On two July weekends (July 12-13 and July 19-20), the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) will once again trade its gentle prairie hush for the unmistakable “Peep Peep!” of Thomas the Tank Engine™. But this season, the beloved #1 blue engine isn’t just offering a real train ride. Day Out With Thomas: The Party Tour turns IRM’s 100-acre campus into a pop-up playground where kids can bounce, build, and boogie between departures. 

This year’s event feels more like a family festival on the rails: towering bounce houses rise beside vintage cabooses, giant bubbles drift above picnic tables, and live musicians invite little dancers into conga lines that snake past century-old steam engines. It’s a mash-up of history and high-energy play that lets toddlers burn off excitement while parents soak in IRM’s unrivaled collection of equipment. 

Tracks, Trains, and Tremendous Fun

The highlight of the event is a 20-minute train ride with Thomas — and for families who add the optional ticket, a second spin behind his green friend, Percy. The moment passengers step off the platform, they can make their way to the Celebration Station, a festival-style activity zone anchored by bounce houses and an inflatable slide. Preschoolers can hop themselves silly while older siblings race across an oversized bouncy-ball course, proving that “all ages” really does mean everyone from toddlers to nostalgic teens. 

Off-Rail Adventures for Little Engineers

Just a whistle-blast away from the inflatables, shady tents host hands-on stations that let imaginations chug full steam ahead:

• Mega Bloks® Build Zone: Budding engineers build their own creations.
• Color-Your-Own Party Gear: Kids craft birthday hats and birthday cards for Thomas & Friends™ 80th-anniversary celebrations.
• Temporary Tattoo Station: Stop by to choose a temporary tattoo of your favorite character for extra fun!
• Storytime & Sing-Alongs: Interactive readings and live music by Leonardo Music for Kids and Jodi’s JiggleJams, turning picnic blankets into impromptu dance floors.
• TwistiCity Bubble Show: Huge bubbles drift above the lawn; be entertained with a bubble show like no other!

Sir Topham Hatt poses for fist-bumps and photo ops, while historic streetcars clatter past model railway dioramas — a reminder that IRM is both a living classroom and the country’s largest collection of working rail equipment.

Don’t Worry, This Party Is for Grown-Ups, Too

Parents who queued here as ’90s kids will find plenty beyond the bounce houses. Unlimited streetcar rides make an ideal stroller break, and shaded barns display everything from the Art Deco Nebraska Zephyr to a century-old steam injector that sparks many “When I was your age…” stories. Meanwhile, IRM docents — some on their 25th year of Day Out With Thomas duty — gladly translate young curiosity into riveting railway lore.

And for those who are the designated memory-maker, carve out time for the pop-up Thomas & Friends™ Gift Shop and the vintage Central Diner. Exclusive merchandise turns small souvenirs into future heirlooms, while classic fair favorites — corn dogs, frozen lemonade, even IRM’s famous hand-scooped ice cream — serve as a well-earned refuel. 

Outside the café, guests will find picnic tables tucked beneath cottonwoods where caregivers can swap nostalgic stories while little engineers refuel on PB&J. It’s a rare event where adults leave with their own collectibles, a phone full of candid shots, and perhaps a renewed appreciation for the rails that once knit the country together.

Know Before You Go

First-timers and returning families alike can make the day run more smoothly with a bit of preparation. Trains routinely sell out, bounce-house lines move fastest at opening, and Union’s summer sun shows no mercy — so plan, pack, and arrive early for stress-free fun.

• Dates & Times: July 12, 13, 19, & 20, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Trains depart throughout the day; advance online purchase is strongly recommended, as trains routinely sell out. The time on your ticket is your train departure time. Trains leave on time. Plan to arrive at least 1 hour ahead of your train departure time to allow for parking, check-in, a visit to the bathroom, and boarding.

• Tickets: Starting at $25 per person for a train ride with Thomas (children under one ride free). Add a $10 Percy ticket for a second journey. Every ticket includes access to all bounce houses, live shows, streetcar rides, and the entire museum.
• Location: Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olson Road, Union, IL 60180 — an easy day trip from Chicago or Rockford. Parking is free.
• Pro Tips: Arrive early; inflatables open when gates do, giving kids an energy outlet before their scheduled train. Pack sunscreen, but leave pets at home (except service animals).

Why This Year Feels Extra Special

Thomas & Friends™ is celebrating its 80th anniversary, and IRM’s Party Tour stop layers birthday-bright decorations onto the nostalgia already woven through 25 summers of Day Out With Thomas at Union. For longtime visitors, it’s a chance to relive a childhood whistle and watch their own kids scale the very bounce house that now stands where they once clutched a paper ticket. For first-timers, it’s the start of a tradition that — like a well-kept scrapbook stub — promises to age into family lore.

When the final train glides back into the station on July 20, the confetti will settle, but the memories won’t. A quiet track, after all, is only an invitation for next summer’s engine to steam in — carrying within its cheerful chuff the echoes of bounce-house laughter, bubble cheers, and the timeless thrill of hearing Thomas call you friend.

Get tickets and full details by visiting this link before Thomas & Friends™ depart the station.