Drayton Manor theme park will unveil a new family-friendly ride this half-term (28th May – 5th June), as Blue Mountain Engines steam into Thomas Land.

New for 2011: Blue Mountain EnginesOpening on Saturday 28th May in Thomas Land, Blue Mountain Engines is a wonderfully themed ride featuring four carriages, each based on new characters from Skarloey Railway; Sir Handle, Skarloey, Rheneas and Peter Sam. In the wonderful world of Thomas & Friends, Skarloey Railway runs from Crovan’s Gate to the passenger terminal at Skarloey.

A total of 32 people will be able to go on the ride each time, including 16 adults, which means mums and dads can sit happily in the carriages with their children. The ride is located near to the entrance of Thomas Land, replacing Terrance’s Driving School, which has been moved to an area near Farmer McColl’s Farm.

This will be the first new ride for Thomas Land since the attraction opened in March 2008. Thomas Land currently has a range of family friendly rides based on characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Cranky the Crane and the Troublesome Trucks. There are also indoor and outdoor play areas, as well as a shop and café.

For thrill seeking visitors there’s the adrenaline-inducing, 54-metre high drop tower, Apocalypse, the skin-soaking Stormforce 10 and petrifying gondola swing, Pandemonium, which guarantees to turn your world upside down.

Younger visitors will love the 4D Cinema, which is this year showing Marvin the Martian in the 3rd dimension. There’s also a 15-acre zoo, which is popular with all ages.

Drayton Manor, the UK’s biggest independently owned theme park, welcomes over 1.2 million visitors every year.