Thomas Makes New Railfans

As much as the Thomas events benefit railroad museums and tourist railroads, they can be intimidating to those of us without small childrent in tow.

It's a great way to introduce the children or grandchildren to riding the rails while enjoying at least some of the other activities a railroad facility hosting Thomas has to offer.

Dillsboro, NC – July 2006 – All aboard to celebrate 61 years of Thomas & Friends™! It’s an anniversary party everyday, as Thomas the Tank Engine rolls into Dillsboro, NC for Day Out With Thomas 2006: The Celebration Tour. This fun-filled family event offers preschoolers and their families the opportunity to take a 25-minute ride (approximate) with Thomas the Tank Engine, [a real steam engine,] and is sure to engineer miles of smiles for every guest. Thomas & Friends™ will be making tracks to great destinations across America, and this stop will be hosted by Great Smoky Mountains Railroad www.gsmr.com at 119 Front Street, Dillsboro, North Carolina, from July 22 – July 30, 2006.

Day Out With Thomas™ 2006: The Celebration Tour Chugs Into Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, thomas,trains

Train Travel Aids Commuters and Environmental Concerns

If an urban area has a functional mass transit system in place it only makes sense that the environmental impact of large numbers of commuters each driving their own vehicle would be lessened over time.

Milwaukee used to have one of the great inter-urban systems and now it has one of the freeway nightmares. No matter how much we wish our local governments had been able to see the future, it's just as hard to see things getting any better for commuters anytime soon.

It's fitting that a new city report on improving rail service between Guelph and Toronto using self-propelled diesel multiple units on the old CN North Mainline track comes just in time for smog season.

Guelph Tribune

More soon.

technorati tags:railfan, railroad, travel,trains