Besides getting a train ride with Thomas, children can enjoy other activities such as arts and crafts, storytelling,  playing with toy trains, meeting characters and getting a look at the history of Thomas, who is turning 65 this year.

Get tickets soon, as this tends to sell out.  Dates of the event are Sept. 24-26 and Oct. 1-3.  Tickets cost $14 to $18 each. When you order tickets online, you can choose which train you’d like to sit in.  Pay extra attention to which train car you choose. Some are air conditioned, some only have sliding windows, and others are completely open.  Also, I suggest picking an early morning ride to avoid high temperatures.

Two years ago, I mistakenly chose the 2 p.m. time slot and the car with only the sliding windows.  Since some of the cars are so old, some windows won’t open.  That was our window. September was especially hot that year, and my then-2-year-old son was completely decked out in his Thomas overalls, Thomas polo shirt, Thomas conductor hat, socks and shoes.  We couldn’t bring our drinks on board, but it’s a 30-minute ride. No big deal.

About two minutes after we pull out of the station, my son starts screaming and crying.  He’s sweating, he’s red in the face, he’s hot as can be.  I didn’t know what to do and we couldn’t get off the train. We were starting to get some mean looks from other paying passengers.  He cried the entire ride.  People were upset with us, asking employees for their money back and just generally being more than annoyed.

About a year later, I was talking to some parents at my son’s day care about how Thomas the Train was back in town.  All of a sudden, one parent starts talking about this screaming child on her train car last year … decked out in Thomas overalls, polo and conductor cap.   She described my son to a T - an entire year later.  She was on that car.  She was one of the parents demanding a refund.  Yikes.

Me:  ”Oh, we didn’t get to go last year … how awful … why would his mom dress him in such hot clothes in the middle of summer? … “ 

So please take my advice.  Choose the air conditioned car. Get an early time and don’t dress your child like a conductor.  After all, it’s September in Oklahoma.

For a schedule and tickets, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com