SR 25 Ton Brake Vans

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SR 25 Ton Brake Vans
Background Information
First appearance	Thomas, Percy and the Coal (1986)
Last appearance	Kenji on the Rails Again (2021)
Character Overview
Country	Island of Sodor England Australia China Colombia India Kenya Tanzania United States
Technical Details
Basis	SR Diagram 1579 25 ton brake van
Gauge	4'8½" (1,435 mm; standard gauge)
Vehicle	Rolling stock
Wheels	4
Designer(s)	Eastleigh Works
Railway	North Western Railway British Railways Gator's Railway East African Railways Southern Railway (formerly)

SR 25 Ton Brake Vans are a standard type of goods brake van used on the North Western Railway. They have also been seen on several railways abroad.

Technical Details

Basis

These brake vans are based on the Southern Railway (SR) Diagram 1579 25 Ton brake van. These brake vans were constructed in several batches between 1928 and 1948, and were nicknamed "pillboxes" due to their shorter size compared to the previous "dance hall" brake vans.

Several of these brake vans are preserved, including one (No. 55993) at the Bluebell Railway.

A real SR 25 ton brake van

Liveries

Throughout the model series, these brake vans were generally seen in varying shades of grey with black roofs.

A dark grey brake van

A light grey brake van

A brown brake van

A blue-grey brake van

In the CGI series, they are seen in a variety of colours, including dark plum, dark green, white, purple-grey and light grey, all with black roofs and duckets.

