What is a tank engine, as in Thomas the Tank Engine?
If you are a parent or grandparent, then you probably know exactly what this Question of the Day is about. Thomas the Tank Engine is a merchandising phenomenon that includes small wooden train sets, video tapes, books, clothing, an official Web site and tons of fan sites. I have a son who loves trains, so I understand completely. This page has a nice set of pictures of Thomas and the other engines in the series. There are a few things to notice in these pictures: • Edward, Henry, Gordon and James all have coal cars. • Thomas has no coal car. • Thomas has square tanks beside his cylindrical boiler. The other engines do not have these tanks. • Thomas is carrying his own coal in a small bin behind the cab. The square tanks beside the boiler are what make Thomas a “tank engine.
