The Breakdown Train is composed of two cranes, flatbeds and a coach for the workmen.
Breakdown Cranes[]
There are two Breakdown Cranes, which are manned by workmen and deployed at accident scenes to lift engines, coaches and trucks back onto the rails. They are also used for maintenance work across the railways.
Biography[]
Model Series[]
These Breakdown Cranes resided at the Tidmouth Engine Works. In its first appearance, Thomas brought the Breakdown Cranes to rescue James after a crash caused by the Troublesome Trucks.
They had since been involved in many rescue operations such as recovering Henry after his accident with The Flying Kipper, lifting Thomas out of Callan Pond, and hauling Oliver out of the turntable well. The cranes have also been used for maintenance work across the railways such as strengthening The Viaduct's arches, clearing fallen trees from the tracks, and assisting in the restoration of Great Waterton.
Thomas, Edward, and Harvey are the most frequent engines seen pulling the Breakdown Cranes in the event of an emergency. However, since Rocky's arrival, the breakdown cranes have rarely appeared.
CGI Series[]
Since The Adventure Begins, the breakdown cranes were reintroduced as Judy and Jerome. They were used by Thomas to rescue James after his crash with some trucks.
Judy and Jerome remained on a siding at Knapford for several years, and with the arrival of Rocky, they became obsolete. Fortunately, Judy and Jerome were later relocated to the Harwick Branch Line. Together they now handle emergencies on the west side of the Island, while Rocky works on the east.
In Big World! Big Adventures!, another Breakdown Train was seen in China helping Nia back on the track. When Thomas derailed, Rajiv brought the Breakdown Train to put Thomas back on the rails in India.[1]
Personality[]
In the Model Series, the Breakdown Cranes are portrayed as faceless and non-sentient. Although, one of these cranes was referred to with male pronouns in the 2005 book, Railway Rhymes, with a description reading: "The Breakdown Train, he has no name. He is quiet, strong and spare. But if there's a crash and a train go smash, the Breakdown Train is there."[2]
In the CGI Series, Judy and Jerome are described as heavy sleepers, who usually only awake if there is an emergency. They are also very talkative when awoken. However, Judy and Jerome take their jobs seriously and are always ready for an emergency and respond with zeal and vigour.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The Breakdown Cranes are based on the Cowans Sheldon standard 15-ton steam crane. These were constructed from the 1890s to 1910s. They operated all over Great Britain and Ireland, with examples surviving into the British Railways era and the last being withdrawn in 1968. One of these cranes is preserved at Whitehead Railway Museum in Ireland. It was built in 1912, served until 1977 and passed into preservation in 1980.
_Breakdown_crane.jpg "GNR(I) Breakdown crane.jpg (217 KB)")
Livery[]
The cranes are all painted grey-green. In the CGI series, Judy and Jerome are painted dark green-grey with yellow hazard stripes along their sides. They have brass nameplates on the sides of their cabs.
The Chinese cranes are painted light green with yellow hazard stripes, while the Indian cranes are painted yellow.
Appearances[]
Annual Stories
Magazine Stories
Books
Video Games
|
Official Description[]
From Official Media:[2]
| “ | The Breakdown Train: The Breakdown Train has a small coach and two cranes that are used for lifting heavy things like engines, coaches and trucks. The Breakdown Train helps pull engines out of trouble.
Historical Note: The Breakdown Truck is based on a typical unit that first went into service in the 1940's. |
” |
Trivia[]
- One of breakdown crane's models along with the works unit coach used to be on display at Drayton Manor; it is now in storage. The breakdown cranes were later put on display at the Clearwater Event.
- In the UK dub of the game Trouble on the Tracks and the ERTL merchandise descriptions, the Breakdown Train is referred to as the "Breakdown Truck" for unknown reasons.
- After the first series, the cable drums seen on the cranes' arm disappeared.
- In Thomas and the Magic Railroad, the cranes both had posters reading "Sir Topham Needs You" on the back of their cabs.
- In various annuals, books and magazines, the breakdown cranes are illustrated with drastically different designs and varying liveries.
- In the first series episode Thomas and the Breakdown Train, one of the cranes is seen moving on its own. This is accurate as the real life basis could indeed propel itself, albeit only at very slow speed.
