| For other uses, see Thomas and the Breakdown Train (disambiguation). |
| For other uses, see Thomas Saves the Day (disambiguation). |
- "James is off the line! The Breakdown Train, quickly!"
- ― The signalman
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 has been visiting Thomas in the yard on his way to the station and always telling Thomas that, while he will never be as strong and fast as Gordon, he can still be a Really Useful Engine. While shunting, Thomas notices a strange green coach and two little flatbed trucks with two strange things his driver and fireman 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 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 as James streaks under a bridge and then disappears, Thomas is shocked 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. This time, Thomas was not pretending to be like Gordon, since he really meant it.
Further down the Main Line, James is lying on his side in a field of cows. 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 unhurt trucks 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 since the crash had damaged his locomotion gears, 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 promisingly arranges for James to be given proper, regular brakes and a new coat of paint and rewards Thomas with a branch line of his very own.
Now, Thomas is happier than ever. Not only does he have a branch line but he also has two special coaches of his own named Annie and Clarabel. He now gets to pull trains all day, just like the other engines and often meets some of them, like 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
- Rail Under Road Bridge and Stone Wall
- The Cow Field
- Knapford Bus Yard
- Elsbridge
- Tidmouth (mentioned)
Trivia
- Not only are the events of this episode mentioned in the next episode but they were later recreated and retold in the 2015 movie 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.
- 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 Thomas, Terence and the Snow.
- James' first accident/derailment but not on-screen; the first episode to feature James having an accident/derailment on-screen was Dirty Objects.
- The first time where James is referred to by name.
- The first appearance of cranes.
- 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 Edward, Gordon and Henry and the previous episode are used.
- When Thomas and James leave the crash site, one of the cranes moves slightly. The cranes' basis was in fact capable of self-propulsion, albeit only at very low speed.
- 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 French dub, Thomas' driver's line, "That's the Breakdown Train," is said by Thomas himself.
- 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 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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Merchandise
Percy Runs Away and Thomas and the Breakdown Train (1984 Ladybird book)- Thomas and the Breakdown Train (1985 Octopus book)
- James and the Rescue Train (1989 mini board book)
- Thomas and the Breakdown Train (1990 Buzz Book)
- James the Red Engine (1991 Random House board book)
- James and the Trucks (1997 My First Thomas book)
- Thomas (2003 My Thomas Story Library book)
- Thomas (2007 My Thomas Story Library book with audio CD)
- Thomas to the Rescue (2009 pull-the-tab book)
- Thomas the Tank Engine (2014 My Thomas Story Library book with Wooden Railway Thomas)
- Thomas and the Breakdown Train (2012 Hornby set)
Home Video Releases
Episode
UK narration
US narration (George Carlin)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 Thomas' Christmas Party |
| #07 Thomas and the Breakdown Train | #16 Trouble in the Shed | #25 Off the Rails |
| #08 James and the Coaches | #17 Percy Runs Away | #26 Down the Mine |
| #09 Troublesome Trucks | #18 Coal | |