Day Out With Thomas^TM

DON'T MISS OUT IN AUTUMN!

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LET’S GET COLOURFUL!

JOIN THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE AND FRIENDS FOR A DAY FULL OF COLOURFUL ADVENTURES AT PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY.

Down the hills and round the bends of the Dandenong Ranges is where you will find Thomas and his engine friends, with the return of a Day Out With Thomas at Puffing Billy Railway’s Lakeside Station.

Meet your favourite storybook characters up close before an interactive 20-minute (each way) train ride with James and Diesel from Lakeside to Cockatoo. The duration of the train journey is 50-minutes with a short stopover at Cockatoo.

Photo opportunities with Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt outside Puffing Billy's Visitor Centre

Photo opportunities with Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt outside Puffing Billy Railway's Visitor Centre

This year, Thomas the Tank Engine is encouraging friends of all ages to get colourful! Say hello to Sir Topham Hatt and Thomas as they keep all the activities at the Lakeside Visitor Centre in order, before getting creative at the Colour Corner, exploring the Play Pod, or grabbing a picture alongside everyone’s favourite blue locomotive, Troublesome Truck, or Bulgy Bus.

The fun continues off the train with all young fans receiving a Day Out With Thomas activity booklet and their very own Junior Engineer’s Certificate, before making their way in and around the Lakeside Visitor Centre to complete their Day Out With Thomas Colour Tour Character Hunt.

YOUR DAY AT A GLANCE!

TRAIN RIDE WITH JAMES & DIESEL

Passengers will travel 50-minutes from Puffing Billy Railway’s Lakeside Station to Cockatoo, before returning back at Lakeside to enjoy Thomas & Friends-themed fun activities in and around the Lakeside Visitor Centre. The duration of the train journey includes a short stopover at Cockatoo.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Photo opportunities with Thomas the Tank Engine, Sir Topham Hatt, Troublesome Truck, Bulgy Bus, Driver Dan, and Shunter Charlie outside the Lakeside Visitor Centre! Thomas will be on static display throughout the entire day, allowing our youngest attendees to have plenty of time to meet him.
STORYTELLING

Grab a beanbag and get comfy as Lady Hatt shares Thomas and Friends short stories!
Character hunt

Day Out With Thomas Colour Tour Character Hunt activity sheet.

Train ride with James and Diesel

Train ride with James and Diesel

Puffing Billy Railway - family onboard carriage

INDOOR COLOUR CORNER

Get involved in the Colour Corner with Thomas and Friends^TM-themed activities, and the chance for kids to write their name on their own Junior Engineer Certificate.
OUTDOOR PLAY POD

Continue the outdoor fun in the Play Pod with Rebecca's Railway Crossing, Coal in the Hole, Mighty Mac's Mosaic Wall and the Thomas and Friends Soft Play Zone - all great for imaginative play! Get a temporary airbrush tattoo of Thomas and Friends Characters or face paint to finish off a day of excitement at Day Out With Thomas^TM!
DINING OPTIONS

Parents can take the hassle out of the day and pre-book a Day Out With Thomas meal deal to enjoy. Or grab a table at the Lakeside Visitor Centre Railway Café for a delicious sit-down meal!
ACTIVITY BOOKLET

Day Out With Thomas^TM Activity Passport containing crosswords, colouring in sheets and dot-to-dot activities!

Boy enjoys the indoor play in the Lakeside Visitor Centre.

Boy enjoys the indoor play in the Colour Corner

Girl enjoys outdoor imaginative play at Puffing Billy Railway.

Girl enjoys Outdoor Play Pod at Day Out With Thomas .

PLEASE NOTE

No person will be allowed to sit on the carriage sill during Day Out With Thomas^TM.

