Thomas, a tank engine, is not Thomas the Tank Engine.

Summary by Krater

Tom Scott visits the Nene Valley Railway in Huntingdonshire to ride aboard Thomas the Tank Engine, exploring how the iconic character's real-life counterpart engine was named and experiencing what operating a steam train is really like.

From the video

Answers: What is the real story behind Thomas the Tank Engine?

• Nene Valley Railway
• Thomas the Tank Engine history
• Steam locomotive operation
• Railway copyright and trademarks
• Tank engines

What it concludes

• The Thomas the Tank Engine character was created in 1946 by the Reverend W. Awdry in his railway book series.
• The Nene Valley Railway operates the original Thomas engine, named directly by the Reverend W. Awdry years before any trademark existed.
• Driving a steam train is physically demanding work requiring careful coordination of coal shoveling, vacuum braking, and fire management.