No. Full terms and conditions are available to view on the Day Out With Thomas website
Yes, but only from Bury, Bolton Street Station.
Travel on the ‘Thomas’ train and access to the entertainment within the Bury Transport Museum Complex is only for ‘Day Out With Thomas’ ticketholders, on the date stated on pre-booked tickets. To gain admission, please bring your advance purchase ticket with you on the day.
Ordinary Fares are available for sale on the day to travel on the ‘Non-Thomas’ services.
Chargeable parking is available in Bury.
CLICK HERE to view local parking
Why not start your journey at Heywood? Parking is free on the day and the Whistlestop Café at Heywood Station will be open serving drinks and an impressive selection of cakes. There are regular shuttles operating between Heywood and Bury Station, ensuring you will have plenty of opportunity to reach the main event.
Visitors with a Day Out With Thomas Ticket can travel on the shuttle for free.
Yes. There will be other trains to ride on in addition to your journey riding behind Thomas The Tank Engine. This makes it possible to explore the full route of the East Lancashire Railway, between Heywood and Rawtenstall. Travel is included within your Day Out With Thomas ticket. These services include:
- Additional heritage train, operating to/from Rawtenstall
- Scenic diesel railcar running from/to Heywood. Either start your day at Heywood and take the train to Bury, or if you start your day at Bury, board the heritage diesel train for a return journey to Heywood and be sure to visit the Whistlestop Café.
If starting your journey from another station, please check the timetable to ensure there are connecting services both prior and after your Thomas train ride.
Up to 45 minutes round trip, boarding at Bury to Ramsbottom and return with Thomas leading at the north end and a heritage diesel at the south end of the train. Upon arrival into Ramsbottom, please remain on the train as it is planned to reverse and return to Bury. Photos with Thomas will be available at Bury Station.
No, guests must travel on the ‘Thomas’ train as advertised on their pre-booked ticket. Guests can access the platform up to 60 minutes prior to departure where Sir Topham Hatt will be on platforms 3 and 4. Also, look out for the Troublesome Trucks!
Yes. The Troublesome Trucks will make an appearance at Bury Station Platform 4 at intervals throughout the day. A short walk from Bury Station takes you to the Bury Transport Museum and courtyard. Show your Day Out With Thomas pre-booked ticket for admission to enjoy the additional activities on offer such as face painters, balloons modellers, 4 funfair rides suitable for toddlers and colouring station – all of which are included in your ticket. Day Out With Thomas ticketholders can access Bury Transport Museum throughout the day as dated on their ticket.
Face Painting is for ages three and above.
Drinks and snacks will be available on the day, including Whistlestop Cafe at Heywood, The Trackside Pub at Bury Station, Cafe at Bury Station (Platform 3), Bury Transport Museum and Buffer Stops Pub at Rawtenstall. The Cafe at Rawtenstall Station will also be open.
The Day Out With Thomas event opens its doors at Bury Station from 8:20am and finishes at approximately 5pm.
Last entry is 4:30pm. Bury Transport Museum will close at 5pm.
Dogs are not permitted to attend this event, excluding service dogs.
While every effort is made to operate advertised services with the scheduled locomotive, the company reserves the right to substitute the advertised locomotive with another heritage locomotive (steam or diesel) at its discretion and without prior notice.
Substitutions may be necessary for reasons including, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions (e.g., high fire risk), mechanical issues, operational constraints, or safety considerations.
Such substitutions shall not constitute a significant alteration of the service and do not entitle passengers to a refund, partial refund, compensation, or transfer, provided the advertised journey catering provision (if applicable), and other core elements of the experience are fulfilled with reasonable care and skill.
By purchasing a ticket, passengers accept that locomotive substitutions are a recognised possibility inherent to the operation of heritage railways and do not diminish the service’s overall value when delivered per these terms.
