Thomas the Tank Engine banger sets off for the Med
BBCA family saloon car with a characterful clutch is taking part in a rally to the Mediterranean after being transformed into Thomas the Tank Engine.
The 16-year-old Citroen Picasso has been given a makeover in the style of the famous steam engine by a team from Haltwhistle, Northumberland, and will take part in the Monte Carlo or Bust rally this weekend.
The group are taking part in the challenge, which encourages competitors to source a car for less than £500 and hit the road to Monaco, to raise money for the South Tyneside Railway Charity.
Competitor Alex Birkinshaw said: "Hopefully, it'll get to Monaco. And it might get us home as well."
The car-turned-Really Useful Engine will cover about 1,000 miles (1,600km) in three days to reach Monte Carlo, passing through Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France on the way.
Birkinshaw said: "Two weeks ago, it was just a normal car and a nasty lime green colour."
Converting it into a tribute to the Rev W Awdry's 1946 children's book took "two full days", he said.
Fellow team member Martin Campbell said this was his third time taking part in the rally, but "every time is a particular challenge".
He was keeping his fingers crossed that Thomas would be able to make it through the mountainous terrain because "the clutch has seen better days".
South Tyneside Railway chair Ian Millward said the money raised was being used to restore a train called "Barber", who is not a former Citroen Picasso but a historic steam engine from 1908.
He said of the rally team: "They're as mad as a box of frogs, but it's absolutely brilliant."
The rally starts in Belgium on Friday with Team Thomas hoping to reach Monaco on Sunday.
