Thomas and the Breakdown Train (2024)

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Well, Thomas, I've heard all about it, and I'm very pleased with you. You're a Really Useful Engine. James shall have some proper brakes and a new coat of paint, and you shall have a branch line all to yourself.

The Fat Controller

Thomas and the Breakdown Train, retitled Thomas Saves the Day in American releases, is the seventh episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book Thomas the Tank Engine.

Plot[]

The Fat Controller 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, a new one named James, is being pushed by a long line of trucks and cannot stop as his brake blocks are on fire. As James disappears under a bridge, Thomas gapes in shock and wishes to teach the trucks a lesson. Soon, an alarm rings and the signalman informs them that James has derailed. Thomas is coupled to the Breakdown Train and heads to the scene of the crash.

Further down the line, James is lying on his side in a field. His driver and fireman check him for damages and tell James that the fault lies in 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, while the workmen deal with the ones in the field. Thomas works as hard as he can, 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 Controller, 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
• Sir Topham Hatt
• Edward Template:Does not speak
• Henry Template:Does not speak
• Annie and Clarabel Template:Do not speak

Locations[]

• Tidmouth Template:Mentioned
  • Tidmouth Sheds
    • The Works
    • Tidmouth Goods Station
    • Tidmouth Sheds Yard
  • Rail Under Road Bridge and Stone Wall
• The Cow Field
• Knapford Bus Yard
• Elsbridge
• Gordon's Hill Template:Note

Trivia[]

• The events of this episode were later recreated and retold in The Adventure Begins. An additional sequence was created in which Thomas goes after James and unsuccessfully tries to prevent him from crashing.
• This episode marks James' official introduction to the television series. Despite appearing in all episodes prior to this one, he was never acknowledged in any way.
• Stock footage from Edward, Gordon and Henry and Thomas and the Trucks is used.
• There are a few differences in the restored version of the episode:
  • When Thomas says "I'd like to teach those trucks a lesson", there is a pause before he moves his eyes.
  • The shot of the signalman shouting "James is off the line! The breakdown train, quickly!" is extended.
  • Different footage of Annie is used towards the end.
• 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.

Goofs[]

• When Thomas takes on water in the opening shot, his water cap is not open.
• When the narrator says that James' brake blocks were on fire, the metal rod producing the spark effects can be seen sticking out of James' wheels. In the same shot, his pony truck wheels are not moving.
• In the scene when Thomas pushes the Breakdown Train under a bridge, the cranes appear to be covered in white chalk dust. In every other scene, however, they are clean.
• In the close-up of James' wheels when he is put back on the rails, the Breakdown Train behind him is missing.
• When James is set back on the rails, it is daytime, but when he and Thomas go back to Tidmouth Sheds, it suddenly changes to dusk.
• When Thomas and James leave the scene of the crash, one of the cranes moves slightly and one of the trucks is missing its left eye.
• When Thomas and James return to Tidmouth Sheds, the puffing noises continues after they stop.
• In the close-up of Gordon, his driving wheels are going backwards.
• In the Welsh version, the title card disappears too soon, briefly revealing the English title underneath.

In Other Languages[]

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Merchandise[]

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Hornby[]

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Books[]

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Magazine stories[]

• 1987 - Thomas and the Breakdown Train

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Home Media Releases[]

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