A dark plum brake van

A blue brake van

A dark green brake van

A white brake van

A purple-grey brake van

A light grey brake van

Appearances

• Television Series
• Other Media

Thomas & Friends Series 2 - Thomas, Percy and the Coal, Cows, Old Iron, Thomas and Trevor, Duck Takes Charge, Percy and Harold, Percy Takes the Plunge, Pop Goes the Diesel, Dirty Work, Better Late Than Never, Break Van, Percy's Predicament, The Diseasel, Wrong Road, Ghost Train, Woolly Bear and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree Series 3 - A Scarf for Percy, Time for Trouble, Donald's Duck, Henry's Forest (deleted scene), No Joke for James, Trust Thomas (deleted scene), Mavis, Toby's Tightrope, Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party (deleted scene), Escape, Oliver Owns Up, Bulgy and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure Series 4 - Granpuff, Four Little Engines, A Bad Day for Sir Handel, Steam Roller, Passengers and Polish, Rusty to the Rescue, Train Stops Play, Bowled Out, Henry and the Elephant and Toad Stands By Series 5 - Horrid Lorry, A Better View for Gordon (deleted scene), James and the Trouble with Trees, Gordon and the Gremlin, Bye George!, Put Upon Percy, Haunted Henry, Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday and Busy Going Backwards Series 6 - Salty's Secret, Harvey to the Rescue, No Sleep for Cranky, A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter, Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry, The Fogman, Jack Jumps In, A Friend in Need, It's Only Snow, Twin Trouble, The World's Strongest Engine, Percy and the Haunted Mine, Middle Engine, Jack Frost, Gordon Takes a Tumble, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, Thomas, Percy and the Squeak and Edward the Very Useful Engine Series 7 - Emily's New Coaches, Percy Gets it Right, What's the Matter with Henry?, James and the Queen of Sodor, Toby's Windmill, Bad Day at Castle Loch, Something Fishy, Peace and Quiet, Bulgy Rides Again, Harold and the Flying Horse, Best Dressed Engine, Gordon and Spencer, Not So Hasty Puddings and Three Cheers for Thomas (stock footage) Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - Jack Owns Up, On Site with Thomas, Mud Glorious Mud, Percy's Scary Tale, Percy Helps Out and A Happy Day for Percy Series 8 - Percy's New Whistle, Thomas to the Rescue, Henry and the Wishing Tree, James Gets a New Coat, Thomas Saves the Day, Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough, Don't Tell Thomas, Emily's New Route, Thomas and the Firework Display, Edward the Great, Squeak, Rattle and Roll, Thomas Gets it Right, As Good as Gordon, Emily's Adventure, Halloween, You Can Do it, Toby!, James Goes Too Far, Chickens to School, Too Hot for Thomas and Percy and the Magic Carpet Series 9 - Percy and the Oil Painting, Thomas and the Rainbow, Molly's Special Special (deleted scene), Thomas' Milkshake Muddle, Mighty Mac, Respect for Gordon, Tuneful Toots, Thomas and the Toy Shop, Thomas Tries His Best, The Magic Lamp, Henry and the Flagpole, Thomas' New Trucks, Bold and Brave, Saving Edward, Thomas and the Golden Eagle and Flour Power Series 10 - Percy and the Funfair, The Green Controller, Toby's Afternoon Off, It's Good to be Gordon, Seeing the Sights, Toby's New Shed, Edward Strikes Out, Topped Off Thomas, Which Way Now?, Big Strong Henry, Sticky Toffee Thomas, Thomas' Frosty Friend, Emily and the Special Coaches, Thomas and the Colours, Thomas and the Birthday Mail, Missing Trucks and James the Second Best Series 11 - Thomas and the Storyteller, Dirty Work, Henry's Lucky Day, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Thomas and the Big Bang, Thomas Sets Sail, Don't be Silly, Billy, Toby's Triumph, Thomas and the Runaway Car, Thomas in Trouble, Cool Truckings and Sir Handel in Charge Series 12 - Thomas and the Billboard, Henry Gets it Wrong, Heave Ho Thomas!, Toby's Special Surprise, Excellent Emily, The Party Surprise, James Works it Out, Tram Trouble, Don't Go Back, Thomas Puts the Brakes On, Percy and the Bandstand and Best Friends Series 13 - Creaky Cranky, The Lion of Sodor, Tickled Pink, Double Trouble, The Early Bird, Toby's New Whistle, Thomas and the Runaway Kite, Steamy Sodor, The Biggest Present of All, Buzzy Bees and Hiro Helps Out Series 14 - Thomas' Tall Friend, Charlie and Eddie, Toby and the Whistling Woods, Thomas in Charge, Merry Winter Wish, Thomas and the Snowman Party, Thomas' Crazy Day, Thomas and Scruff and Jitters and Japes Series 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Up, Up and Away!, Surprise, Surprise, Stuck on You and Percy the Snowman Series 16 - Race to the Rescue, Express Coming Through, Ho Ho Snowman, Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Thomas Toots the Crows, Bust My Buffers!, Percy and the Calliope, Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor, Salty's Surprise, Sodor Surprise Day, Emily's Winter Party Special, Muddy Matters and Whiff's Wish Series 17 - Scruff's Makeover, Wayward Winston, Henry's Hero, Luke's New Friend, The Thomas Way, Percy's Lucky Day, Bill or Ben?, No Snow for Thomas and Santa's Little Engine Series 18 - Old Reliable Edward, Disappearing Diesels, Signals Crossed, Toad's Adventure, Duck in the Water, Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger, Marion and the Pipe, Missing Gator, No Steam Without Coal, Spencer's VIP, Toad's Bright Idea, Long Lost Friend, The Perfect Gift, Timothy and the Rainbow Truck, Samson at Your Service and Samson Sent for Scrap Series 19 - Who's Geoffrey?, Snow Place Like Home, Toad and the Whale, Very Important Sheep, Salty All at Sea, Den and Dart, Slow Stephen, Reds vs. Blues, The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead, Philip to the Rescue, Diesel's Ghostly Christmas, Goodbye Fat Controller and Wild Water Rescue Series 20 - Sidney Sings, Toby's New Friend, Ryan and Daisy, Pouty James, All in Vain, Three Steam Engines Gruff and The Missing Breakdown Train Series 21 - Springtime for Diesel, A Most Singular Engine, Dowager Hatt's Busy Day, Stuck in Gear, Cranky at the End of the Line, New Crane on the Dock, Unscheduled Stops, Philip's Number, The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor, A Shed for Edward, The Big Freeze, Emily in the Middle, Terence Breaks the Ice and Daisy's Perfect Christmas Series 22 - Number One Engine, Forever and Ever (fantasy), Confusion Without Delay, Trusty Trunky, Thomas Goes to Bollywood, An Engine of Many Colours, Outback Thomas, Apology Impossible, Samson and the Fireworks, Thomas' Animal Ark, Thomas and the Dragon, Rosie is Red, The Case of the Puzzling Parts, Banjo and the Bushfire, Counting on Nia and Hunt the Truck Series 23 - Free the Roads, Chucklesome Trucks, Steam Team to the Rescue and Panicky Percy Series 24 - Thomas and the Forest Engines, A New Arrival and Kenji on the Rails Again Specials 2000 - Thomas and the Magic Railroad 2005 - Calling All Engines! 2008 - The Great Discovery 2009 - Hero of the Rails 2010 - Misty Island Rescue 2011 - Day of the Diesels 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery 2014 - Tale of the Brave 2015 - The Adventure Begins and Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure 2016 - The Great Race 2017 - Journey Beyond Sodor 2018 - Big World! Big Adventures! Music Videos Series 9 - Day and Night Learning Segments Series 8 - Being on Time, Sharing, What Thomas Needs to do in the Winter, Helping One Another and Edward Helps Emily Up Gordon's Hill Calling All Engines! - Which Things are the Same? Series 9 - Same Colour, What Route Should Thomas Take?, Which Load for Which Route?, Knowing What To Do, Cool Down Delivery and What Goes Where? Series 10 - Where is Henry's Coal?, Old Route New Route, Toby's Favourite Place and Diesels and Steamies Videos 2015 - Welcome to the Island of Sodor Logan! and A New Friend on Sodor

