The railway train, that is described as an invention of a fictional James Waters in 1812, is actually based on the machines by the British inventor Richard Trevithick, which he built in 1802-1805. Also none of them exploded.
The opening of the famous royal privileged Bavarian Ludwig railway started its first route between Nuremberg and Fuerth on the 7th December 1835, not in the summer as described in the movie.
The story about the incident of Caston Hill, England, from 1813 is pure fictional since railway trains back then were only English Mine Railways for delivering coal to the ports near the rivers, as well as used at the coal mines. Also these trains were already established for coal transport for years. Therefore the people would not have been afraid of the technique.
The railway train Puffing Billy by William Hedley was not running for 40 years but for almost 50 years, 1813-1862.
Claaßen is recommending the 1924 released book "Of the iron horses and routes" by Ing. Dr Walter Strauss and refers to it as his source for knowledge. However neither of his stories are mentioned in the book. Also the book is known for being very inaccurate as well.