| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the UK VHS, the UK DVD, the 1987 magazine story, the board book or the Buzz Book. |
| For other uses, see Thomas Saves the Day (disambiguation). |
- “James is off the line! The Breakdown Train, quickly!”
- ― The Signalman warning Thomas about James' derailment and calling for The Breakdown Train to be picked up
Thomas and the Breakdown Train, retitled Thomas Saves the Day on North American releases, is the seventh episode of the first series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book Thomas the Tank Engine.
Plot
The Fat Controller always comes to visit Thomas in the yard on his way on the station and always tells Thomas that, while he may not be as big or fast as Gordon, he can still be a Really Useful Engine. While shunting, Thomas notices a strange green coach and two flat trucks with devices called cranes. His driver explains that they make up the Breakdown Train and that the cranes are used to lift engines and rolling stock in the event of an accident.
One day, while Thomas is working, he hears an engine whistling for help. The engine is a new red one named James and he is being pushed by a long line of trucks. To make matters worse, his brake blocks, which are made of wood, have caught fire and he cannot stop. As the trucks laugh and James disappears under a bridge, Thomas gasps in shock and wishes to teach the trucks a lesson. Soon, an alarm rings and a signalman comes out shouting that James has derailed, so the Breakdown Train is needed at once. Thomas is coupled to the Breakdown Train and hurries to the scene of the crash.
Further down the Main Line, James is lying on his side in a cow field. His crew check him for any damage and tells him that the fault lies on his wooden brakes, which they had never approved of. Thomas arrives with the Breakdown Train and moves the remaining trucks still on the rails out of the way, while the workmen recover the overturned ones with the Breakdown Train. Thomas works harder than ever, going backwards and forwards with the trucks until they have all been cleared away.
Soon, James is lifted out of the field by both cranes and is carefully set back onto the rails. He is unable to move by himself, so Thomas pulls him back to the shed as evening falls. Waiting for them is the Fat Controller, who congratulates Thomas for all his hard work. He arranges for James to be given proper brakes and a new coat of paint and rewards Thomas with a branch line of his own.
Now, Thomas is happier than ever. Not only does he have a branch line but he also has two special coaches named Annie and Clarabel. He now gets to pull trains all day and often meets Edward and Henry at the junction. Gordon is often in a hurry but he still whistles greetings to Thomas, who always whistles back.
Characters
- Thomas
- Gordon
- James
- Troublesome Trucks
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Edward (does not speak)
- Henry (does not speak)
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
Locations
Trivia
- Not only are the events of this episode mentioned in the next episode but they were later recreated and retold in the 2015 special, The Adventure Begins, along with an additional sequence created in which Thomas chases after James and unsuccessfully tries to prevent him from crashing. A reference as well as a flashback from said special was later mentioned and shown in the twenty-first series episode The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor.
- A rare promotional image shows Thomas pulling James back to Tidmouth Sheds with Thomas coupled in front of him. The close-up of Thomas rolling his eyes is from this version. Another shows Thomas pushing the Breakdown Train to Elsbridge while rescuing James.
- This episode marks James' official introduction. Despite appearing in all episodes prior to this one, he was never acknowledged in any way.
- This episode marks:
- The first appearances of James' sad and shocked face.
- The first to feature an engine crashing, albeit not on-screen. The first episode to feature an on-screen crash was The Flying Kipper and this is also James' first accident/derailment but not on-screen.
- The first time where James is referred to by name.
- James' first individual speaking role.
- The first time an engine's tender is detached.
- The first mention as well as a scene of Thomas' Branch Line.
- Stock footage from the previous episode and Edward, Gordon and Henry is used.
- In the 2003 restored version:
- When Thomas said that he would "like to teach those trucks a lesson," there is a pause before he moves his eyes.
- The shot of the signalman shouting "James is off the line! The breakdown train, quickly!" is extended.
- Different footage of Annie is used towards the end.
Goofs
- Throughout the episode:
- Thomas and James' eyes are constantly misaligned.
- There appears to be a lot of ruffles in the sky.
- In the Welsh dub, the title card disappears too soon, briefly revealing the English title underneath.
- When Thomas takes on water in the opening shot, his water cap is not open and his eyes are also misaligned.
- In the shot of James' brake blocks on fire, the metal rod producing the spark effects can be seen sticking out of James' wheels and his bogie wheels are also not moving.
- In the scene where Thomas pushes the Breakdown Train under a bridge, the cranes appear to be covered in white chalk dust. In every other scene, however, they are clean.
- When Thomas bumps the trucks and shouts, "This will teach you a lesson!", the bumping sound effect is out of sync.
- In the close-up of James' wheels when he is put back on the rails, the Breakdown Train behind him is nowhere to be seen.
- When James is set back on the rails, it is daytime but, when he and Thomas go back to Tidmouth Sheds, it suddenly changes to sunset.
- When Thomas and James leave the scene of the crash, one of the cranes moves slightly and one of the trucks is also missing its left eye.
- When Thomas and James return to Tidmouth Sheds, the puffing sound continues after they stop.
- In a close up of Thomas towards the end of the episode, Annie and Clarabel disappear.
- Because stock footage is used, in the close-up of Gordon, his driving wheels are going backwards.
In Other Languages
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Magazine Story
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Home Video Releases
Episode
References
| #01 Thomas and Gordon | #10 James and the Express | #19 The Flying Kipper |
| #02 Edward and Gordon | #11 Thomas and the Guard | #20 Whistles and Sneezes |
| #03 The Sad Story of Henry | #12 Thomas Goes Fishing | #21 Toby and the Stout Gentleman |
| #04 Edward, Gordon and Henry | #13 Thomas, Terence and the Snow | #22 Thomas in Trouble |
| #05 Thomas' Train | #14 Thomas and Bertie | #23 Dirty Objects |
| #06 Thomas and the Trucks | #15 Tenders and Turntables | #24 Off the Rails |
| #07 Thomas and the Breakdown Train | #16 Trouble in the Shed | #25 Down the Mine |
| #08 James and the Coaches | #17 Percy Runs Away | #26 Thomas' Christmas Party |
| #09 Troublesome Trucks | #18 Coal | |