Accessibility

Social Story

Families with small children

NO PRAMS ON THE TRAIN | Please note that no prams can be carried onboard the train ride with James and Diesel. A pram bay is available adjacent to the station platform.
BABY CHANGE FACILITIES | Baby change facilities are available at the Lakeside Visitor Centre and Lakeside station.
BOTTLE WARMING | Please approach the staff at the Railway Café, and they will be able to assist.
HIGHCHAIRS | Highchairs are available in Lakeside Visitor Centre's family-friendly Railway Café, along with a kids' menu for the little ones to enjoy. Find out more about dining at the Lakeside Visitor Centre below!

Reduced Mobility

Please note that between the platform and the carriage there is a gap which will require passengers to step up/step down when boarding or alighting the train.

The Puffing Billy Station Master is holds onto the door handle of one of Puffing Billy's open side carriages. He is holding a bell in his right hand and is smiling.

Pre-arrival

We require advice of any reduced mobility requirements prior to travelling so we can appropriately accommodate your needs and booking. There are accessible carriages where a ramp can be used to assist passengers with mobility requirements. To pre-book these carriages, please contact our customer service centre via email info@pbr.org.au or phone 03 9757 0700.

The Puffing Billy Station Master is holds onto the door handle of one of Puffing Billy's open side carriages. He is holding a bell in his right hand and is smiling.

Car Parking and Arrival

Ramp from the platform to the alfresco area at the Puffing Billy Lakeside Visitor Centre.

ACCESSIBLE DESTINATION | The Lakeside Visitor Centre, located within the Emerald Lake Park Precinct, Emerald Lake Road Emerald (view map here) is an accessible destination with ramp access throughout the centre and a Changing Places Adult Change Facility.
VEHICLE ACCESS | Visitors who may be wheelchair bound or have a mobility impairment are encouraged to contact the Lakeside Visitor Centre Booking Office on 03 9757 0642 between 9:00 am - 4:00 pm to arrange vehicle access to the building. A Puffing Billy Railway team member will assist with access and ensure easy entry into and exit from the centre.
PRECINCT ACCESSIBILITY | Emerald Lake Park features many wheelchair and pram friendly paths, as well as ramps in most locations.

Boarding and travelling onboard the train

CARRIAGE RAMPS | Our station platforms are not at the same height as our carriage doors, however, ramps are available to provide easy boarding of our accessible carriages. Please see one of our friendly volunteers on the day of travel for assistance. The wheelchair ramp width is 75cm.

Accessible carriage with double doors. The doors are open and the carriage is located at a Puffing Billy platform.

Accessible carriage with double doors. The doors are open and the carriage is located at a Puffing Billy platform.

A ramp is attached to one of Puffing Billy's accessible carriages with open doors. A Puffing Billy volunteer can be seen operating the ramp to put it in place.

A ramp is attached to one of Puffing Billy's accessible carriages with open doors. A Puffing Billy volunteer can be seen operating the ramp to put it in place.

Accessible carriage with ramp attached so wheelchair users can board the carriage.

Accessible carriage with ramp attached so wheelchair users can board the carriage.

Accessible Toilets

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS | Available at Lakeside Visitor Centre and Lakeside station.
CHANGING PLACES | A Changing Places toilet is available in the Lakeside Visitor Centre. There are no toilets on board our heritage carriages.

Assistance Dogs

PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY WELCOMES VISITORS WHO USE ASSISTANCE DOGS CERTIFIED BY A REGISTERED AUTHORITY.

Assistance dogs must be restrained by a harness or leash at all times.
Please note: Assistance dogs are the only dogs allowed aboard Puffing Billy Railway.

BOOKING TICKETS | When booking online, please advise us in the "Notes" section of the booking that you will have an assistance dog accompanying you on the day. If you have any questions, please contact our friendly Customer Service Centre team on info@pbr.org.au or (03) 9757 0700 during their opening hours: 9.00 am - 4.00 pm Monday - Friday and 8.30 am - 12.30 pm Saturday - Sunday.

