Breakdown Train

*“The cranes are for lifting heavy things like engines and coaches and trucks.”*
―Thomas' driver, Thomas and the Breakdown Train, first series
The **Breakdown Train** is composed of two cranes, flatbeds, and a coach for the workmen.

## Description

The breakdown train is pulled to accident scenes to lift engines, coaches and trucks onto the rails. The train is manned by workmen. Thomas once brought it to rescue James after he crashed into a field from being pushed by the Troublesome Trucks.

Since Rocky's arrival, the breakdown cranes were rarely seen, but the works unit coach - in several colours - has regularly appeared in the CGI Series.

The breakdown train returned in The Adventure Begins, in the form of Judy and Jerome, gaining new colours and increasing in size. Additionally, the works unit coach is now painted orange-brown, its Railway Series livery.

In Big World! Big Adventures!, another Breakdown train was seen in China helping Nia back on the track.

In Series 22, Rajiv was seen pulling a breakdown train to rerail Thomas.

## Basis

In the Railway Series, the cranes and flatbeds are based on a Cowans Sheldon 45-ton breakdown crane. In the television series, the cranes and flatbeds are based on a Cowans Sheldon 30 ton breakdown crane.

The works unit coach is based on a Great Western Railway "LE4MW" class coach, which has been converted into a workmen's compartment coach. However, in the Railway Series, it appears similar to the non-corridor suburban coaches operated by the LMS.

## Livery

The cranes and flatbeds are painted dark green-grey, as was the coach in the model series and early CGI series. In the Railway Series and from The Adventure Begins onwards, the coach is painted orange-brown with a grey roof and "WORKS UNIT" painted on its sides in white.

The Chinese cranes are painted light green with yellow hazard stripes.

The Indian cranes are painted yellow.

## Appearances

### Railway Series

* **Thomas the Tank Engine** - Thomas and the Breakdown Train
* **Henry the Green Engine** - The Flying Kipper
* **Toby the Tram Engine** - Dirty Objects
* **Mountain Engines** - Danger Points
* **Duke the Lost Engine** - Sleeping Beauty
* **James and the Diesel Engines** - Crossed Lines
* **Thomas's Christmas Party** (*work unit coach only*)
* **Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree** (*work unit coach only*)

