Steam along thomas steams again!

I wouldn't bother trying unless you don't mind wrecking thomas, from what I understand they have a delicate mesh inside that vaporises the water i imagine oil would clog it up as it's far less viscous, as for the wires breaking.... It's quite a common thing, on the packaging it asks you to not excessively move the coupling, I've seen several with new wires on the outside of the coupling...... When my sons failed I soldered new cables between thomas and the coach and let them run on the outside, I don't know if the coupling makes a trapping point? But it seemed wise not to run the cable inside it anymore,

As for the oil to smoke when that happens they have a small electrical element that heats up, the oil comes close to the element and heats up and a fan blows the fumes up the chimney, you have to be careful and make sure the element doesn't touch the oil or it can set on fire! And then you get authentic smoke!!!