MONTICELLO - I think I can, I think I can was Payton Ade's theme song as the 3-year-old arrived at the Monticello Railway Museum Sunday afternoon.

And he was so right; he really could ride "The Little Engine That Could" and get to meet the metallic star of one of his favorite children's stories. Thomas the Tank Engine still remains his absolute favorite, of course, but young boys in search of fantastic talking trains learn not to look a gift express in the mouth.

"Train," said Payton, who lives in Mahomet. "Train, train."

Along for the ride with him were 8-month-old sister Madison and their parents, Christina and Nelson. "Payton loves trains, he just loves them," said Christina, 30. "We've watched the movie, but we don't have the book yet - we're going to try to find it today."

And then it was on to the station platform and an up-close look at the big shiny blue engine, cunningly mocked up with a face on the funnel and clouds of faux steam. Hooked to several passenger cars, she (yes, she is a she in the story) has sound effects saying "I think I can" as she chugs out of the station pulling more than 200 passengers along 7½ miles of track and "I thought I could" when she gets back.

The re-created choo-choo measures 8 feet, 4 inches wide, 13 feet tall, 25 feet long and weighs 30,740 pounds. It's on a nationwide tour heralding the upcoming release of a shunting yard full of Little Engine toys, dress-up sets and accessories, and the Monticello Museum was only its third stop so far. Complete with costumed characters from the book riding the train and meeting and greeting the kids, the engine's pulling power (it actually doesn't pull anything, another locomotive does the work) was awesome: Museum officials estimate several thousand visitors had been to see and ride it since the train first arrived Friday.

With that many eager passengers all aboard, the museum enjoyed a rare chance to show off its other attractions and make some money into the bargain. "This is a fantastic opportunity," said director John D. Sciutto. "And it's helping to spread the word of our museum nationwide."

Their big project right now is the refurbishment of a real steam locomotive that dates to 1907, which they plan to have running in 2006. "That's our No. 1 goal," said Sciutto.

*There's still time to catch The Little Engine That Could. She'll be giving rides on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before leaving. For reservations and details, call 762-7082 or go to www.mrym.org.

Tony Reid can be reached at treid@;herald-review.com or 421-7977.