Thomas and the Breakdown Train

**Thomas and the Breakdown Train** is the seventh episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from the second Railway Series book Thomas the Tank Engine.

## Plot

The Fat Director always comes to visit Thomas in the yard on his way on the station. He always tells Thomas that while he may not be as big or as fast as Gordon, he can still be a Really Useful Engine. While shunting, Thomas notices a strange green coach and two cranes. His driver explains that they make up the Breakdown Train and are used to lift engines and rolling stock in the event of an accident.

One day, while Thomas is working, he hears an engine whistling for help. The engine is a new one named James, and he is being pushed by a long line of trucks. To make matters worse, his brake blocks are on fire and he cannot stop. As the trucks laugh and James disappears in a cloud of smoke, Thomas gapes in shock and becomes determined to teach the trucks a lesson. Soon an alarm rings and the signalman comes out shouting that James has derailed, so the Breakdown Train is needed at once. Thomas is coupled to the Breakdown Train and hurries to the scene of the crash.

Further down the line, James and his train have derailed into a field and he is lying on his side. His crew checks him for any damage and tells James that the fault lies on his wooden brakes, which they had never approved of. Thomas arrives with the Breakdown Train and removes the trucks that are still on the rails from the scene, while the workmen recover the derailed ones with the Breakdown Train. Thomas works harder than ever, going backwards and forwards with the trucks until they have all been cleared away.

Soon, James is lifted out of the field by the cranes and carefully set back onto the rails. He is unable to move by himself, so Thomas pulls him back to the shed as evening falls. Waiting for them is the Fat Director, who congratulates Thomas on all his hard work. He arranges for James to be given proper brakes and a new coat of paint and rewards Thomas with a branch line of his own.

Now Thomas is happier than ever. Not only does he have a branch line, he also has two new coaches named Annie and Clarabel. He now gets to pull trains all day and often meets Edward and Henry at the junction. Gordon is often in a hurry, but still whistles to Thomas, who always whistles back.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Gordon
* James
* Troublesome Trucks
* The Fat Director
* Edward *(does not speak)*
* Henry *(does not speak)*
* Eagle *(does not speak)*
* Judy and Jerome *(do not speak)*
* Annie and Clarabel *(does not speak)*

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
	+ Goods Station
	+ Yards

* The Cow Field
* Ffarquhar Junction
* Elsbridge
* Sodor Steamworks

## Trivia

* This episode marks James' official introduction to the series.
* This is also the only time James is shown in his old black livery. This livery is the same one as seen in the original Railway Series book, Thomas the Tank Engine.
* This episode marks the first for a few things:
	+ This is the first episode to feature an engine crashing, albeit not on-screen. The first episode to feature an on-screen crash was The Flying Kipper.
	+ This episode marks the first time an engine's tender is detached.
	+ This episode marks the first mention as well as a scene of Thomas' Branch Line.

## Transcript

Thomas and the Breakdown Train Transcript