HEBER CITY — Thomas the Tank Engine chugged into town last week, stoking anticipation for the life-size toy's annual visit.
"A Day Out with Thomas" kicks off at the Heber Valley Historic Railroad on Thursday and will run through next Monday as a part of Thomas' international tour.
The famous tank engine has made a yearly journey to Heber since 2002, although the train travels regularly through England, Japan and to most historic railroads in the United States.
"This is a tremendous thing, not only for us but the entire tourist railroad industry," said Craig Lacey, executive director of the Heber Valley Historic Railroad.
The event will feature a 25-minute ride on the Heber Valley Historic Railroad, with Thomas at the front. Although the life-size toy locomotive is designed to look just like the television and movie character, complete with moving eyes, the locomotive doesn't actually have any pulling power — but don't tell the kids.
Thomas' character on the show, seen locally on KBYU Channel 11 and KUED Channel 7, comes from an island called Sodor on which the trains, cars, planes and signs have personalities and the ability to talk to each other as they do their daily duties.
Thomas the Tank Engine originated in England and aired on PBS in 1989, with famous ex-Beatle Ringo Starr as the voice for the characters.
Since coming to America, Thomas has grown in popularity with a feature-length movie and the traveling "Day Out with Thomas" activity.
The five-day "event on steroids," says Lacey, is geared toward children ages 2-6, with booths, games, a petting zoo and plenty of merchandise to buy.
"One of the things that's fun about 'Day Out with Thomas' is it provides Grandma and Grandpa the opportunity to do a serious amount of shopping," Lacey said of the $100,000 worth of Thomas the Tank Engine products the railroad brings in to sell at the event. "We have things you can't find in stores, and it gives people an opportunity to get these very rare gifts."
According to Lacey, the event is one of the railroad's biggest money makers of the year.
Compared to the Polar Express ride in December, which usually pulls in approximately 14,000 people over 20 nights, Thomas brings up to 17,000 people over five days.
By Wednesday night, 10,000 of those tickets were already sold.
The concentration of visitors to the area, coupled with the warm weather, adds up to a huge economic boost to the area, Lacey said.
"It's a tremendous economic shot on the arm, you might say," Lacey said. "For that reason, we get tremendous support from the community. They love having Thomas around. They think of him as Thomas the 'Bank' Engine."
If you go . . .
What: "A Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine"
Where: Heber Valley Historic Railroad, 450 S. 600 West
When: May 25-29
Cost: $14 ages 2 and up
Phone: 435-654-5601
Other: Tickets for the trains, which depart every 45 minutes from the train station, can be purchased through the railroad or Smith'sTix.
E-mail: achoate@desnews.com