All Aboard for Thomas Fun
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Thousands of families rolled into Chattanooga over the past two weekends to celebrate a very special birthday and today marked the final stop.
It was all aboard for fun as Thomas the Tank Engine rolled into Chattanooga, celebrating 80 years of smiles, stories, and steam.
Families from across the region gathered at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum to meet the iconic blue engine in person and enjoy a day packed with train rides, activities, and memories.
This year’s celebration marks a major milestone. Not only is it Thomas’s 80th birthday, but it’s also the 25th time the museum has hosted the event, making it a tradition that spans generations.
And the numbers tell the story, with more than 12,000 tickets sold throughout the event, bringing train lovers, young and old, to the tracks.
For many kids, this was their very first ride on a real train, and for parents, a chance to pass down a childhood favorite.
The museum transformed into a Thomas-themed wonderland, complete with storytelling, play zones, photo ops, model trains and of course, a chance to ride on Thomas himself.
While today was the final day of the event, organizers say it was one of their biggest turnouts in years, and the excitement around Thomas shows no signs of slowing down.
