YOUNG fans of Thomas the Tank Engine can jump on board when the popular Day Out With Thomas event returns to The Watercress Line this weekend.
Joining the famously friendly blue tank engine from Saturday (August 6) to Sunday August 14 will be Sodor Station Sweepers Rusty & Dusty, Sir Topham Hatt, Percy, Diesel and Toad.
Three different outdoor entertainment shows will be held daily, as well as opportunities to meet Sir Topham Hatt and Rusty & Dusty.
There will also be Thomas & Friends-themed activities including a ride behind the train and the Imagination Station Play Zone, alongside unlimited rides on the miniature railway and the big trains from Ropley to Alton, children’s vintage fairground rides and face painting fun.
Refreshments will be available or bring a picnic for the family to enjoy overlooking the South Downs.
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The Watercress Line’s Acting Managing Director Alison Houghton told the Daily Echo: "If your family are fans of Thomas & Friends, don’t miss out!
"Our Day Out With Thomas event will be a highlight of this summer and a memorable day out for everyone."
Ever since the Reverend W. Awdry penned the first book in 1945 as a way of cheering up his son during a bout of measles, the adventures of Thomas and his friends have captured the imaginations of millions of children worldwide.
From the original stories to a hit TV series, film adaptations, toys and games, the Really Useful Engine has become a worldwide phenomenon.
The Watercress Line gets its name from its role in transporting the crop to London in the early 20th century.
It’s Hampshire’s only standard gauge heritage railway and runs for 10 miles through the idyllic countryside along the border of the South Downs National Park, between the market towns of Alton and Alresford.
Opened in 1865, it became part of British Railways until its hotly-contested closure in 1973. Quickly reinstated by a dedicated preservation group, today the Watercress Line is one of the south’s premier visitor attractions.
The Watercress Line has also appeared in everything from Great British Railway Journeys to Call The Midwife.
To book tickets, visit watercressline.co.uk/day-out-with-thomas
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