Thomas the Tank Engine back at SVR

11:42am Wednesday 27th August 2008

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THOMAS the Tank Engine is returning to the Severn Valley Railway.

The special ‘Thomas’ celebrations will take place this weekend and next and will be the first of 2008.

At the heart of each of the four days of ‘Thomas’ entertainment will be live shows at Kidderminster enacted by Thomas, Duck the Pannier Tank, Sir Topham Hatt and many others at 11am, noon, 1.35pm, 2.25pm and 4.10pm each day.

The 16 mile Kidderminster to Bridgnorth steam heritage line will also again become an ‘all things Thomas’ corridor, with many of Thomas’s friends and supporting attractions to be found at stations down the line.

At Kidderminster, Zeppo the Magic Clown will entertain, and the tiny engines and carriages of the Coalyard Miniature Railway, outside Kidderminster Railway Museum, will be in operation alongside the ‘big’ engines of the Thomas event, while there will also be a Punch and Judy show.

Daisy the diesel railcar will be at Bewdley station to give rides, and Grumpy George, the always-frowning steam roller, will also be present.

Arley station will be the location of an inflatable magical mystery obstacle course and mobile play centre, while a fresh cakes and sandwich stall will be set up in the station yard.

Centre of attention at the Severn Valley Railway’s newly-opened £5 million ‘Engine House’ Visitor Centre at Highley, will be Gordon the Big Engine, while in the dedicated cinema of the new building, ‘Thomas’ films will be constantly rolling on the big screen.

Finally, Bridgnorth station, the railway’s northern terminus, will host The World’s Biggest Thomas Bouncy Castle, and a Magic Show running throughout each day.

Admission tickets to any ‘Day Out with Thomas’ allowing travel on all trains, is £15 adults, £13 senior citizens and £7.50 children aged two to 15. Under two’s go free.

One of the busiest train timetables of the year will be in operation with train departures every 50 minutes, starting from Kidderminster at 9.15am and 9.50am and from Bridgnorth at 10.30am and 11.20am.