DON'T MISS OUT IN AUTUMN!

We recommend signing up for our e-newsletter, so that you don't miss out when tickets go on sale for the Autumn 2024 season of Day Out With Thomas™. Be the first to hear about all of our incredible events, including the family-favourite POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride or Train of Lights, as well as special offers for our excursion trains and new experiences coming to the railway in the future! Subscribe to our e-newsletters here.

We also encourage you to follow @puffingbillyrailway on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with all things Puffing Billy!

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 FriendsTM-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 ThomasTM!

  • 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 ThomasTM 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 .
PB SITTING ON SILLS ICON 01

PLEASE NOTE

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

Accessibility

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.

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.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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

Day Out With ThomasTM © 2023 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. Thomas & FriendsTM 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.