Butch

* Butch the Breakdown Vehicle
* Butch the Tow Truck

* III
* II
* I

**Butch**, also known as the "**Sodor Heavy Recovery Unit**", is a yellow and navy blue breakdown lorry, equipped with a low loader. He is kept busy in construction areas, clearing rubble, towing broken-down or stranded vehicles or assisting in engine rescues.

## History

### Thomas & Friends

Butch first appeared towing Lorry 3 to the docks after he broke down. After that, he received many cameo appearances. He also helped with the demolition of Tidmouth Sheds in *Calling All Engines!* and the rebuild of Great Waterton in *The Great Discovery*. He is now part of the Search and Rescue Team.

In the fifteenth series, he was given a magnet.

In the sixteenth series, Butch broke down and needed to be towed to the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre by Flynn.

In the seventeenth series, Butch towed Flynn to the Rescue Centre when he got a flat tyre when racing to a fire. He later told Flynn about the fire at Brendam Docks and encouraged him to fight it.

In the nineteenth series, Butch accidentally sprayed Thomas with mud after he got stuck while pulling a tractor. He also tried to move a whale back to the ocean but could not when it was discovered that the tide was too far out.

Later, Butch was present when The Mayor of Sodor presented the Search and Rescue Centre with a new alarm bell and was also present to help Diesel and Percy when they were stuck in the water at the Old Quarry.

After Thomas had an accident, he derailed far away from the rails so he was pulled by Butch to the Steamworks. Butch later attempted to get Rocky back on the rails by himself, but only stopped when his engine was at risk of blowing out.

## Personality

Butch is serious about his job and loves working, especially with his railway friends. Despite his size, Butch has a kind heart and is always ready when his service is needed.

According to the "*Thomas and Friends Writers' Bible*", Butch is described very strong with a nature to match. However, he is a bit sour, because all he does is pick up wrecks.

## Livery

Butch's front is painted yellow and his trailer is painted navy blue, with "SODOR HEAVY RECOVERY UNIT" written on both sides in white. Since *Misty Island Rescue*, he has the logo of the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre on his cab doors.

## Trivia

* Until the fifteenth series, Butch primarily appeared as a background character and his only speaking role was in a LeapPad book called *Thomas the Really Useful Engine*.
* In the Norwegian dub of the nineteenth series, Butch is called "Buck"; however, the subtitles still refer to him as Butch.
* Butch is one of three characters to have been given a face after originally not having one, the other two being Henrietta and Big Mickey.
	+ He is also so far the only character who did not have a face originally, but was given one in the same season he was introduced in.
* Butch's magnet from the fifteenth series episode, *Stuck on You* was later reused for a magnet at the Steelworks in *Journey Beyond* *Sodor*.
* Butch's model is currently on display at Drayton Manor.
* He is a road vehicle constructed out of a lorry, crane and a diesel.
* Butch was only referred to by name once in the model series, as the rest of his appearances in that era were cameos.
* He has a driver in *Horrid Lorry*, referred to as "Tow Truck Man". He provided exposition for the fates of Lorries 1 and 3.
* He is one of twelve non-human characters to make his first speaking role after his debut series and/or special, the other eleven being Flying Scotsman, Toad, Bert, Paxton, Norman, Sidney, Yong Bao, Rajiv, Shane, Big Mickey (since he did not have a face until the twenty-first series) and Shankar. He and Big Mickey are also the only non-rail non-human character to not speak in his debut season. Furthermore, Toad is the only rolling stock character in this case.