Save Our Railroad History - Eliminate “Day Out With Thomas” Events Permanently
The Issue
As railroad historians or train enthusiasts in general, we are supporters of the preservation of such history, and therefore share a sacred obligation to protect it in any way we can. It has come to our concern that there are between 25 to 30 “Day Out With Thomas” events happening at tourist railroads and railroad museums in the United States alone, with many more worldwide.
We’ve seen the effects of these events both short and long term and are less than pleased with them. We are calling for an immediate and permanent end to “Day Out With Thomas” events.
It is vital we clarify what our petition stands against and what it accepts. We are NOT opposing themed events at tourist railroads and railroad museums. In fact, we encourage seasonal events as they provide vital financial support and introduce new generations to trains and by extension railroad preservation. “The Polar Express” and “Peanuts” are examples of such, but they do so using generally unmodified historic locomotives and rolling stock. Any modifications performed are easily reversible as the holiday lighting and decals, if any at all, can be removed after the season and reinstalled when the season begins again.
On the contrary, we do NOT support “Day Out With Thomas” in any way, shape, or form. These events actively undermine trust and integrity for the tourist railroads and railroad museums that use them and most importantly the railroad preservation community as a whole through the following fundamental harms:
Point 1 - Disfigurement and permanent alteration of historic locomotives and rolling stock:
As stated before, with “Polar Express” and “Peanuts,” only reversible (and even then very few) modifications were required, if any at all for that matter. However, Day Out With Thomas sometimes involves rebuilding historically significant locomotives to resemble Thomas and other characters from the franchise. For example, Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal (BEDT 15) - a historically significant steam engine - was a victim of this treatment, having been completely rebuilt in 1998 to resemble the titular character from “Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends” with very little of the original engine left, if any at all. In the UK and Japan, the issue is at its worst with many historic locomotives permanently altered including the only surviving JNR C10 which is preserved at the Oigawa Railway albeit decorated as Percy.
Point 2 - Trivialization of Railroad Heritage
Even when unpowered dummies custom made to resemble Thomas (and other characters) are used (which is most of the time), these events fundamentally reframe organizations that memorialize the history of trains and the stories of railroad men injured or killed in the line of duty as children's playgrounds, which completely disrespects the triumphs and sacrifices of the people who built America’s railroads and continue to do so today.
Point 3 - Compromised Educational Missions
The fiduciary duty of railroad museums and tourist railroads is to take people on a journey (sometimes literally) to an earlier era - to display and educate people about the history of our railroads and those who made it possible both past and present, so they may be encouraged to learn more about their past - the technological achievements obtained and the hard-won lessons learned. Moreover, so that they may inspire others to teach these lessons to future generations and preserve priceless aspects of history before they are lost forever. When a children’s event is used to bring visitors in, it sends the wrong message even if only unintentionally to future generations that history only matters when it involves gimmicky phenomena instead of teaching them to appreciate history for its real significance.
Point 4 - How Well Does It Really Work?
As stated before, using a children’s event to promote history is gross misuse of historically significant artifacts. Proponents frequently claim that these events “kindle an interest in younger generations to support or join railroad preservation,” but the question is - how often do the children who visit a Day Out With Thomas event actually return to the museum on a regular day to appreciate real railroad history, let alone volunteer to help? In reality, most children who attend these events do not retain a lasting devotion to trains, let alone railroad history. “Day Out With Thomas” conditions the public, and especially young children, to expect such events rather than a genuine appreciation of railroad history, so once the events are over, so is the child’s interest in trains, their history, and any hope of them supporting railroad preservation. Furthermore, the massive overhead, strict corporate demands, steep licensing fees, and other mandatory expenses heavily outweigh the benefits involved. Instead of funding restoration of locomotives and rolling stock and expansion of the museum, most of the money made from “Day Out With Thomas” whether it be from ticket sales or toys at the souvenir shop is paid back to the licensors, trapping tourist railroads and railroad museums in a vicious cycle that ultimately fails to capture interest, support, and attendance of younger generations in railroad preservation.
Our tourist railroads and railroad museums are historically significant because they are testaments to human ingenuity, labor, and sacrifice that made the railroads what they are today. They are living artifacts, a portal to history, and therefore a lifelong commitment, not a disposable children’s toy ride. We urge all railroad museums and tourist railroads to permanently end Day Out With Thomas events immediately. Furthermore, we call upon fellow railroad historians, train enthusiasts, and members of the general public to not only sign this petition, but to take the pledge - NEVER to buy tickets for, attend, or financially support any “Day Out With Thomas” event. And we strongly encourage you to spread the word and discourage others from supporting “Day Out With Thomas” as a little advice can go a long way. Only by refusing to fuel corporate commercialization at the expense of authentic heritage can we collectively remember not just railroad history, but history for what it is, so we may not repeat these mistakes, but honor and continue true successes.
Sign or pledge today to protect the integrity of our railroad history, honor the sacrifices that made it possible, and preserve its story for generations to come.