Merchandise[]
- ERTL (discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Hornby (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
- Departing Now (discontinued)
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
- Waku Waku (discontinued)
- Lionel Trains (known as Sodor crane car and caboose; cancelled)
Flatbeds[]
These are 4-wheeled Flatbeds that usually accompany the breakdown cranes.
In addition, these flatbeds are often used for transporting loads. These include engines, cars, scrap metal, cargo, other machinery and equipment.
Biography[]
In the second series, Trevor was transported on one of these flatbeds from the Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard to the New Harbour. When Thomas was ill, Edward brought him to The Works on one of these flatbeds. In the third series, Edward carried Thomas on a flatbed after he was rescued from Callan Pond. Douglas later transported Oliver to the Works following his incident in the turntable well.
In the fourth series, Edward used the Breakdown Train to transport Rheneas to the Skarloey Railway following his long absence after being overhauled. In the fifth series, the flatbeds were used to transport The Horrid Lorries away after their comeuppance, and George to various construction jobs across Sodor.
In the eleventh series, while carrying Sir Topham Hatt's Car, the flatbed became a runaway from Thomas. In the twelfth series, Edward chased a waterwheel which had rolled off his flatbed.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The flatbeds are based on the chassis of Cowans & Sheldon 15 ton cranes. This is unusual, as such a heavy duty flatbed is not required to support the crane's jib.
Livery[]
The flatbeds are all painted grey-green. In the CGI series, they are painted dark green-grey.
The Chinese flatbeds are painted light green and the Indian flatbeds are painted dark green-grey.
Appearances[]
Annual Stories
Magazine Stories
Books
Video Games
|
Official Description[]
From Official Media:[3]
| “ | Breakdown Train and Flatbed: When an engine derails or there is trouble on the tracks, Sir Topham Hatt turns to the Breakdown Train to help save the day. | ” |
Trivia[]
- Two flatbeds used to be on display at Drayton Manor. One had a tractor and some hay bales, and the other had the water wheel from the twelfth series episode, Steady Eddie. The flatbeds were later put on display at the Clearwater Event.
Merchandise[]
- ERTL (discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Hornby (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (discontinued)
- Departing Now (discontinued)
- Nakayoshi (discontinued)
- Waku Waku (discontinued)
- Lionel Trains (known as Sodor crane car and caboose; cancelled)
Works Unit Coach[]
The Works Unit Coach is a special coach exclusively used to transport workmen on the North Western Railway.
Biography[]
During winter, Donald and Douglas are equipped with snowploughs and coupled back-to-back with a Works Unit Coach between their tenders, as they travel backwards and forwards patrolling and clearing the line of snow.
Harvey the Crane Engine is often accompanied with a Works Unit Coach in the event of an emergency or maintenance work across the railways. BoCo once brought the Works Unit Coach to rescue Derek who was stranded on Gordon's Hill. During the reconstruction of Great Waterton, Toby once brought the workmen to assist the Sodor Construction Company. Salty was later seen delivering tree specialists to amend the Sodor Wishing Tree when it was struck by lightning.
In the CGI Series, several more Works Unit Coaches were introduced with various liveries. These coaches were also used as part of mixed-freight trains and on a rare occasion, with passenger trains. Judy and Jerome are accompanied with an orange-brown Works Unit Coach.
Personality[]
In the Television Series, these coaches are portrayed as faceless and non-sentient. However, in a rare Time-Life promotional artwork, one of these coaches was illustrated with a face.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The works unit coach is a freelance design, although they do bare a resemblance with some pre-grouping company builds (from the Great Northern and Great North of Scotland railways).
Livery[]
The works unit coach is painted grey-green. There are also several other works unit coaches, all painted in different liveries, such as blue, grey, dark green and orange-brown with a grey rooftop.
Appearances[]
Magazine Stories
Books
Video Games
|
Trivia[]
- The Works Unit Coach's model used to be on display at Drayton Manor; it is now in storage. It was later put on display at the Clearwater Event.
- Since the fourteenth series, many recoloured versions of the works unit coach have been seen, mostly being used in goods trains. The coach also gained several windows.
- In The Railway Series, it is stated that the Works Unit Coach is also used to aid and transport injured people.
Merchandise[]
- Motor Road and Rail (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Hornby (discontinued)
- Lionel Trains (known as Sodor crane car and caboose; cancelled)
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ T&F S22 #4: "Trusty Trunky"
- ↑ Railway Rhymes "The Breakdown Train"