IPSWICH is set to become home to yet another world record after The Workshops Rail Museum successfully created the longest toy train track ever.
They are still waiting for official verification from the Guinness World Records, but it was all smiles trackside yesterday as a toy Thomas the Tank Engine train travelled around the 2km circuit.
Having the train travel the distance was essential for the record, and with Thomas crossing the finish line in just under three hours, the longest toy track title is in the bag.
A crowd of school groups and families were on hand to watch the record attempt launch, but those who missed out will have another chance to see it this Saturday.
The Workshops Rail Museum director Andrew Moritz said the idea for the record attempt came three months ago.
He said it was a great event for the kids but also a great way to have the museum showcased on the international stage on this, Thomas the Tank Engine’s 65th anniversary year.
“It came in at two hours and 52 minutes, which was a little bit faster than what we expected,” Mr Moritz said.
“We were at the finish line to cheer Thomas home. There were still some school groups around who joined in on the cheers.”
Ipswich mother Melissa Langbein said her two children William, two, and Aidan, 11 months, enjoyed the fanfare of the record attempt.
“William is a huge Thomas fan – he loves it. I saw it on the Today show and decided to come down. It looks impressive,” she said.
A bigger version of the iconic blue engine oversaw the record attempt, along with Sir Topham
Hatt and the Fat Controller, who made sure everything ran on time.
Track facts
Exactly 2.014km long.
10,197 pieces of Thomas the Tank Engine Fisher-Price TrackMaster pieces were used.
It took 20 workers 214 hours to build the track, which incorporates 40 spiral towers.
It is 364m longer than the previously-held record, which was built in Odaiba, Japan in 2006.
