Narrow Gauge Breakdown Train

The Narrow Gauge Breakdown Train is composed of one crane and conflat. It is often hauled by Rusty and used to mend the line and put engines back on the rails. The crane was also seen on the Mid Sodor Railway in the television series. Unlike the North Western Railway's breakdown train, the Narrow Gauge breakdown train does not have a works unit coach for the workmen. However, it is occasionally equipped with a brake van.

It appeared in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eleventh series. In the Railway Series, the breakdown crane was only mentioned in the book, Duke the Lost Engine.

A secondary type of Breakdown Train mounted on an open-wagon truck and accompanied with a brown brake van.

Technical Details

Basis

The primary Narrow Gauge Breakdown Train is based on a French Magnard six ton crane used in World War I.

Livery

From the fourth series to the sixth series, the primary breakdown train was painted a reddish-brown all over. From the seventh series onwards, the crane itself became green while the conflats remained red.

Appearances

Trivia

• The large-scale model of the Breakdown Crane was briefly reused as a stationary crane used for set dressing at the Works and Knapford Sheds in the seventh series episodes, Something Fishy, Bulgy Rides Again and Gordon and Spencer.
• The small-scale model of the Breakdown Crane, which was used in the fourth and fifth series, is owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch.

Merchandise

• Take Along (discontinued; known as "Rescue Cars")
• Plarail (discontinued)