Books 1986 - Thomas and Trevor and Duck Takes Charge 1989 - Meet Thomas the Tank Engine and His Friends 1991 - Thomas and Trevor 1992 - Toby's Tightrope 1993 - Thomas the Tank Engine Storybook 1995 - Your Favourite Thomas the Tank Engine Story Collection 2003 - Percy's Chocolate Crunch and Other Thomas the Tank Engine Stories 2004 - A New Friend for Thomas, James and the Red Balloon and Other Thomas the Tank Engine Stories and Thomas and Arthur's Fishy Day 2005 - Story Treasury and Thomas and the Fogman 2006 - Thomas, James and the Diesels, Thomas, Percy and the Chocolate Express, Too Hot for Thomas and Track Stars! 2007 - Harvey to the Rescue, Movie Theater, Percy's Chocolate Crunch and Thomas' Milkshake Muddle 2008 - Arthur's Harbour Run, Percy and James in the Middle, Percy Gets It Right, Steam Engine Stories and Thomas, Percy and the Funfair 2009 - Percy and the Spirit of the Island of Sodor, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Thomas and the Naughty Trick and Thomas, James and the Dirty Work 2010 - 10 Books Special Collection, Traveling Tales, Thomas and the Bumpy Ride, Thomas and the Ghost Engine and Other Stories, Thomas and the Ice Cream Express, Thomas' Mixed-Up Day/Thomas Puts the Brakes On and You Can Do It, Toby! 2011 - Thomas Bedtime Stories and Toby Don't Cry 2012 - Oh no! I Can Not Remember and Hate! I Want To Go to the Beach 2013 - Do Not Refuse Me 2020 - Marvelous Machinery/The Royal Engine Magazine Stories 2003 - A Foggy Friend, Castle Celebrations! and Dirty Work 2004 - Dirty Percy!, Edward to the Rescue!, Harvey to the Rescue!, Monster Mistake!, Really Useful Edward and Thomas Gets It Right 2005 - Cheers for Thomas, Ice Cream for Thomas and You Can Do It, Toby! 2009 - Thomas and the Big Bang 2010- Henry Gets It Wrong! 2022 - Free the Roads! 2023 - Apology Impossible and Thomas' Animal Ark Annual Stories 2020 - The Animal Ark Video Games 1998 - Magical Adventure 2006 - TeleStory: Thomas Visits the Toy Shop and Thomas' Milkshake Mix 2007 - DVD Bingo

Trivia

• A few of these brake vans are on display:
  • A Gauge 3 brake van was previously on display at the British Museum in 2015 and was later put on display at the Clearwater exhibition in October 2021.
  • A few Gauge 1 brake van models are on display at the Hara Model Railway Museum.
  • One of the Gauge 1 brake vans was for a brief time on display at the Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition during construction.
• The brake vans seen between the second and fifth series were made out of modified Tenmille gauge one kits. These kits are still distributed by Tenmille today.
• One of these brake vans was modified into a flatbed for use on Thomas & Friends' sister show TUGS. After TUGS ended, it was returned to the Thomas & Friends studio and had continued use as a flatbed, between the third and fifth series.
  • In the third series it retained side poles added for its use on TUGS, but these were removed by the fourth series so it could transport road vehicles such as Caroline and the Horrid Lorries.
• These brake vans appear in every series with the exception of the first.
• A brake van in the TrackMaster Sodor Power Plant Trucks pack bears the number ADS 58299 and TOPS code YTX on its side. These appear to have been based on the real brake van ADS 56299, an ex-Southern Railway "Queen Mary" brake van (classified as YTX under the TOPS system and similar in body design to the "Pillbox" brake vans) which at one point was used by the English, Welsh & Scottish Railway.

Merchandise

• TrackMaster (discontinued)

North Western Railway

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--- Dropped | * 1991-1994 maps only | ** 2014 map only