All Aboard! Thomas Town Officially Opens At Kennywood

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - With a robust "All aboard," Thomas the Tank Engine pulled out of the Thomas Town station Friday for his maiden trip around the ground of Kennywood carrying passengers.

The legendary engine has been months in construction on the site of the Old Kennywood Railroad and comes to the tracks with a legacy that has been drawing people to the park on day one.

Dana Plowman and her family came down from Bradford.

"Strictly because of Thomas. Our life is Thomas! We have over 500 trains from Thomas," she said.

Kennywood's Nick Paradise says as soon as Thomas's coming residency at the park was they started getting calls.

"We've already had a great deal of inquiries and people interested in coming from well beyond the greater Pittsburgh area to see Thomas," he said.

Scott Glomb grew up in Pittsburgh but now lives in Bristow, Va., outside D.C.

"Having three boys, they grew up Thomas. We have tons of Thomas trains and tracks. Our whole basement is full of Thomas stuff. When I heard Thomas was opening today, we made a special trip up. Had to be here, absolutely," he said.

The Madison family made the trip for opening day from Tulsa, Okla.

"I think it's pretty cool. My little cousin likes it a lot and my big cousin likes it too," Carana Madison said.

Mom Chrissy says Carana is being a bit modest.

"I think it's adorable. When she was young she was obsessed. She was Thomas two years in a row for Halloween," she said.

Along with Thomas and his train that gets all the headlines, his friends have rides here too. Cranky the Crane has a drop tower, Harold has helicopters to fly, there's Flynn's Fire Academy with water cannons to put out the fire, a soft play area and gift shop.

Three times a day, there is a stage show staring Percy, James, Emily and Gordon out of the engine round house.

For more information about the attraction, visit Kennywood's website here.