Visitors to the exhibit will be delighted as they find themselves surrounded by the Island of Sodor ’ s iconic locations : Knapford Station , Sodor Steamworks , and much more . In the exhibit , children help Thomas and his friends solve a variety of challenges , from a simple sorting and shape identification activity to more complex engineering obstacles , such as completing a train track using track pieces with different levels of elevation . As children encounter new challenges and test their abilities , the smiling faces of Thomas , Percy , Victor , and others are there to offer encouragement and remind children how “ really useful ” they all are . Inside the Exhibit :
• Climb into Thomas ’ cab and explore the engine ’ s inner workings . Flip levers and investigate other movable parts that trigger train noises such as braking , whistles , and steam .
• Fix Percy ’ s wobbly wheel by removing and replacing parts and experimenting to find a combination of wheels , rods , and bolts that work .
• Explore the favorite Island of Sodor destinations including : Tidmouth Sheds , Brendam Docks and the Sodor Search & Rescue Station on an oversized Thomas Wooden Railway train table .
• Work with old and new friends loading luggage , livestock , and other freight into the coaches of two train cars .
• Collaborate with others to get Percy moving by loading coal into his coal box and filling his tank with water from a water tower .
• Suit up as the conductor to exchange money and sell tickets to other visitors taking a ride on the train .
• Wander through a Thomas & Friends retrospective featuring model engines from the original live action series produced in London , copies of the original drawings and manuscripts from the Rev . W . Awdry , the creator of Thomas & Friends , and a collection of memorabilia documenting the history and evolution of Thomas & Friends through books , television , and toys .
The Thomas & Friends exhibit was designed and developed by Minnesota Children ’ s Museum in partnership with Mattel , Inc . Fisher-Price , the leading manufacturer of infant and preschool toys , is the presenting sponsor for the exhibit .
Admission to Thomas & Friends : Explore the Rails ! is included with admission . For more information about the exhibit at CMON , please visit cmon . org . For information about the overall Thomas & Friends : Explore the Rails ! tour , visit : www . thomasandfriends . com / enus / events .
About the Golisano Children ’ s Museum of Naples
The Golisano Children ’ s Museum of Naples is a brain-building powerhouse and Southwest Florida ’ s first museum devoted for children and families to learn through play . With hands-on exhibit galleries , the accessible museum invites visitors of all ages to journey through the swamps of the Everglades , weave through a maze , climb a two-story banyan tree , or experiment with the
water play station . Children can become a weather forecaster , a farmer , a chef , a fisherman , an artist , an architect , or a veterinarian ; explore the cold of an igloo , the whoosh of the wind , the sound of the sea , and the effects of gravity . Throughout the day special activities encourage our guests to get involved , try something new and be energized . CMON offers a variety of interactive exhibits providing kids with education , play , learning , science , technology , engineering , inventions , space exploration , art , math , storybooks , creation , building , sensory , and child development . About Thomas & Friends ® Thomas the Tank Engine™ was created over 70 years ago , by a British clergyman , the Rev W Awdry , as a storybook for his son . That story quickly grew to become