Thomas the Tank Engine: Too Popular For Its Own Good?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2025 6:06 pm

Shared without comment:

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/nationa ... e/3734124/

Quote:

A New York woman who was going more than 100 miles per hour on Interstate 95 North in Madison, Connecticut, with a 2-year-old in the car told police she was speeding because she was late for a “Thomas the Train” event, according to police.

State police said troopers were conducting motor vehicle enforcement on I-95 North in Madison on Sunday morning when they saw an SUV that was going more than 100 miles per hour just after 8:30 a.m.

They clocked the SUV at 102 miles per hour, pulled the vehicle over in the median and saw a 2-year-old in the back seat, according to state police.

The driver, a 37-year-old woman from Brooklyn, New York, told state police that she was speeding because she was running late to a "Thomas the Train" event in Essex, according to police.

State police arrested the driver and charged her with reckless driving, reckless endangerment in the second degree, risk of injury to a minor and failure to stop on right side of road.

She was released on a $500 bond and is set to appear at Middletown Superior Court on May 16.

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 615

One of those circumstances that I feel a little bad about it. Just seems like a mom wanting to get her kid to a fun event for them and running late.

Can't justify it obviously but I can empathize with the emotions of that.

Patrick Fahey · **Joined:** Tue Dec 06, 2022 8:31 am **Posts:** 75

Hi
Even tho this was a Thomas the tank engine event,, it is not worth getting a ticket for.. I do understand the woman just wanted to make her son Happy to see Thomas.. but now she will see the judge..
It is unfortunate that this happened.. Pat.

co614 · **Posted:** Fri May 02, 2025 9:24 am

Believe it or not, one of the points railroad lawyers always make when evaluating on a proposed steam event is the " attractive nuisance" factor. Anyone traveling to witness a steam event can sue the railroad as being at fault by offering this " attractive nuisance" that "made " them travel to see it and thus get into the accident.

I have personally witnessed this causing the Class 1 to deny permission to operate a steam excursion.

Sad but true. Ross Rowland

mmi16 · **Joined:** Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:05 pm **Posts:** 182

Mother grabbing at any excuse she thinks might float. The Thomas excuse sinks.

Lima Superpower · **Joined:** Fri Mar 17, 2017 3:46 pm **Posts:** 70

co614 wrote:

Believe it or not, one of the points railroad lawyers always make when evaluating on a proposed steam event is the " attractive nuisance" factor. Anyone traveling to witness a steam event can sue the railroad as being at fault by offering this " attractive nuisance" that "made " them travel to see it and thus get into the accident.

I have personally witnessed this causing the Class 1 to deny permission to operate a steam excursion.

Sad but true. Ross Rowland

The "attractive nuisance" argument is one of the most utterly absurd concepts in the entire construct of the American legal system, and I would throw my full support behind ANY politician that made an effort to put an end to it. It is an absolute affront and insult to the Constitution and out ideals of freedom and personal responsibility.

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 615

Lima Superpower wrote:

The "attractive nuisance" argument is one of the most utterly absurd concepts in the entire construct of the American legal system, and I would throw my full support behind ANY politician that made an effort to put an end to it. It is an absolute affront and insult to the Constitution and out ideals of freedom and personal responsibility.

I can see the argument for such legislation… more in the context of something like traffic accidents caused by rail fans, or injuries or deaths caused by rail fans not paying attention to the road and stuff.

I do agree however that it’s an attempt to prevent stupid people from themselves. And I don’t think that holds water in the cases of localized events. You couldn’t make the argument that this Thomas event would apply to “an attractive nuisance”.

NVPete · **Posted:** Thu May 08, 2025 9:32 pm

Thomas Derangement Syndrome... LOL

Becky Morgan · **Joined:** Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:22 pm **Posts:** 484

Attractive use needs a heavy overhaul. There’s a big difference between that that mother did and dumb TikTok stunts.
I remember a farmer who almost had to cut doen his apple trees because a spoiled parent kept telling their kid to get out the the car and pick wnat they wanted. Out here, Dickinsom Longhorns put up a big sign (and gift shop they hadn’t meant to) because people on I-70 kepd screeching to a halt on I-70.

psa188 · **Posted:** Sun May 11, 2025 8:04 pm

Lima Superpower wrote:

The "attractive nuisance" argument is one of the most utterly absurd concepts in the entire construct of the American legal system, and I would throw my full support behind ANY politician that made an effort to put an end to it. It is an absolute affront and insult to the Constitution and out ideals of freedom and personal responsibility.

