The health and well-being of our guests, volunteers, employees and partners continues to be our first priority. After careful consideration, the Illinois Railway Museum has decided that it will hold our Day Out With Thomas event in 2021, with capacity limits and safety protocols in place. The museum is continuing to monitor Illinois state guidance as it affects these protocols and policies.
Thank you for your understanding during these uncertain times.
The Illinois Railway Museum is pleased to announce our Day Out With Thomas
™ 2021 event. The dates of the event are:
- Saturday, July 10th, 2021
- Sunday, July 11th, 2021
- Saturday, July 17th, 2021
- Sunday, July 18th, 2021
Ticket availability
In response to heavy demand for tickets we were able, in early June, to add additional coaches to the trains and so provide additional capacity. Train capacity cannot be further increased and therefore, once a train is sold out, there will be no further increase in capacity. If necessary additional trains may be added later in the afternoon should all trains currently advertised be sold out.
Ticket purchases at the gate
We expect to have tickets available on the day of event for purchase at the gates. However all tickets are available for purchase online. The only tickets available at the gate will be those that remain unsold online. No tickets are held back for gate purchase.
It is likely that tickets will only be available at the gate for trains later in the day. Please do not plan to come to the museum early in the day without pre-booked tickets as you will likely face a wait of several hours for the first available train.
The Ticket price is $21. All riders of the train with Thomas the Tank Engine™ who have passed their second birthday must have a ticket. Day Out With Thomas™ tickets include one train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine for the trip specified on the Day Out With Thomas ticket, unlimited rides on streetcars; all entertainment (live music, magic shows, etc.); and access to all Museum exhibits on the date specified on the ticket. Food, snacks and beverages will be available at several locations around the Museum grounds. Continuing in 2021: You can ride on a train behind Percy. The ticket price for the Percy train is an additional $10. All riders of the train with Percy who have passed their second birthday must have a ticket. Percy tickets include one train ride with Percy for the trip specified on the ticket. Activities during the Day Out With Thomas event:
- 20-minute train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine™
- 20-minute train ride with Percy (additional ticket required)
- Meet Sir Topham Hatt™
- Magic Shows
- Garden model railroad display
- The Pied Piper of Percussion
- Thomas & Friends™ Storytelling and Video Viewing
- Thomas & Friends Playtable
- Thomas & Friends Coloring
- Temporary Tattoos of Island of Sodor Friends
Our parking is free and plentiful, and the parking lot will open at 7:30am every day. The gate will open at 9:00am.
