The Billings Depot will celebrate its 100th birthday with a visit from Thomas the Tank Engine on July 10-12.

Thomas the Tank Engine, a locomotive with a friendly face, is a character in a popular children's book and TV series.

A 15-ton replica of Thomas will be at the depot to take children and adults on a 25-minute train ride on the hour, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., July 10 and 11. There will be entertainment on each ride.

On July 12, the rides continue, but at 5 and 6 p.m., two trains will take children from Head Start, Eagle Mount and the Autistic Support Group.

In addition to the train rides, several activities are planned those days for the depot, 2310 Montana Ave.

• Sir Topham Hatt, a Thomas the Tank character, will be available for pictures.
• The Pied Piper of Percussion will perform at 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
• A magician will entertain at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.
• Dancers will perform at 5 p.m. each day.
• Several model trains will be displayed.
• Games, inflatables, face painting, storytelling and a professional photographer will be available throughout the celebration.

The depot will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kid-friendly food courts and a coffee cart will be available from opening to closing.

The event, which raises money for the depot, is sponsored by Montana Rail Link and HIT Entertainment.

All family activities are free.

Tickets for the train rides cost $18 or $14 per person for groups of 20 or more. To order tickets, go on the Web to ticket-web.com/downt. Or call Ticketweb toll-free at 866-468-7630 to order tickets. A fee is charged to order over the phone or online.

Tickets without the fee are on sale at the depot.