Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Bo'ness Railway- 'Day out with Thomas'..Anyone been?...

12 replies

winniewoo · 14/09/2006 20:43

and would recommend?? Is it quite special for the kids or just a dressed up train that you go on for a trip or do they have all the extras??
Thanks in advance for any hints and tips..?

OP posts:
MrsCurly · 14/09/2006 20:53

I haven't been but I heard from a friend today who wanted to go that all the advanced tickets to travel on the train have been sold. There is some availability on the day but she said it sounded very limited.

Hope that helps.

chatee · 14/09/2006 20:54

went to llangollen in february with ds(for his birthday treat)2 and dd 5.5yrs and we had a fab day.ds still talks about it now.
where is it on please??is this up north??
as i would consider going again

UrsulatheSeaWitch · 14/09/2006 20:58

pics for you, ww

Looks pretty much like the real thing (some places do just stick a face on the front of an ordinary train IME!) Do they have a Fat Controller along too?

Aero · 14/09/2006 21:01

We've been twice now to a local one in Kent and have loved it - well the kids have!! The first time we actually went on the train and took a picnic etc, but it was quite expensive for what was basically an hour long round trip on a train, so the next time we just bought platform tickets and had just as good a time as they did free station rides (just up and down the station) throughout the day on Thomas himself!
Ds2 was beside himself with excitement! Would recommend it.

UrsulatheSeaWitch · 14/09/2006 21:04

Here's one for you, chatee (this weekend - bit of a drive but worth it?)

This website has all the special events at all the steam railways

Original poster
winniewoo · 14/09/2006 21:05

Thanks all..just what I needed to hear..now need to go and see if I can get tickets...(will keep my fingers crossed Mrs curly..thanks for pointing that out to me..would have been a shame to go and not get on the train).
CHatee..have a look online..it's about 20 miles west of edinburgh..roughly

OP posts:
bogwobbit · 14/09/2006 21:05

I've been to the Bo'ness railway but not to the Thomas Special.
Even the trip on the ordinary steam train was good fun. At the end of the line, they let kids have a shot of standing on the footplate in the engine. Unfortunately dd (aged 2) was terrified of the fire and the 'funny man' - fireman on the train with a dirty sooty face

tassis · 14/09/2006 21:09

we've been twice. a great day out. last year we arrived in time for the first train (about 10.30am) and got on it no problem. this year we did the same, but couldn't get on a train until 12.30 so definately worth bookign in advance. But there was plenty for ds to do while we waited. There was a bouncy castle, a wee electric sit on train thingy, a magic show and a carousel ride thing. All very tame and definately aimed at under 5s, but very cute. There were stalls selling Thomas stuff, but ds was happy just to have a flag which cost about 60p! Then you could go stand beside Thomas and Percy and take pictures and pretend to drive them. And there was a coffee shop too!

We got on our train (a black one that ds called Douglas, but I think it was just their regular train with a face on) and went to Birkhall (I think) which took about 15 mins. Then got off train and went onto the bridge to watch engine reverse back and "couple" (ds would be proud of me knowing the lingo!) onto the back of the carriages to carry them back to Bo'ness (IYSWIM). We then spent an hour at Birkhall where there was face painting, a puppet show, a swing ride thing and an inflatable slide. Then back to Bo'ness on the steam train.

The Fat Controller was on the platform at Bo'ness and happy to be photographed with children.

All rides/face painting etc was included in ticket price.

Would def recomment and we'll be back next year!

Feel free to ask any questions...

UrsulatheSeaWitch · 14/09/2006 21:15

Have just realised that "Thomas" is at Bo'ness and Keighley the same day!!!

(Don't tell the boys...)

Original poster
winniewoo · 15/09/2006 13:50

Hi tassis..thanks for all that. Think we have made up our mind and just going to go for it without the advance ticket. It's a 2 hour journey away..do you think we def need to be there first thing to get tickets or can we go after lunch..and hedge our bets that there won't be a huge queue..can you remember if it got very very busy in the afternoon???

OP posts:
Mateychops · 15/09/2006 14:09

I'd highly recommend it - ds is now a big P3 boy, but we have great memories of going to see Thomas. It might be a train with Thomas face stuck on the front, but it was as real to DS as Santa. We went at midday, and it wasn't to busy. Hope you have a great time!

LieselVonTrapp · 15/09/2006 15:06

((((HIJACK)))
Mateychops I sent an email to your work but forgot you were at home today.
(((END OF HIJACK)))

New posts on this thread. Refresh page