Steam & Excursion > Thomas at Strasburg

I am amazed at the number of steam fans who go onto Virtual Rail Fan site at Strasburg, Pennsylvania and talk about Thomas the Tank Engine.  First of all, these people who are discussing this subject are clueless as today Strasburg sent out one of their Thomas Engines by truck.  This is NOT a real steam engine as it has no motors of any kind.  It has to be towed and it is so easily recognized immediately by just looking at it as it has no main drive rod, the engine itself has no signs of coal dust anywhere.  But these people who were talking about it today were all up set that Thomas was now loaded on a truck to go elsewhere.  Just to clear this up, Strasburg does have a real 0-6-0 Thomas Steam Locomotive that actually does run and is operated every year at Strasburg for their celebration of the "Day Out With Thomas" events.  Strasburg also owns this fake Thomas that they lease to other railroads and museums.  Trust me, we who are steam enthusiasts know the difference, but to little children and to many adults, it's all one and the same, sad to say.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am amazed at the number of steam fans who go
> onto Virtual Rail Fan site at Strasburg,
> Pennsylvania and talk about Thomas the Tank
> Engine.  First of all, these people who are
> discussing this subject are clueless as today
> Strasburg sent out one of their Thomas Engines by
> truck.  This is NOT a real steam engine as it has
> no motors of any kind.


Well John, even "real steam engines" don't have "motors of any kind"! Try and take a deep breath, and have another cup of coffee, or what ever your drink of choice is.

 

The live steam Thomas was recently spotted on a truck not at Strasburg.

Jeff

Listen all you steam lover!! As unappealing as you may find the little blue monster to be please keep in mind that the multitude Thomas events around the nation help finance lots and lots of " real" steam events and in more than a few cases keep railroads going ( along with the North Pole events ) that would otherwise fail. 

   Therefore, let's all acknowledge the good Thomas does long term.

   IMHO-Ross Rowland 

Wow, the things that people get all worked up about and complain about.

I'm glad that the Thomas stories encourage reading,
young imaginations and life lessons.
The symbols represent the good of reading to, and by children.

The life-size replicas encourage reading groups and solicit 
redactions from youg brains, --- just discovering the joys of reading 
and appreciation of things folks of different backgrounds 
contribute to endeavors in the stories.  
Each story has its meaning of appreciation of other's contributions.

Yes, Thomas is also a symbol, and a very good way for youngsters 
to be introduced to railroads,  

Electric trains might come next!  Its where I started ...

Maybe I'll get to the British isles to see their mainline preservations,
and new loco construction..  That would brighten my days!

W.

( Read-up --- on the wwweb---about the origin of the Thomas stories ---
   they were started in the mid-1940s.  I didn't know that! ) 
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/23 08:52 by wcamp1472.

In all fairness, the actual British prototype for Thomas is an inside connected locomotive with no visible main rods. So, in that respect the non-powered versions might look more accurate than the live steam 0-6-0.  The whole point of Thomas is to represent a clearly make believe character. If Thomas is an attraction that generates some interest in real railroading, THAT is where your opportunity to educate comes in. Attacking people's lack of knowledge based on a Thomas discussion would be akin to a bioligist expecting a knowledge of rabbit anatomy from famililes in line to meet the Easter Bunny.

bmoore765 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In all fairness, the actual British prototype for
> Thomas is an inside connected locomotive with no
> visible main rods. So, in that respect the
> non-powered versions might look more accurate than
> the live steam 0-6-0.  The whole point of Thomas
> is to represent a clearly make believe character.
> If Thomas is an attraction that generates some
> interest in real railroading, THAT is where your
> opportunity to educate comes in. Attacking
> people's lack of knowledge based on a Thomas
> discussion would be akin to a bioligist expecting
> a knowledge of rabbit anatomy from famililes in
> line to meet the Easter Bunny.


EXCELLENT!!!!!   Post of the day, in my opinion.

A few years ago, a volunteer at one of the nation's premier railroad museums (I won't mention which) told me that the "Day Out With Thomas" events there generate the majority of the museum's annual income.

Art House

Thomas,  Christmas and Halloween events keep most operating museums above water.  If they had to rely on purist railfans for support,  most would have been closed years ago.

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow, the things that people get all worked up
> about and complain about.

Wait until you hear his thoughts on the B&O Railroad Museum

Spoony81 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> longliveSP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Wow, the things that people get all worked up
> > about and complain about.
>
> Wait until you hear his thoughts on the B&O
> Railroad Museum

Hang on, my popcorn resupply order does not arrive until tomorrow...

I agree, excellent post on the original Thomas. I’ve seen the the “real” Thomas at Strasburg, and the replicas at the Kentucky Railroad Museum, Durango and the Grand Canyon Rwy. Always lots of smiles. My grandsons and youngest son enjoyed him each time. Like Art, I have also heard they do generate a lot of income. Plus all my grandkids love our wooden Thomas Railway setup.

Randy in PHX

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Damn, another group out to shoot the Easter Bunny!

