NER 20 Ton Brake Vans

The BR 20 Ton Brake Vans are a type of goods brake van.

These are added to the back of a goods train and a guard rides in it. Each brake van is equipped with a strong brake to assist with slowing and stopping the train. From here, the guard can keep an eye on the train in case of problems, such as hot axle boxes, or trucks becoming uncoupled while running.

The Railway Series
These brake vans are commonly seen on the back of goods and freight trains. They serve as Sodor's main type of brake van.

One of these brake vans was once part of James' good train. As the reached Gordon's Hill, the Troublesome Trucks broke free from James. However, the guard applied the van's breaks and got out to warn approaching engines.

Henry had once collided into a brake van when while pulling The Flying Kipper. The crew of the goods train that Henry collided in, were drinking coco in the brake van, fortunately they left the van before the crash.

Once some cows broke through a fence, ran across the line and broke a coupling, which caused the last 7 Cattle Trucks of Edward's train and it's brake van to be left behind. Edward, who believed the jerk was caused by the trucks getting up to mischief, continued on his journey, unaware of the mishap until much later.

The Spiteful Brake Van, another van of this design, caused grief for James, Donald and Douglas. In an attempt to cause trouble for James, he urged the Troublesome Trucks to hold the train back. Douglas was called to help James' train up Gordon's Hill. However, the van found himself wedged between Douglas and the rest of the train. The guard jumped clear as the van was subsequently crushed by Douglas.

Miscellaneous
One day, while Percy was arranging a line of trucks at the harbour. The shunter's attention forgot to couple the brake van. The guard, unaware of this, blew his whistle and Percy sets off quickly, without a brake van. Percy started so quickly that one of the truck's couplings came loose and as Percy puffed up the hill, the weight of the trucks behind him snap the coupling. The last four trucks roll back down the slope and hit the brake van with a bump. Luckily, the guard sees the runaway trucks coming and screws the brakes hard on before jumping clear. Afterwards, Percy agrees that brake vans are vital after all.

Personality
A large majority of brake vans are non-sentient. However, there are at least 2 known vans depicted with faces. In summary, they are described as being spiteful and stern.

Known sentient vans:

Basis
These brake vans are based on the real NER 20 Ton vans. In the Railway Series, the Spiteful Brake Van share the same basis.

Livery
These brake vans are painted grey and brown. There are also red brake vans with white lettering privately owned by the Sodor China Clay Company.

Appearances
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Trivia

 * To date, the Spiteful Brake Van, the Elderly Brake Van and the brake van in the second season episode, A Close Shave are so far the only known brake vans of this design to have faces.
 * A few brake vans are on display; one at Drayton Manor, one at the British Museum, and a few at the Hara Model Railway Museum.
 * Between the eighth and fifteen seasons, brake vans were rarely seen. Since the sixteenth season, brake vans have been seen more often.
 * The brake vans seen from the first to the fifth season were made out of modified Tenmille gauge one kits. These kits are still distributed by Tenmille today.
 * In the episode Percy's Predicament, the brake van that Percy collides into is missing its duckets.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway (as the Spiteful Brake Van; discontinued)
 * Motor Road and Rail (discontinued outside Asia)
 * TrackMaster
 * Thomas Engine Collection Series (with Post coach; discontinued)
 * Bachmann (HO and large scale)
 * Hornby (two versions; brown and grey; grey discontinued)
 * Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)