Victory
The Issue
As railroad historians or train enthusiasts in general, we are supporters of the preservation of such history, and therefore share a sacred obligation to protect it in any way we can. It has come to our concern that there are between 25 to 30 “Day Out With Thomas” events happening at tourist railroads and railroad museums in the United States alone, with many more worldwide.
We’ve seen the effects of these events both short and long term and are less than pleased with them. We are calling for an immediate and permanent end to “Day Out With Thomas” events.
It is vital we clarify what our petition stands against and what it accepts. We are NOT opposing themed events at tourist railroads and railroad museums. In fact, we encourage seasonal events as they provide vital financial support and introduce new generations to trains and by extension railroad preservation. “The Polar Express” and “Peanuts” are examples of such, but they do so using generally unmodified historic locomotives and rolling stock. Any modifications performed are easily reversible as the holiday lighting and decals, if any at all, can be removed after the season and reinstalled when the season begins again.
On the contrary, we do NOT support “Day Out With Thomas” in any way, shape, or form. These events actively undermine trust and integrity for the tourist railroads and railroad museums that use them and most importantly the railroad preservation community as a whole through the following fundamental harms:
Point 1 - Disfigurement and permanent alteration of historic locomotives and rolling stock:
As stated before, with “Polar Express” and “Peanuts,” only reversible (and even then very few) modifications were required, if any at all for that matter. However, Day Out With Thomas sometimes involves rebuilding historically significant locomotives to resemble Thomas and other characters from the franchise. For example, Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal (BEDT 15) - a historically significant steam engine - was a victim of this treatment, having been completely rebuilt in 1998 to resemble the titular character from “Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends” with very little of the original engine left, if any at all. In the UK and Japan, the issue is at its worst with many historic locomotives permanently altered including the only surviving JNR C10 which is preserved at the Oigawa Railway albeit decorated as Percy.
Point 2 - Trivialization of Railroad Heritage
Even when unpowered dummies custom made to resemble Thomas (and other characters) are used (which is most of the time), these events fundamentally reframe organizations that memorialize the history of trains and the stories of railroad men injured or killed in the line of duty as children's playgrounds, which completely disrespects the triumphs and sacrifices of the people who built America’s railroads and continue to do so today.
Point 3 - Compromised Educational Missions
The fiduciary duty of railroad museums and tourist railroads is to take people on a journey (sometimes literally) to an earlier era - to display and educate people about the history of our railroads and those who made it possible both past and present, so they may be encouraged to learn more about their past - the technological achievements obtained and the hard-won lessons learned. Moreover, so that they may inspire others to teach these lessons to future generations and preserve priceless aspects of history before they are lost forever. When a children’s event is used to bring visitors in, it sends the wrong message even if only unintentionally to future generations that history only matters when it involves gimmicky phenomena instead of teaching them to appreciate history for its real significance.
Point 4 - How Well Does It Really Work?
As stated before, using a children’s event to promote history is gross misuse of historically significant artifacts. Proponents frequently claim that these events “kindle an interest in younger generations to support or join railroad preservation,” but the question is - how often do the children who visit a Day Out With Thomas event actually return to the museum on a regular day to appreciate real railroad history, let alone volunteer to help? In reality, most children who attend these events do not retain a lasting devotion to trains, let alone railroad history. “Day Out With Thomas” conditions the public, and especially young children, to expect such events rather than a genuine appreciation of railroad history, so once the events are over, so is the child’s interest in trains, their history, and any hope of them supporting railroad preservation. Furthermore, the massive overhead, strict corporate demands, steep licensing fees, and other mandatory expenses heavily outweigh the benefits involved. Instead of funding restoration of locomotives and rolling stock and expansion of the museum, most of the money made from “Day Out With Thomas” whether it be from ticket sales or toys at the souvenir shop is paid back to the licensors, trapping tourist railroads and railroad museums in a vicious cycle that ultimately fails to capture interest, support, and attendance of younger generations in railroad preservation.
Our tourist railroads and railroad museums are historically significant because they are testaments to human ingenuity, labor, and sacrifice that made the railroads what they are today. They are living artifacts, a portal to history, and therefore a lifelong commitment, not a disposable children’s toy ride. We urge all railroad museums and tourist railroads to permanently end Day Out With Thomas events immediately. Furthermore, we call upon fellow railroad historians, train enthusiasts, and members of the general public to not only sign this petition, but to take the pledge - NEVER to buy tickets for, attend, or financially support any “Day Out With Thomas” event. And we strongly encourage you to spread the word and discourage others from supporting “Day Out With Thomas” as a little advice can go a long way. Only by refusing to fuel corporate commercialization at the expense of authentic heritage can we collectively remember not just railroad history, but history for what it is, so we may not repeat these mistakes, but honor and continue true successes.
Sign or pledge today to protect the integrity of our railroad history, honor the sacrifices that made it possible, and preserve its story for generations to come.
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Petition created on August 6, 2026