Out 

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am amazed at the number of steam fans who go
> onto Virtual Rail Fan site at Strasburg,
> Pennsylvania and talk about Thomas the Tank
> Engine.  First of all, these people who are
> discussing this subject are clueless as today
> Strasburg sent out one of their Thomas Engines by
> truck.  This is NOT a real steam engine as it has
> no motors of any kind.  It has to be towed and it
> is so easily recognized immediately by just
> looking at it as it has no main drive rod, the
> engine itself has no signs of coal dust
> anywhere.  But these people who were talking
> about it today were all up set that Thomas was now
> loaded on a truck to go elsewhere.  Just to clear
> this up, Strasburg does have a real 0-6-0 Thomas
> Steam Locomotive that actually does run and is
> operated every year at Strasburg for their
> celebration of the "Day Out With Thomas" events. 
> Strasburg also owns this fake Thomas that they
> lease to other railroads and museums.  Trust me,
> we who are steam enthusiasts know the difference,
> but to little children and to many adults, it's
> all one and the same, sad to say.
> John in White Marsh, Maryland
I'm sorry, I did not mean to get everyone so upset as I am not against the Thomas Steam Engines that are not real.  To me, I appreciate every one of these and I agree with what all of you are saying, that these events are helping to generate so much more interest in trains in general.  My point is that many others are the ones getting so upset.  I guess I did not make myself clear on the subject.  However, I personally try to inspire all youngsters and their families to go and visit every operating railroad that offers Thomas and any and all rides of any kind, but I especially try to get people to visit the Strasburg R.R. because of the fact that they do operate real, genuine, restored, and well maintained steam locomotives.  There are other operations on other short lines and regional railroads that also offer historic and educational train rides, so I do encourage everyone to please support these operations as much as you can.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

The missing piece from all of the Thomas the Tank Engine hype is the way it came to the U.S., in the first place. That was the PBS series of Shining Time Station in the early 1990s, where he and his "friends" were intertwined into each segment. Now, each episode can be found on the web. However, I like to watch them, using my VHS recorded tapes on my t.v. and VCR!

Matthew

Cumberland Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The missing piece from all of the Thomas the Tank
> Engine hype is the way it came to the U.S., in the
> first place. That was the PBS series of Shining
> Time Station in the early 1990s, where he and his
> "friends" were intertwined into each segment. Now,
> each episode can be found on the web. However, I
> like to watch them, using my VHS recorded tapes on
> my t.v. and VCR!
>
> Matthew

George Carlin and Ringo Starr as Mr Conductor

ClubCar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ClubCar Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I am amazed at the number of steam fans who go
> > onto Virtual Rail Fan site at Strasburg,
> > Pennsylvania and talk about Thomas the Tank
> > Engine.  First of all, these people who are
> > discussing this subject are clueless as today
> > Strasburg sent out one of their Thomas Engines
> by
> > truck.  This is NOT a real steam engine as it
> has
> > no motors of any kind.  It has to be towed and
> it
> > is so easily recognized immediately by just
> > looking at it as it has no main drive rod, the
> > engine itself has no signs of coal dust
> > anywhere.  But these people who were talking
> > about it today were all up set that Thomas was
> now
> > loaded on a truck to go elsewhere.  Just to
> clear
> > this up, Strasburg does have a real 0-6-0
> Thomas
> > Steam Locomotive that actually does run and is
> > operated every year at Strasburg for their
> > celebration of the "Day Out With Thomas"
> events. 
> > Strasburg also owns this fake Thomas that they
> > lease to other railroads and museums.  Trust
> me,
> > we who are steam enthusiasts know the
> difference,
> > but to little children and to many adults, it's
> > all one and the same, sad to say.
> > John in White Marsh, Maryland
> I'm sorry, I did not mean to get everyone so upset
> as I am not against the Thomas Steam Engines that
> are not real.  To me, I appreciate every one of
> these and I agree with what all of you are saying,
> that these events are helping to generate so much
> more interest in trains in general.  My point is
> that many others are the ones getting so upset. 
> I guess I did not make myself clear on the
> subject.  However, I personally try to inspire
> all youngsters and their families to go and visit
> every operating railroad that offers Thomas and
> any and all rides of any kind, but I especially
> try to get people to visit the Strasburg R.R.
> because of the fact that they do operate real,
> genuine, restored, and well maintained steam
> locomotives.  There are other operations on other
> short lines and regional railroads that also offer
> historic and educational train rides, so I do
> encourage everyone to please support these
> operations as much as you can.
> John in White Marsh, Maryland

So, you started this by complaining about people complaining, and now you are complaining about people not understanding your complaining about people complaining.

Is that correct?

Spoony81 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cumberland Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The missing piece from all of the Thomas the
> Tank
> > Engine hype is the way it came to the U.S., in
> the
> > first place. That was the PBS series of Shining
> > Time Station in the early 1990s, where he and
> his
> > "friends" were intertwined into each segment.
> Now,
> > each episode can be found on the web. However,
> I
> > like to watch them, using my VHS recorded tapes
> on
> > my t.v. and VCR!
> >
> > Matthew
>
> George Carlin and Ringo Starr as Mr Conductor

Yep, that's right!

It amazes me how much that show brought to the American culture. Yet, Shining Time Station seems to have been completely forgotten about. 

Many of the characters went on to pursue in their acting careers, some of which is fairly recent.

Matthew



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/23 14:26 by Cumberland.

If I remember correctly there are 6 replica Thomas's and 1 percy. Museums will get paid to store them for periods of time, I've heard that they don't want multiple to be seen together. As far as as revenue is concerned. Between Thomas and Polar Express, that can fund a museums operations for the entire year.

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