Like many 4-year-olds, Benny Nelson adores Thomas the Tank Engine. He has amassed a collection of more than 40 engines in the Thomas & Friends line, which he shares with his 2-year-old brother, Theo.

"We need to name the engine first," his father tells him. "Why don't we call it Thomas the Tank Engine ... Interestingly, this early collection contained stories about the sad engine, Edward ...

It was restored and made available for viewing for the first time on Friday. By Victor Mather Thomas the Tank Engine notices a funny smell. He breaks a rule, has a mishap and gets stuck.

Why don’t we call it Thomas the Tank Engine?’ Two and a half years later, the opening instalment in a collection of children’s books called the Railway Series made its first appearance on ...