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- “Well, Thomas, I've heard all about it, and I'm very pleased with you. You're a Really Useful Engine. James shall have some proper brakes and a new coat of paint, and you shall have a branch line all to yourself.”
- ― The Fat Controller
Thomas and the Breakdown Train, retitled Thomas Saves the Day in 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 the station to catch his train. As he visits the yard, he always tells Thomas that while he may not be as big or as fast as Gordon, he can still be a Really Useful Engine and not to let the trucks tease him. While shunting, Thomas notices a strange green coach and two cranes and his driver explains that together they make up the Breakdown Train and are used to lift engines or pieces of 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 one named James, and he is being pushed by a long line of trucks, causing him run too fast. To make matters worse, his brake blocks are on fire and he cannot stop. As the trucks laugh and James disappears under a bridge, Thomas gapes in shock and becomes determined to teach the trucks a lesson. Soon an alarm rings and the signalman comes out shouting that James has derailed, so the Breakdown Train is needed at once. Thomas is coupled to the Breakdown Train and heads to the scene of the crash as fast as he can.
Further down the line, James and his train have derailed into a field and he is lying on his side. His crew checks him for any damage and tells James that the fault lies on his wooden brakes, which they had never approved of. Thomas arrives with the Breakdown Train and removes the trucks that are still on the rails from the scene, while the workmen recover the derailed ones with the Breakdown Train. Thomas works harder than ever before, going backwards and forwards with the trucks until they have all been cleared away.
Soon it is time to lift James out of the field. After having the chains attached to him, James is lifted by the cranes and is carefully set back onto the rails. James 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 on all his hard work. He arranges for James to have proper brakes fitted and a new coat of paint and rewards a delighted Thomas with a branch line of his own.
Now Thomas is happier than ever. Not only does he have a branch line, he also has two new 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 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
- Tidmouth (mentioned)
- The Cow Field
- Knapford Bus Yard
- Elsbridge
- Gordon's Hill (deleted scene)
Trivia
- The events of this episode were later retold in The Adventure Begins. An additional sequence was created in which Thomas goes after James and unsuccessfully tries to prevent him from crashing.
- This episode marks James' official introduction to the television series. Despite appearing in all episodes prior to this one, he was never acknowledged in any way.
- Stock footage from Edward, Gordon and Henry and Thomas and the Trucks is used.
- There are a few differences in the restored version of the episode:
- When Thomas says "I'd 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.
- This is the first episode to feature an engine derailing, albeit not on-screen. The first episode to feature an on-screen derailment is The Flying Kipper.
Goofs
- When Thomas takes on water in the opening shot, his water cap is not open.
- When the narrator says that James' brake blocks were on fire, the metal rod producing the spark effects can be seen sticking out of James' wheels. In the same shot, his pony truck wheels are not moving.
- In the scene when 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.
- In the close-up of James' wheels when he is put back on the rails, the Breakdown Train behind him is missing.
- 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 dusk.
- When Thomas and James leave the scene of the crash, one of the cranes moves slightly and one of the trucks is missing its left eye.
- When Thomas and James return to Tidmouth Sheds, the puffing noises continues after they stop.
- In the close-up of Gordon, his driving wheels are going backwards.
- In the Welsh version, the title card disappears too soon, briefly revealing the English title underneath.
In Other Languages
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Hornby
Books
Magazine stories |
Home Media Releases
| #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 | |