Volunteers needed to keep Thomas on track

The woman in charge of lining up volunteers for Thomas the Tank Engine during the next two weekends said she still needs help.

Glenda Hartwig, volunteer coordinator for “A Day Out With Thomas,” said she still needs volunteers to fill several duties during Thomas’s visit.

“We really need help on those Sundays,” Hartwig said. “We need people on Saturdays, too, but right now I’m mostly worrying about this weekend. I need people.

“Lining up volunteers is so hard right now -- right after John C. Fremont Days and with so many vacations,” she continued. “Last time Thomas was here we used almost 450 volunteers. We’re still really short on volunteers. We need volunteers to help do the things that need done to make this a successful event.”

“A Day Out With Thomas” is brought to Fremont this weekend and July 25-27 by the Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad.

Thomas the Tank Engine, which is owned by New York City-based HIT Entertainment, was in Fremont in 2002 and 2003. FEVR president Shirley Angermund said about 16,000 people came to ride the FEVR passenger cars escorted by Thomas the first year, and about 10,000 people rode the second year.

FEVR officials expect at least 10,000 people to visit this time.

Hartwig said she does have help from several local businesses and service clubs. Altrusa, Rotary, Kiwanis and Optimist clubs in Fremont are stepping up, as well.

“A lot of people are volunteering on their own, too,” she said. “But we still need people in all areas.”

She mentioned specifically needing more volunteers in the imagination station area -- which provides children with a place to play with coloring books, rubber stamps and Legos -- and in the merchandising area -- which features several Thomas the Tank Engine products for sale.

Volunteers are being blocked in short blocks each day, 8-10 a.m., 10 a.m. to noon, noon to 2 p.m. and 2-5 p.m., Hartwig said. Anyone wanting to volunteer can call Hartwig at 727-1144, but she said contact by e-mail is preferred at giggi1358@yahoo.com.

The 20- to 25-minute ride on the FEVR passenger cars escorted by Thomas starts at FEVR’s depot, 1835 N. Somers Ave., in Fremont, and goes along FEVR’s track to about the U.S. Highway 275 bypass.

On the official Web site for HIT Entertainment, the calendar for Thomas the Tank Engine appearances shows that the Fremont visit is his only trip to Nebraska this year. The only close visit this year is to Boone, Iowa -- about a 3 1/2 hour drive -- in September.

Tickets are still being sold online. Tickets purchased will be available at the will call window on the south side of the depot. Tickets, which will be $18 each, can be bought through www.ticketweb.com or by calling 1-866-468-7630.

Ticket prices are set by HIT Entertainment, Angermund has said, adding a few tickets will be on hand at FEVR’s depot the days of the event for any walk-up traffic.

The two-weekend event is a fundraiser for FEVR.