SPENCER — The N.C. Transportation Museum estimates that Thomas the Tank Engine drew the site’s largest crowds ever last weekend.

The big, blue steam locomotive with a beaming gray smiley face hauled 18,245 people around the museum grounds, according to ticket sales. That’s roughly five times Spencer’s population and the largest gathering for any event since the old Spencer Shops reopened to the public as a museum in 1983.

Visitors came from as far away as Texas, Colorado and Montreal, said Kelly Alexander, administrative assistant for the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation, which raises money to support the museum.

“There was just a tremendous amount of people in this community,” Alexander said. “It was the largest event we’ve ever held.”

The event included drawing, face painting, storytelling, music, food and a “post office” where children could send postcards. Visitors also picked up roughly $90,000 in memorabilia at the museum over the weekend, Spencer Mayor Buddy Gettys said.

Thomas the Tank Engine takes to the tracks again in Spencer on the weekend of Oct. 20-22.

“I’d say they’re going to have to restock the souvenir tents,” Gettys said.

Thomas the Tank Engine is the star character in a series of children’s books and cartoons on public television. Also present from the series last weekend was Sir Topham Hatt, who presides over the railway system on the mythical isle of Sodor.

Thomas the Tank Engine drew nearly 14,000 to the N.C. Transportation Museum last year.

This year, the locomotive is visiting 10 sites around the United States — ironically, by flatbed trailer.