photo by: Mike Yoder

Ryan Steiner, 4, left and his twin brothers Zach and Cole, 6, have their photograph taken by their father, Chad Steiner, Overland Park, in front of Thomas the Tank Engine at the Midland Railway in Baldwin City, May 30, 2009.

As he has for the past 13 years, Thomas the Tank Engine will be pulling his weight for Midland Railway the first two weekends of June.

Midland Railway’s annual Day Out with Thomas will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday and again June 10, 11 and 12. It’s the non-profit historical railroad’s biggest annual fundraiser and provides about a 10th of its annual operating revenue, said Allen Kinsley, Midland Railway general manager. That’s quite a feat when you consider Kinsley says it costs the railroad about $200,000 to put on the event.

The toddler superstar has shouldered that fundraising responsibility, annually attracting about 24,000 visitors. This year, he’ll have help from his BFF Percy the Small Engine, who will be available for rides out of Midland’s home at Baldwin City’s Santa Fe Depot, 1515 High St.

Some of those riding behind Thomas this year will experience firsthand an improvement Thomas made possible. Kinsley said Midland refurbished one of its 1930s passenger cars with last year’s Thomas proceeds and will later add air conditioning to the car. Midland also purchased another passenger car with a non-functioning air conditioning system the railroad plans to repair.

Thomas will start providing rides at 9 a.m. Friday and depart from the depot nine times before the event shuts down for the day at 6 p.m. Tickets to ride Thomas are $19. Percy tickets are only available for those who purchased a Thomas ride, and cost another $10, Kinsley said. Tickets can be purchased online via a link from Midland’s homepage, midlandrailway.org, or at the gate.

There is no admittance without the purchase of a ride ticket, except when all the day’s rides are sold out, Kinsley said. Should that happen, grounds tickets can be purchased for $12.

Percy is not the only new attraction this year as Midland looks to keep the event fresh, Kinsley said. Changes start with the layout of the grounds, which are now all on the depot’s enlarged gravel parking lot or west of the depot. Also new will be a food court near the event’s vendors.

Added this year is a Thomas-themed bouncy house, live entertainment from Mr. David, the Great Parakeet Adventure where children can feed and interact with parakeets, and Marty the Magician’s shows. Returning attractions include photos opportunities with Sir Topham Hatt of “Thomas and Friends,” the Imagination Station filled with plastic and wooden toys for children’s enjoyment, and a petting zoo.

Free parking will be available at the Baldwin school district’s west campus. Signs on U.S. Highway 56 will direct visitors to the lots at the two schools, where air conditioned buses will provide free rides to and from the depot.

Although it predates the annual Thomas visits, the Friends of the Baldwin City Public Library’s annual citywide garage sale benefits from the traffic the Midland Railway event draws. The friends group is selling maps of registered garage sales for $5 from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the library, 800 Seventh St. They will be available for free from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the library.

The annual Eudora High School alumni meeting and dinner will be Sunday at the Eudora Recreation Center, 1638 Elm St. Registration starts a noon and a covered-dish dinner will be served at 1 p.m. The Class of 1966 will be recognized at the reunion.

The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at The Lodge, 502 Ames St. Ken Wagner, owner of Heritage Tractor, will speak on growing a business.

The Baldwin City Senior Mix will meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ives Chapel United Methodist Church, 1018 Miami St. The program will be “A Day at the Beach,” and those attending are encouraged to wear beach or Hawaiian wear.

Eudora Parks and Recreation is getting a jump on Olympic fever with its Eudora Olympics Day, starting at 1 p.m. Thursday at Laws Field, 15th and Elm streets. The free afternoon of competition is open to those 7 to 14 years of age.