Thomas the Train at Railway Museum of BC

Day Out With Thomas is a fun event at the Railway Museum of BC in Squamish. It features train rides on the Thomas the Tank Engine and other activities for kids.

At the event children and their families can actually go on board Thomas the Train. The experience also involves live entertainment, bubbles and bubble-themed activities. The fun happened seven times per day on the weekends of May 25th and 26th, and June 1st and 2nd in 2024.

Note: Due to a scheduling conflict, the Thomas the Train event didn’t happen at the museum in 2025. Hopefully it will return in 2026. Exact details, however, are to be confirmed. Instead of the Thomas the Train event in 2025, an all-new Buddy & Friends Kids’ Festival happened on the weekend of May 3rd and 4th. Click 2025 Buddy & Friends Festival for details about it.

Visit the West Coast Railway Association‘s website for full details about the event.

Thomas the Tank Train Engine at the Railway Museum of BC

The Railway Museum of British Columbia is an educational attraction in Squamish, BC. It’s home to heritage trains and railway-themed artifacts. In addition to stationary locomotives and train cars to explore on-site, there are also small trains in operation. There are sometimes big trains that actually take guests on short trips too actually. One of them, very occasionally, is a Thomas the Tank Engine which resembles the children’s book character of the same name. Thomas isn’t always there, however. Just on special select dates on a couple of weekends each year.

Each year, the museum hosts its Day Out With Thomas event for a couple of weekends in the spring or summer, usually around late May or early June. The event is especially fun for children. It includes a train ride, live entertainment, appearances by Sir Topham Hatt, official Thomas & Friends merchandise, and other activities. There’s also a small food court with picnic tables. The event is a great way to learn about trains and railways. It’s tons of fun. Little kids love it.

Note: A similar event with a different theme takes place in winter. The North Pole Express is also tremendously popular. Instead of Thomas the Tank, however, the train is similar to the one in the movie The Polar Express with Tom Hanks. This other event usually happens between late November and mid-December.

See the West Coast Railway Association‘s website for full details about the Thomas the Tank event.

Where is Thomas the Train?

The Railway Museum of BC is in the Sea-to-Sky Region in Squamish, which is about 70 kms north of downtown Vancouver, or around an hour’s drive in good traffic. The museum’s address is 39645 Government Road. It’s a little way north of downtown Squamish. From the highway, turn west onto Industrial and then north onto Queen’s Way.

Thomas the Tank isn’t always at the museum in Squamish. It’s only there for a couple of weekends each year. It tours North America and visits other places at other times.

TIP: If you like trains and history, the Railway Museum of BC is a great place to visit on your way to Whistler from Vancouver. It makes for a nice halfway stop. Other places you might want to visit while in the area are the Britannia Mine Museum (which is about 15 minutes south of Squamish) and provincial parks like Shannon Falls and Alice Lake.

Thomas the Train Schedule

In 2024 the Day Out With Thomas event took place on the last weekend of May and the first weekend of June. It happened on the Saturdays and Sundays of May 25th to 26th and June 1st to 2nd.

When the train does run, it departs three times each morning and four times each afternoon. It leaves at 10:30 am and 11:30 am, and then again at 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm. The train usually leaves right on time, so don’t be late.

When Thomas isn’t in town, the Railway Museum of BC is usually open every Saturday as well as on long weekend Sundays between May and the second weekend in October. It’s also open on Thursdays in July and August.

Thomas the Tank Ticket Prices

Tickets for the Day Out with Thomas event are usually available online beginning in March. They usually sell out by the end of May, so book your spot while you can.

In 2024 tickets cost $32 per person. The price included all taxes and booking fees. Tickets are required for everyone ages one and older. Infants under the age of one enter for free. Everyone older than that, however, needs a ticket.

Pretty much everything is included with the price of admission, except for souvenirs, food, drinks and parking. Parking on-site costs $5 per vehicle.

Click Thomas the Train in Squamish for tickets and full details about the event.

Event Activities

Day Out with Thomas is more than just a regular train experience. It’s a full day of fun activities.

In addition to riding on the Thomas the Tank Engine, there’s a Play Pod and Colour Corner to explore. The areas feature lawn games, wooden play tables, a letter writing station and face painting. There’s also a bouncy castle, bubble machine and scavenger hunt to participate in. Kids can play miniature golf as well.

Activities like the bouncy castle, face painting, tattoo station, mini golf games, mini rail rides, live entertainment, photo opportunities with Sir Topham Hatt and other fun things do not cost extra. They are all included with general admission.

Live entertainment runs throughout the day. Performers in 2024 included Matt Henry, Kellie Haines and Normal Foote Music & Comedy. Expect to see juggling, ventriloquism, music and more.

Other Information

Visit the Railway Museum of BC website for more information about the Day Out With Thomas event.

Another train museum run by the same organization as the Railway Museum of BC is the Engine 374 Pavilion at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver’s Yaletown District. It’s a much smaller museum, but has free admission. The museum in Yaletown also has a really good Free Special Event on the Victoria Day long weekend each year where it celebrates the arrival of the first train to Vancouver in 1887.

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