### Television Series

* **Series 1** - Thomas and Gordon, Edward and Gordon, Thomas' Train, Thomas and the Trucks, Thomas and the Breakdown Train, James and the Coaches, Thomas, Terence and the Snow, Tenders and Turntables, Trouble in the Shed, Percy Runs Away, The Flying Kipper, Whistles and Sneezes, Dirty Objects, Off the Rails and Thomas' Christmas Party
* **Series 2** - Thomas, Percy and the Coal, Saved from Scrap, Old Iron, Thomas and Trevor, Percy and the Signal, Duck Takes Charge, The Runaway, Pop Goes the Diesel, Dirty Work, A Close Shave, Better Late Than Never, Break Van, The Deputation (*works unit coach only*), Percy's Predicament, Wrong Road and Ghost Train
* **Series 3** - Gordon and the Famous Visitor, Donald's Duck, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, Diesel Does it Again, Henry's Forest, Trust Thomas, Toby's Tightrope (*works unit coach only*), Buzz, Buzz, One Good Turn, Escape, Oliver Owns Up and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure
* **Series 4** - Steam Roller (*works unit coach only*), Gallant Old Engine, Thomas and Stepney (*works unit coach only*), Train Stops Play, Bowled Out, Henry and the Elephant (*works unit coach only*), Thomas and the Special Letter and Fish
* **Series 5** - Horrid Lorry, A Better View for Gordon, James and the Trouble with Trees (*work unit coach only*), Gordon and the Gremlin, Bye George!, Put Upon Percy, Double Teething Troubles (*works unit coach*), Something in the Air, Thomas and the Rumours, Oliver's Find, Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday, Busy Going Backwards and Snow
* **Series 6** - Harvey to the Rescue, No Sleep for Cranky (*works unit coach only*), A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter, The Fogman, It's Only Snow, Scaredy Engines (*works unit coach only*), James and the Red Balloon, Jack Frost, Gordon Takes a Tumble, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, Thomas, Percy and the Squeak and Edward the Very Useful Engine
* **Series 7** - Emily's New Coaches, James and the Queen of Sodor, The Spotless Record, Toby's Windmill (*works unit coach only*), Bad Day at Castle Loch, Snow Engine and Something Fishy (*mentioned*)
* **Series 8** - Thomas and the Tuba, Percy's New Whistle, Thomas to the Rescue, Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough, Emily's New Route, Squeak, Rattle and Roll, Thomas and the Circus, Halloween and You Can Do it, Toby!
* **Series 9** - Thomas and the Toy Shop, Respect for Gordon, Thomas and the Birthday Picnic, Thomas and the New Engine, Henry and the Flagpole, Emily Knows Best and Keeping up with James
* **Series 10** - The Green Controller, Edward Strikes Out and Sticky Toffee Thomas
* **Series 11** - Hector the Horrid! (*works unit coach only*), Thomas and the Spaceship, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Edward and the Mail, Toby's Triumph and Thomas and the Runaway Car
* **Series 12** - Thomas and the Billboard, Henry Gets it Wrong (*works unit coach only*) and Toby's Special Surprise
* **Series 14** - Thomas and the Snowman Party (*works unit coach only*) and Thomas' Crazy Day (*works unit coach only*)
* **Series 15** - Gordon and Ferdinand (*works unit coach only*), Percy's New Friends (*works unit coach only*), Edward the Hero (*works unit coach only*), Henry's Happy Coal (*works unit coach only*), Surprise, Surprise (*works unit coach only*) and Fiery Flynn (*works unit coach only*)
* **Series 16** - Ho Ho Snowman (*works unit coach only*), Thomas and the Rubbish Train (*works unit coach only*), Bust My Buffers! (*works unit coach only*), Percy and the Calliope (*works unit coach only*), Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor (*works unit coach only*), Salty's Surprise (*works unit coach only*), Sodor Surprise Day (*works unit coach only*), Emily's Winter Party Special (*works unit coach only*), Whiff's Wish (*works unit coach only*) and Happy Birthday Sir! (*works unit coach only*)
* **Series 20** - Love Me Tender (*works unit coach only*), The Missing Breakdown Train and Mucking About
* **Series 21** - Springtime for Diesel and Daisy's Perfect Christmas
* **Series 22** - Trusty Trunky, School of Duck, The Water Wheel and Kangaroo Christmas (*stock footage cameo*)
* **Series 23** - Chucklesome Trucks and Crowning Around

Specials:

* **1992** - Thomas and the U.K. Trip
* **2000** - Thomas and the Magic Railroad
* **2005** - Calling All Engines!
* **2008** - The Great Discovery
* **2011** - Day of the Diesels (*works unit coach only*)
* **2012** - Blue Mountain Mystery (*works unit coach only*)
* **2015** - The Adventure Begins
* **2017** - Journey Beyond Sodor
* **2018** - Big World! Big Adventures!

## Trivia

* The Breakdown Train's model is currently on display at Drayton Manor, although the flatbed underneath the crane's hook is absent.
* In the UK dub of the game Trouble on the Tracks, the Breakdown Train is referred to as the "Breakdown Truck" for unknown reasons.
* 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 front windows.
* In the Railway Series, the Breakdown Train is sometimes seen with two vans, presumably loaded with crane equipment.

## Merchandise

All merchandise but Hornby and Capsule Plarail had only one crane and flatbed and without the works unit coach, although it was sold separately in TOMY.

* ERTL (*discontinued*)
* Wooden Railway (*two versions; both discontinued*)
* Take Along (*discontinued*)
* Motor Road and Rail (*Breakdown Train with Mavis; works unit coach with Harvey; discontinued outside Asia and Japan*)
* TrackMaster
* Hornby (*three versions; discontinued*)
* Capsule Plarail
* Thomas Engine Collection Series (*motorised; with Knapford Station; discontinued*)
* Departing Now (*discontinued*)
* Nakayoshi (*discontinued*)
* Waku Waku (*discontinued*)
* Lionel Trains (*known as sodor crane car and caboose*)