2006 marks the 61s t Anniversary of the introduction of The Railway Series, the classic storybooks of Thomas & Friends�. In honor of this milestone, Thomas the Tank Engine is chugging around the country to celebrate with all of his friends! Parents, grandparents and siblings join their aspiring young engineers in sharing the Day Out With Thomas 2006: The Celebration Tour experience. This limited-engagement, oneyear- only experience features a variety of Thomas & Friends�-themed entertainment for the entire family, including:

• Meet and take a photo with Sir Topham Hatt�
• Imagination Station featuring hands-on arts and crafts activities
• Storytelling, video viewing and live music
• Many more 61st Anniversary events!

The 25-minute train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, [a real steam engine,] will depart every 45 minutes, rain or shine, between 9:15am and 4:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays and between 10:00am and 3:15pm Monday through Thursday. This event is expected to sell out, so advance purchase is recommended to ensure a choice of dates and times. Tickets for a Day Out With Thomas 2006: The Celebration Tour are $16.00 for ages two and up. Tickets are on sale now and are available by calling toll-free 866-468-7630, logging onto www.gsmr.com or by visiting Ticketweb at www.ticketweb.com/thomas. For more information and directions contact Great Smoky Mountains Railroad at (800) 872-4681 or www.gsmr.com.

Day Out With Thomas 2006: The Celebration Tour will visit nearly 40 heritage railroads nationwide in 2006, with more than one million visitors expected � all invited to take a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine. For general information or to find a Day Out With Thomas 2006: The Celebration Tour heritage railroad event near you, visit www.thomasandfriends.com.

Day Out With Thomas is presented by HIT Entertainment, www.hitentertainment.com.

About Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Owned and operated by American Heritage Railways, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers half day train excursions through the scenic mountains and colorful countryside of Western North Carolina. For additional information call 1-800-872-4681 or visit www.gsmr.com.

About Thomas & Friends�
Created by a father for his son, Thomas & Friends� invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. In 2006, Thomas & Friends will mark its 61st Anniversary. Today, families in more than 100 countries enjoy fun and adventure with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons. For more information about the world of Thomas and his engine friends, visit www.thomasandfriends.com.

About HIT Entertainment
Established in 1989, HIT Entertainment (www.hitentertainment.com) is one of the world�s leading preschool children�s entertainment producers and rights owners of internationally renowned children�s brands, such as Bob the Builder�, Barney�, Thomas & Friends�, Angelina Ballerina� and Pingu�. HIT acts as a representative for The Wiggles® in the US, UK, and Canada, and as worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company�s library of classic family brands, including Fraggle Rock�. With operations in the US, UK, Canada, and Japan, the company�s activities span television production and distribution, home entertainment, consumer products, publishing and live events. HIT is committed to providing enduring entertainment that supports the values of devoted caregivers and empowers young children with a positive approach to life.

Media Contact:
Connie Southard
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
828-631-6109

For media use only:
For high-resolution downloadable artwork or additional information please go to www.hitnewsonline.com, select U.S. media and then Day Out with Thomas 2006: The Celebration Tour.