A Day out with Thomas

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Dobrydney
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
RAF LAKENHEATH, England --  Before I arrived at the 48th Fighter Wing, I worked for the 45th Space Wing, two organizations on the cutting edge of technology.

It might sound ironic then, to know that I like to admire things from a bygone era when the world seemed to move a little more slowly.

To that end, I recently volunteered with the 48th Force Support Squadron Outdoor Recreation office to help escort families on a DePLAYment trip to the Colne Valley Railway in Essex. The trip was free to families with a member who is or was recently deployed.

Colne Valley is a tourist railway situated on a preserved piece of track, one of many such lines in Britain that have reopened stations and stretches of abandoned track to run restored equipment, both steam engines and the diesel engines that ultimately replaced them. Although Colne Valley's line is very short, it is a fully-functioning operation staffed almost entirely by devoted volunteers.

On the day our group arrived, everyone was in a happy, festive mood, even though the weather was cold and rainy. A steam-powered organ called a calliope played away merrily as we approached the station. Vintage railway equipment was all over the place and, while some vehicles sat derelict, many were open to the public. Two passenger cars coupled together formed a cafe where guests could purchase refreshments and guests could also explore exhibits such as a coach that once worked as a traveling post office. Inside the restored station house were even more historical photos and artifacts from distant and recent past of British railways.

Not everything was railway-related however. Besides the calliope, there was also a display of vintage steam-powered road vehicles built in the days before the internal combustion engine became commonplace. One traction engine was marked "Built 1899," yet it still chuffed away like it was brand new.

The main attraction of course, was the trains on the main line. These were no ordinary engines. On this day they were decorated as Thomas the Tank Engine and various other characters from the Thomas stories. The station shop was full of Thomas souvenirs and music from the Thomas TV show played over a set of loudspeakers. Two trains ran excursions all afternoon and the families had been given tickets to ride Thomas' train free of charge.

Besides the trains, the railway staff had set up various games and activities for the children to enjoy while they waited for their turn to ride. There was even a brief presentation between excursions where the children got to 'help' the staff fill Thomas' tanks with water and learn a bit about real railway practice.

All too soon however, it was time to go. As we rode home with our busload of happily tired-out children, I thought back to my own childhood. I've loved trains from an early age, but I always just looked at pictures or played with models of them. I never got to see the real thing up close, let alone ride in a train from one of my favorite childhood TV shows.

It made me appreciate the efforts the Outdoor Recreation Office makes to show their customers a good time they'll remember. Indeed, one of the songs that played during our visit was titled "Some Things Never Leave You." I know the memories I made at Colne Valley Railway sure won't.