Most railroad photographers give little thought to getting out to photograph Thomas the Tank Engine. I didn’t either until this year.
It is hard to take seriously a pint-sized steam locomotive that’s not really a locomotive but a “shoving platform” that is a cartoon character designed to appeal to children.
I’ve done my share of mocking Thomas by referring to him as “Thomas the tanked engine” and “man, is our Thomas tanked.” The word tanked in this context refers to being intoxicated.
The fictional steam locomotive first appeared in The Railway Series books by British authors Wilbert and Christopher Awdry and later became the star of a television series.
There is nothing small about Thomas, though, when it comes to money. For many tourist railroads, Thomas pulls in badly needed dollars to fund restoration and maintenance work. Trains magazine recently described him as “Thomas the bank engine.”
The Thomas franchise operates worldwide and is worth $1 billion annually in sales.
Since making his first appearance on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad in May 1998, Thomas has become the second most popular special event behind the Polar Express – another children’s story – and draws 25,000 to 26,000 passengers a year.
That is far more than who ride behind a real steam locomotive, Nickel Plate Road No. 765.
There are multiple versions of Thomas that tour the United States, often appearing on tourist railroads. One Thomas was converted from a 1916 steam locomotive that served Brooklyn Dock & Terminal in New York City.
Google “Thomas the Tank Engine” and you’ll find that in some quarters there is an intense dislike of Thomas, with one commentator saying the TV program featuring Thomas is filled with messages of classism, sexism and anti-environmentalism bordering on racism.
Other parents have been critical of Thomas by saying he and his friends are nasty, negative and set a bad example for children, particularly in their shirking of their responsibilities, showing off and competing against each other.
Such thinking, though, hasn’t kept Thomas from becoming a superstar among children or kept many parents from taking their children to see and ride behind Thomas.
Earlier this year when I was working on my book about the CVSR, I decided I would get out to see Thomas this year. I wanted to document Thomas because, like him or not, he is a part of the story of the CVSR.
The half-hour Thomas excursions leave from Boston Mill station every hour at half past the hour.
As I approached Boston Mill while driving southbound on Riverview Road, there was a long line of people waiting to get into a large tent, presumably the passengers for the 9:30 a.m. trip.
I knew from reading the CVSR website that various ancillary activities surround the visit of Thomas – most of which are designed to appeal to children – but I was surprised at how much the area around the station resembled a carnival minus the Ferris wheel and tilt-a-wheel rides.
Much of the carnival was located on the west side of Riverview on the property of Boston Mill ski resort. You can’t gain access to the site without a ticket.
So much for my idea of walking around and getting a feel for the Thomas experience.
On every other excursion, Thomas would meet the CVSR National Park Scenic train in Peninsula.
So that was where I waited. At 10:44 a.m., Thomas came steaming into town and went into the siding.
Maybe “steaming” isn’t the right word to use since Thomas is not a live steam locomotive. But he does make smoke, although not consistently.
Thomas has a steam whistle, which isn’t that loud, but it’s a whistle. There is one light on his right side that at first glance resembles a ditch light.
His eyes go back and forth and his mouth moves, too. I didn’t know that Thomas could talk, but he does.
The Thomas specials on the CVSR were being pulled and propelled by CVSR FPA-4 No. 6777. A crew member in the cab of Thomas communicated with the 6777 by radio.
Shortly after the arrival of Thomas and his train, the southbound Scenic arrived. Thomas departed and the Scenic did its station work.
My plan to photograph Thomas next to CVSR 4241 was marred somewhat by people standing in front of Thomas when the Scenic arrived.
A small crowd of onlookers was drawn to Thomas with their smart phone cameras out.
I stayed in Peninsula until the next meet occurred between the Scenic and Thomas. This time the Scenic did its station work before Thomas got there and I was able to get a clearer view of No. 4241 and Thomas. The Scenic left and Thomas followed it out of town a few minutes later.
I had made enough photographs of Thomas, to satisfy my curiosity and to fill a void in my CVSR collection so I left, too.
Thomas takes the siding at Peninsula to allow the CVSR Scenic to pass on the mainline.
Thomas is modeled after a British steam locomotive design.
Here comes Thomas minus his friends.
CVSR crew members have their smart phones out as Thomas chugs into Peninsula for a meet with the CVSR Scenic.
Children aboard the CVSR Scenic get a glimpse of Thomas as the two trains pass in Peninsula.
Thomas steams out of Peninsula to return to Boston Mill.
These include family-oriented events, Ales on Rails, the Grape Express, cocktail trains, murder mystery trains, evening train rides and dinner and breakfast service.
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