Companion Card holders

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS | Companions receive a 50% discount off the adult fare. Please note that there are no Concession fares available for Day Out With Thomas, so their client pays an Adult fare.
BOOKING TICKETS | To book tickets with a Companion Card, please contact our friendly Customer Service Centre team on info@pbr.org.au or (03) 9757 0700 during their opening hours: 9 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday and 9 am - 12 pm Saturday - Sunday. Companion card must be presented at the Booking Office on the day of travel.

Dine in at the Lakeside Visitor Centre

Set on the picturesque grounds of the Emerald Lake Park, overlooking Lake Treganowan is the Lakeside Visitor Centre's family-friendly Railway Café.

Offering a relaxed indoor and outdoor setting surrounded by green rainforest trees and lush ferns, the menu features some of the best seasonal produce and supplies in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region.

View Railway Café Menu

Puffing Billy Lakeside Visitor Centre's Railway Cafe offers family friendly dining options.

Puffing Billy Lakeside Visitor Centre's Railway Cafe offers family friendly dining options.

Alfresco Deck Casual Dining

The Lakeside Visitor Centre Alfresco Deck is a family friendly setting overlooking Lake Treganowan.

Puffing Billy's Kids' Chicken Nuggets and Chips, served at the Lakeside Visitor Centre's Railway Cafe.

Chicken Nuggets and Chips

CLASSIC BEEF BURGER - 180g of char grilled beef with cos lettuce, dill pickles, white onion and American cheese, topped with burger sauce and ketchup, served with fries.

CLASSIC BEEF BURGER - 180g of char grilled beef with cos lettuce, dill pickles, white onion and American cheese, topped with burger sauce and ketchup, served with fries.

Buy a Day Out With Thomas^TM Gift Voucher

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does everyone in my party need a ticket, even if they don’t want to go on the train?

Do I need to bring my confirmation letter / ticket?

Can I redeem my Day Out With Thomas^TM gift voucher online?

What time should I arrive at the Lakeside Visitor Centre?

Does the event go ahead on a Total Fire Ban day?

How long is the train ride?

Can we get off the train at Cockatoo Station?

Carriage allocation

Are you limited to just one train ride?

Where is the best place to park in Emerald (Lakeside)?

Address: Emerald Lake Road, Emerald VIC 3782
Directions: View Google Map
Melway Map: 127 K4
Parking: There are two carpark options in the Emerald Lake Park precinct, which include:

Lakeside Visitor Centre carpark (200+ spots) - to access, turn left at the fork on Emerald Lake Road, cross over Lake Treganowan and over the railway level crossing. Follow this road all the way around and past the bus drop-off and accessible parking zone. General parking is to your right.
Lakeside (lower) carpark (114 spots) – to access, continue past the fork on Emerald Lake Road where you will find a cul de sac or car park spaces. It is a short five-minute walk from the carpark to Lakeside Station. See map here.

Council-operated ticketed machines – $6 flat fee/day.

Disabled parking is available onsite.

What if there is inclement weather?

Will there be food available?

Are prams permitted?

Is the event site accessible for reduced mobility customers?

Yes, the site is wheelchair accessible, and our friendly staff and volunteers can provide special attention to visitors with reduced mobility. We recommend passengers advise our Customer Service Centre about their requirements via (03) 9757 0700 or info@pbr.org.au at the time of booking and/or at least 24-hours before your travel. A Puffing Billy Railway team member will assist with access and ensure easy entry into and exit from this location.

Are pets allowed?

Can I have my photo taken next to Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt?

Can you dangle your legs during the train ride?

Don't forget to share your photos with us by using @puffingbillyrailway and tagging #DayOutWithThomas

Day Out With Thomas^TM© 2023 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. Thomas & Friends^TM Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W. Awdry. © 2023 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. Thomas the Tank Engine, Thomas & Friends and Day Out With Thomas are trademarks of Gullane (Thomas) Limited. © 2023 Mattel. All Rights Reserved. ® and ^TM designated U.S. trademarks of Mattel, except as noted.