Early 20th-century farming was revived Saturday in McLouth, and an imaginary blue train engine with a smiling face became more than just a cartoon in Baldwin.

The annual McLouth Threshing Bee and Thomas the Tank Engine at Baldwin’s Midland Railway are drawing thousands of people this weekend.

For Tom Bryant and his three sons, Nathan, 7, Jonathan, 5, and Samuel, 2, it was their first trip to the Threshing Bee after hearing about it from a McLouth resident. They wanted to see threshing machines, steam engines, and antique cars, trucks and tractors.

“It’s been very interesting to see these machines,” Bryant said, after the Easton family finished watching the 1919 Advanced Rumley threshing machine in action. “You learn a lot.”

Donald Cutshaw and his son, Josh, however, have been driving from Louisburg to the Threshing Bee at least since Josh was 10 years old.

“I like the old equipment and the antique tractors and cars as well,” said Josh Cutshaw, now 25. He carried a video camera to record some of the sights.

Today at 2:30 p.m., the Threshing Bee will feature the Outlaw Hot Rod Pullers Assn. and its 500- to 3,000-horsepower tractors. At 5 p.m. will be a draft horse pull. Various children’s events will be conducted throughout the day.

A demonstration of the Rumley came to a momentary halt Saturday as Nathan Gardner was using a pitch fork to load it with oats from a wagon.

“I looked down and saw something furry and then it started moving,” said Gardner, of rural McLouth.

Jonathan Michaels, 5, peers out the window of a passenger car on the Midland Railway. Thousands of train enthusiasts converged on Baldwin this weekend for a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, a popular children's cartoon character. Proceeds from this weekend's event will go to extending the rail's line to Ottawa. Jonathan, from Leavenworth, rode the train with his parents and brother on Saturday.

A closer inspection revealed three kittens, probably only a couple of days old, Gardner said. He called over his 16-year-old daughter, Neva Gardner, to take care of the kittens.

“We don’t know where the momma is,” said Gardner, noting that the wagon of oats had been in a nearby barn for a few days.

In Baldwin, Thomas the Tank Engine was making its second trip to the Midland Railway. A visit in June 2002 drew thousands of people, railway officials said. They were expecting about 9,000 people to visit this weekend and again this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to the train rides, visitors can check out a Thomas the Tank memorabilia tent and have their fortunes told. There is also plenty of food and drink.

“There are a lot of things to do besides ride the train,” Midland spokesman Bill Pendleton said. “It’s kind of a carnival-like atmosphere out here.”

Katlyn Ruoff, 5, Savannah, Mo., sits on the lap of her grandfather, Bob Ruoff, Stewartsville, Mo., in front of a 1933 International pickup truck at the annual McLouth Threshing Bee. The two attended the antique tractor show Saturday in McLouth. The bee concludes today.

The train rides behind Thomas the Tank Engine start today at 9 a.m. and continue to 5:15 p.m. They begin every 45 minutes. The rides last about 25 minutes. The price of a boarding ticket is $14 for everyone age 1 and over. Tickets are still available and can be ordered by calling (866) 468-7630.