The BR 20 Ton Brake Vans are a standard type of goods brake van. They are added to the back of goods trains and guards ride in them. 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.
Biography
The Railway Series
Stepney used one of these brake vans to help transport four cricket players and Caroline to the Elsbridge Cricket Field after she had broken down[1].
One of these brake vans was involved in an accident when Oliver fell down the turntable well[2].
Thomas & Friends
The BR 20 Tons are commonly seen on the back of goods trains. They are Sodor's main type of brake van. The brake vans have also been used as part of the Mail Train, the Flying Kipper and the Circus Train.
A van attached to a goods train once waited on a siding to let Henry and the Flying Kipper pass while Henry's crew were enjoying cocoa in the brake van. As snow had forced the signal and points to fail, Henry collided straight into the train at full speed and unable to stop. The crew had just left the train and avoided the crash[3].
One of these brake vans (along with the Troublesome Trucks) broke away from their engine Edward, and chased Duck down Gordon's Hill. The trucks had bumped their guard off his brake van, and left him far behind after he had whistled a warning. Duck and his crew bravely attempted to take control of the train, but crashed through a barber shop[4].
The Spiteful Brake Van, another van of this design, caused grief for James and 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 crushed by Douglas.[5].
When Percy's train of Troublesome Trucks barged forward and push him down the line and into a train of stone trucks, he destroyed a stationary brake van and perched himself on the remains of a truck[6].
Bill and Ben took a party of railway enthusiasts in a "brake van special" for a tour of the China Clay Works[7].
Personality
A majority of brake vans are non-sentient. However, there are at least three known vans depicted with faces. They are spiteful, elderly, and troublesome respectively.
Types of sentient brake vans:
Named BR brake vans
Technical Details
Basis
These brake vans are based on the real BR Standard 20 Ton vans. The Elderly Brake Van and Spiteful Brake Van (TV version) share the same basis.
Types of brake van designs
Livery
In the Railway Series, one of these brake vans is painted brown with a white roof and red bufferbeams.
In the television series, these brake vans are commonly painted in different shades of grey. They have also been seen in dark brown, dark blue, and dark purple.
Appearances
BooksAnnualsMagazines |
Trivia
- To date, the Spiteful Brake Van, the Elderly Brake Van and the brake van in A Close Shave are the only known brake vans of this design to have faces.
- A few brake van models are on public display: one at Drayton Manor, and at the Hara Model Railway Museum. The model for one of these was on display for a brief time at the British Museum in 2015.
- The brake vans seen from the first to the fifth series were made from modified Tenmille gauge one kits. These kits are still distributed by Tenmille today.
- In Percy's Predicament, Percy collides with a brake van that is missing its duckets.
- In the same episode, and another one, the base of another brake van was used as a truck.
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)
References