LIFE imitated an episode of Thomas & Friends at the Canberra Railway Museum on Saturday, with Thomas the Tank Engine forced to undergo repairs for a broken whistle.
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Children turned out in droves for a glimpse of Thomas, seemingly unaware of the ailment of the 13-tonne working engine visiting Canberra for the SPIN festival.
"We always watch Thomas on YouTube. When he comes over to my place, I've got to put Thomas on for him," said Phil, granddad to three-year-old Bryson Kulesza who was kitted out in a Thomas hat and backpack.
Bryson's big brother Lachlan was more coy about the show. "I still like it a bit, but not as much [as Bryson]," the seven-year-old said as they played near the train.
While the engine belched smoke as Thomas posed for photos, his characteristic whistle was silent.
"Unfortunately today they broke the lever for the whistle, so we've got to try to repair that tonight," caretaker Shaun Barker said.
It could have been worse for the staff. "Thomas did have an episode where his whistle wouldn't stop blowing!"
The repair will possibly be fairly minor surgery for the train, after the effort to get him to his Kingston venue.
The former cane train turned quarry engine turned Thomas was trucked from his home in Queenscliff in Victoria last week, but the loading ramps to get him on and off didn't come with him.
"We had to hire two cranes to lift it off the truck and put it on the track that we laid," Mr Barker said. "One [crane] at each end.
"Laying the panel of track took us about two hours, getting Thomas off the truck took about four."
Thomas will be on display again on Sunday at the railway museum from 9.40am to 4pm, with rides on the miniature train and a heritage train to Fyshwick and back included in the admission price.