 11:30am.

Meeting Thomas and his friends, a 40-minute steam train ride with James from Sodor Station, a short railmotor ride with Toby, mini-train rides, jumping castles, a scavenger hunt, face painting and storytelling, with food vendors and picnic space on site.

At the NSW Rail Museum, 10 Barbour Road, Thirlmere NSW 2572. Two ticket types are sold: museum only, and museum plus train ride; infants under two are free. The steam train ride needs the museum plus train ticket. The museum is open from 10am on weekdays and 9am on weekends. A quiet space is available in the grounds, and visitors can ask for a quieter space on the James train ride by contacting the museum with their booking details. Tickets are sold through the museum's online ticketing page; phone 1300 11 55 99.