Popular English engine chugs its way into the hearts of park patrons.
On Thursday, a cheeky, fussy, true blue engine who proudly wears the number #1 on his side rolled into MagicMountain, much to the delight of preschoolers and their parents. Thomas Town is the newest attraction at the park, featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, his coaches Annie and Clarabel, Percy and Cranky the Crane. The pint-sized riders were enthusiastic after Thomas’s first run.
“It was cool and it was fun,” said Alyssa Azani, 4.
The kids, who were brought in from preschools at Temple Beth Ami and La Petite Academy, were all given blue shirts emblazoned “I rode it first, June 5, 2008” across the back; red bandanas and blue and white engineers caps.
They were barely tall enough to see over the red ribbon strung across the gate to Thomas Town before Park President Jay Thomas and Gary Krakower of HiT entertainment (which produces Thomas the Tank Engine) wielded the oversized scissors and turned them loose.
“The reaction to Thomas Town has been incredible,” Krakower said, noting that Thursday’s dedication was the fourth Thomas Town for the Six Flags chain. The first opened in 2006 in New England, followed by Great America in Vallejo, California and Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta.
“Thie is a beautiful area with lots of young families,” he continued. “You look at the sales and TV ratings for Thomas in this area and realize this was the natural place.”
Krakower explained the difference between Thomas Town, which will be open every day that Magic Mountain is in normal operation and the traveling “Day Out With Thomas” exhibit that frequently makes a stop at the Fillmore-Western Railway in Fillmore.
“Day Out With Thomas is an actual train ride on a full-sized Thomas engine where families enjoy a 15-minute ride,” he said. “It’s a great way to travel and get a lot of history. There is a Day Out 300 days of every year.”
Krakower was quick to point out that Thomas Town was the only place to see Thomas’s other literary and railroad friends, Percy, Clarabell, Annie, Clanky and Crane and Sir Topham Hatt.
Six Flags General Manager Tim Burkhardt was enthusiastic about the opening, which he said came about after intensive focus groups run by park employees.
”What we’re trying to do is let people know we have so many things for families,” he said. “For so many years we’ve talked about our coasters and never talked about these other things, but we have 42 rides in the park that children under 48 inches high can ride.
“We’re within a couple of rides of having the same number as Disneyland,” he boasted. “We have enough rides, shows and presentations identified as family friendly so a family could come out here, never ride a coaster and really fill the day.”