Something is somewhat wierd here. First, you said you've been wondering how it was powered, and asked about it. Then, you (almost) answered your own question by assuming it was tender drive (which it is).
If I recall, the Fisher Price (pre-Revolution) version, while still tender driven, didn't have traction tyres on the driving wheels.
Super's assumption makes perfect sense. Most, if not all special pieces of rolling stock (such as the chuffing Annie, the Jet Engine and the Chinese Dragon), as well as the tiny unpowered Plarail Thomas, Percy and James, have traction tyres on the wheels that trigger their respective actions, despite not being powered. I'd assume this was done for the same reason he brought up.
If I recall, the Fisher Price (pre-Revolution) version, while still tender driven, didn't have traction tyres on the driving wheels.
Super's assumption makes perfect sense. Most, if not all special pieces of rolling stock (such as the chuffing Annie, the Jet Engine and the Chinese Dragon), as well as the tiny unpowered Plarail Thomas, Percy and James, have traction tyres on the wheels that trigger their respective actions, despite not being powered. I'd assume this was done for the same reason he brought up.
![[-]](https://www.blueplastictracks.org/images/collapse.png)