Today we’ve taken our first train journey together. Thomas has been excited all week as he’s never been on a train before and we were going to see even more trains at the York National Railway Museum. They have got their Big Fun With Little Trains activities on over the school holidays and today invited parent bloggers to come and try out the facilities and have a look around.
Our travels started this morning when we boarded a train from Leeds bound for York. It’s only a short journey but Thomas loved his first train ride, looking out of the windows at the animals in the fields and just having to try out the toilet too. Arriving in York, straight away when we left the station we saw York Minster. We didn’t go to have a look around it today but it was nice to have a glimpse. Also, we saw the York Wheel. This is a 60 metre high wheel which has breath-taking views over York.
Arriving at York National Railway Museum, we were given all the details of our day ahead, including a map to show us around as it is quite a big place and then we were free to explore. The Museum is free to look around but there is the option of giving a donation to help keep it running.
Looking around at the trains I was really taken aback at their sizes, some were just huge. The detail on them and the fact that the museum has preserved them all and even taken extra steps to show the things that would be on board the trains, from thousands of pieces of cutlery to the table settings all in place showing how grand some of the trains were when they were running.
It really was great fun seeing inside some of the trains. they had ramps up to them so you could get high enough to view into the actual trains which had all been laid out inside how they would have done when they were on the lines as working trains.
We even had a got at trying to push one, with no avail of course. We then found the biggest one we could see, it was black and had red and white wheels. Just to compare, I put Charlie’s pram at the side to show you how big it in fact was.
The Museum also boasts a few rides too. The miniature steam and diesel trains giving children a chance to have a short ride and then you could pop outside to have a ride on a fully working full sized steam train. This was £2 per person with under 2’s going free and is approximately an 8 minutes journey.
Thomas loved being on the train and getting to see a real working steam train was great. Inside it held a coal furnace and a huge wheel which Thomas could even move as it was so big, bulky and heavy. Outside, there were views all around. We even had a little peak at a windmill out in the distance.
As the Big fun with Little Trains event is all about miniature trains, we popped along to have a looksy at the Garden Railway and the model railway. The details put into these models, not just on the trains but on the layout is fantastic. The buildings, trees and even car are all built to scale to make the model look as real as it possibly could. Thomas loved watching the various different trains going round the tracks, he even wanted to have a go himself at playing with them.
As he couldn’t play with the models we popped along to see the Chuggington challenges which were taking place there. The Chuggington Stack Track Challenge looked fun and there was a play area where the children got to play with some chuggington trains. It really was Big Fun with Little Trains.
As we were at a bloggers event we had a room booked for us which had lunch and some toys for the children. The sandwiches, apt train biscuits and refreshments went down a treat with everyone as did the Chuggington toys which were laid on out each table.
It was great to see all the other bloggers there too although apologies if you saw me and I did not recognise you, my memory for faces is so bad.
After the boys were all played out and Thomas had received a Chuggington train toy as a present from the TOMY team who were there, we popped down to the gift shop to buy a few bits. We purchased Thomas a new train for his track at home and some National Railway branded products. A huge pink lolly, a cup with a curly straw and a tube which made squeaky noises.
On the train home all Thomas spoke about was trains and how much fun he’d had at the museum, asking when we could return to visit again. Overall, a successful day out and fun for the whole family.
This sounds lovely. Really liking the pictures too.
How HUGE is that black train!? lol
It was massive 🙂 I was so shocked at how big some were
Wow that looks like fun my kids love trains and very cheap!!! Looks like u all had a good timex
Wow sounds amazing. Pics are fab too xx
Thanks 🙂
My son would love that museum. We have a mini steamer train place where we live that has live mini steamer trains you get to ride on. Pretty cool place! New follower :). Hope you can stop by my place sometime and say HI!
Following from the Let's Get Social Sunday hop.
I love old trains, and my kids would enjoy this as well. We have a small open-air train nearby that goes to an old coal camp town that we've taken a couple of times.
It really was a fun day out 🙂
Wonderful day trip! We love trains and would enjoy this outing. This was so fun to see your photos, including the York Wheel and Cathedral. SO different from southern California. Enjoyable post!
Looks fun! My eldest would have loved this when he was younger – he was mad for trains until he was about 8!!
I saw loads of young children there, eyes all lit up, so happy 🙂
We live in York so often go to the train museum .Sydney loves trains so he never gets tired of going. We take a packed lunch and spend a couple of hours there.We were there on wednesday but it was very busy with half term .Still had fun . 🙂
It was quite busy when we went too. Lucky you living so close 🙂
It really was 🙂
I went there as a thirteen year old with the school and for the second time recently as a 53 year old and it made me feel like a boy again!
Loved your review and photos! We went there too at Easter and we all enjoyed it! York isn't too far from us – so we went by train!
We had a trip to your part of the country these holidays. City of York by BusTour which was fabulous, especially as it was raining! A day at FlamingoLand…what an amazing place for thrill seekers. Then a visit to Scarborough beach! Loved it and plan to spend a holiday in Yorkshire again!