The Narrow Gauge Breakdown Train is composed of one crane and a match wagon. It was originally used on the Mid Sodor Railway, before being transferred to Skarloey Railway.
Biography[]
Due to strong winds and rain, the Rheneas Bridge was once damaged and washed away, so Rusty brought the breakdown train and some workmen to construct a new bridge.
After his trucks broke away from him and fell off of the Old Iron Bridge, Peter Sam used the breakdown train to recover his slate trucks from the swamp below.
The breakdown train was used to recover Duncan when his impatience at the Incline Railway sent him plunging into a muddy ravine. The crane was also used to rescue Duncan after a high-speed derailment at Elephant Park.
When Skarloey was trapped on a broken section of the Old Trestle Bridge, Rheneas brought the crane to rescue him.
Later, Rusty and Peter Sam used with the breakdown train to help clear away storm damage and discovered an old railway coach.
Mighty Mac once used the crane to help lay new railway tracks.
Technical Details[]
Basis[]
The breakdown train is based on a French Magnard six ton crane used in World War I. A similar example was once used on the Ffestiniog Railway.
In real-life it has bogies, whereas in Thomas & Friends the chassis was modified from a Cooper Craft O gauge "GWR Match Truck" and has 4 wheels.
Livery[]
Between the fourth to sixth series, the breakdown train was painted a reddish-brown. From the seventh series onwards, the crane itself was repainted dark green while its chassis and the match wagon remained reddish-brown.
Appearances[]
Books
Magazine Stories
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Trivia[]
- In the fourth series, the chassis for the breakdown crane and its match wagon were modified from a Cooper Craft O gauge "GWR Match Truck" (3016).[1]
- The small-scale model of the breakdown crane used in the fourth and fifth series is now owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch.
- The top half of the large-scale model of the breakdown crane was briefly reused as a stationary crane at Knapford Sheds in the seventh series.
- The Plarail breakdown train reuses the same tooling as the standard gauge Breakdown Train. In addition, the Take Along model is loosely based on the standard gauge Breakdown Train.
Merchandise[]
- Plarail (discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued; sold as "Rescue Cars")
- Collectible Railway (discontinued)
See also[]
References[]
Locomotives | Duke | Smudger | Falcon | Stuart | Bertram |
---|---|
People | The Mid Sodor Railway Manager |
Stations | Arlesburgh Harbour** | Arlesburgh Bridge Street** | Ffarquhar Road** | Bertram's Old Mine** | Marthwaite** | Arlesdale Green** | Duke's Station | Cas-ny-Hawin** | Ulfstead Road** | Elm Farm | Ballamoddey** | Valesbridge | King Orry's Bridge** |