"Attractive nuisance" is another method where stupid, selfish people dodge responsibility for their actions. Shame on the judges who allow people to get away with this garbage.

This is why you cannot have fun stuff.

Txhighballer · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:49 am **Posts:** 770

Ok this is going to sound radical, but here it goes. People chase because it's a RARE event, one which might not be repeated in the near future. Make the steam trips more regular, and that issue goes away. You don't see that issue with Durango and Silverton or Chama because steam is just about guaranteed to either be seen or ridden behind. Other steam heavy railroads are in the same boat. Regular steam= no attractive nuisance argument.

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 615

Txhighballer wrote:

Ok this is going to sound radical, but here it goes. People chase because it's a RARE event, one which might not be repeated in the near future. Make the steam trips more regular, and that issue goes away. You don't see that issue with Durango and Silverton or Chama because steam is just about guaranteed to either be seen or ridden behind. Other steam heavy railroads are in the same boat. Regular steam= no attractive nuisance argument.

I can buy this for some events… but I really don’t think I can for others.

Like the situation with CP 2816 in Mexico. I fully agree with you there because looking at the videos of how much attention there was before the 2816 struck that lady, it’s eye opening. When was the last time there was a mainline steam tour in Mexico like that? The 80’s?

This is a big discussion in the UK with Flying Scotsman. Now, I’m not going to firmly state how much it would travel in a given year, but I have to imagine that the number of tours and museums that steam locomotives, including flying Scotsman, go on in a given year is much higher than it is here, and that doesn’t stop people from being stupid. There’s articles written about it every year, and you can always point out the 2007 “Vidiot” incident involving 70013 Oliver Cromwell, with the guy nearly getting struck by another train.

Here in the US, frontier day trains being a generally traditional occurrence at that time didn’t stop UP 844 from striking a careless person trying to get a picture.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2025 4:44 pm

Steamguy73 wrote:

I can buy this for some events… but I really don’t think I can for others.

Like the situation with CP 2816 in Mexico. I fully agree with you there because looking at the videos of how much attention there was before the 2816 struck that lady, it’s eye opening. When was the last time there was a mainline steam tour in Mexico like that? The 80’s?

This is a big discussion in the UK with Flying Scotsman. Now, I’m not going to firmly state how much it would travel in a given year, but I have to imagine that the number of tours and museums that steam locomotives, including flying Scotsman, go on in a given year is much higher than it is here, and that doesn’t stop people from being stupid. There’s articles written about it every year, and you can always point out the 2007 “Vidiot” incident involving 70013 Oliver Cromwell, with the guy nearly getting struck by another train.

Here in the US, frontier day trains being a generally traditional occurrence at that time didn’t stop UP 844 from striking a careless person trying to get a picture.

Who remembers the video of the "kid" engrossed on his cellphone shooting video of UP Big Boy 4014 and being LITERALLY picked up by another guy to move him out of the way mere feet in front of an approaching UP freight that was sounding its horn and ringing its bell?

And that, I will remind you, was simply Union Pacific transporting a yet-to-be-restored Big Boy dead in tow, not a steaming loco!

You might understand now why, if there were a steam-powered Freedom Train in 2027, the Class Ones and even regionals would DEMAND it move under cover of darkness on a "secret" schedule!

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue May 13, 2025 12:49 am

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

Who remembers the video of the "kid" engrossed on his cellphone shooting video of UP Big Boy 4014 and being LITERALLY picked up by another guy to move him out of the way mere feet in front of an approaching UP freight that was sounding its horn and ringing its bell?

And that, I will remind you, was simply Union Pacific transporting a yet-to-be-restored Big Boy dead in tow, not a steaming loco!

Apparently eleven years ago this week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwO-IWorGv4

Christopher Stone · **Joined:** Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:23 am **Posts:** 74

co614 wrote:

Believe it or not, one of the points railroad lawyers always make when evaluating on a proposed steam event is the " attractive nuisance" factor. Anyone traveling to witness a steam event can sue the railroad as being at fault by offering this " attractive nuisance" that "made " them travel to see it and thus get into the accident.

I have personally witnessed this causing the Class 1 to deny permission to operate a steam excursion.

Seems to be a bit of a stretch to blame a Thomas event when you're caught speeding on the Interstate three towns away. She could just as likely been running late for a dentist visit or to drop off kid at school.

Thomas the Tank Engine: Too Popular For Its Own Good?

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