Days Out with Thomas

Day Out With Thomas is a trade name, licenced by HIT Entertainment, for tourist events that take place on heritage railways and feature one or more trains decorated to look like characters from the children's TV series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

History
The Nene Valley Railway at Peterborough in England was the first railway in the world to possess a full-scale replica Thomas. This was an industrial tank engine built by Hudswell Clarke that had been nicknamed "Thomas" due to its blue livery and resemblance to the famous tank engine. In 1971 the Rev. W. Awdry made the name official. Later HIT Entertainment tried unsuccessfully to sue the Nene Vally Railway claiming that this loco was breaching their trademark. However as the name was given by the Rev. Awdry it has been allowed to remain.

Since then other tank engines around the world have been dressed up as Thomas. Some railways, most notably the Strasburg Rail Road and Mid Hants Railway, have gone so far as to rebuild locomotives in order to produce a better replica. This has divided preservationists. Those opposed claim that it disfigures historic locomotives and trivialises the preservation movement. Those in favour claim that they draw much-needed visitors and can help to kindle an interest in steam within young children.

Some railways have developed a further source of income in the hire of "Thomas" engines to railways that do not have a suitable engine of their own.

United Kingdom
Many railways now host Day Out With Thomas events. Some feature just Thomas himself, and others, such as the Watercress Line, feature other engines, such as Diesel.

New Zealand
In New Zealand, Mainline Steam's Bagnall tank locomotive has appeared as Thomas on a number of different locations, including at the new railway station in Auckland (New Zealand's largest city), and has also appeared at the extremely popular biannual "Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine" weekends at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, south of Auckland. Also in New Zealand, in the Hutt Valley, the Silver Stream Railway has a Thomas-like steam locomotive on display at its entrance.

United States
In the United States there are several travelling Thomas replicas. One is narrow gauge, while the others are standard gauge. While in transit between events, their appearance is disguised. Thomas appears in full dress at Day Out with Thomas events hosted by railroads in arrangement with HIT Entertainment. Many of the larger railroad museums and tourist railroads across the United States host Day Out with Thomas events periodically