NER 20 Ton Brake Vans

The NE 20 Ton Brake Vans are a type of goods brake van.

These brake vans are added to the back of a goods train and a guard operates them. Each brake van is equipped with a strong brake to assist with slowing and stopping the train. From here, the guard can keep an eye on the train in case of problems, such as hot axle boxes, or trucks becoming uncoupled while running.

The Railway Series
These brake vans are commonly seen on the back of goods and freight trains. They serve as Sodor's main type of brake van.

One of these brake vans was once part of James' good train. As the reached Gordon's Hill, the Troublesome Trucks broke free from James. However, the guard applied the van's breaks and got out to warn approaching engines.

Henry had once collided into a brake van when while pulling The Flying Kipper. The crew of the goods train that Henry collided in, were drinking coco in the brake van, fortunately they left the van before the crash.

Once some cows broke through a fence, ran across the line and broke a coupling, which caused the last 7 Cattle Trucks of Edward's train and it's brake van to be left behind. Edward, who believed the jerk was caused by the trucks getting up to mischief, continued on his journey, unaware of the mishap until much later.

The Spiteful Brake Van, another van of this design, caused grief for James, Donald and Douglas. In an attempt to cause trouble for James, he urged the Troublesome Trucks to hold the train back. Douglas was called to help James' train up Gordon's Hill. However, the van found himself wedged between Douglas and the rest of the train. The guard jumped clear as the van was subsequently crushed by Douglas.

Bill and Ben later took a party of railway enthusiasts in a "brake van special" for a tour of the China Clay Works.

Miscellaneous
One day, while Percy was arranging a line of trucks at the harbour. The shunter's attention forgot to couple the brake van. The guard, unaware of this, blew his whistle and Percy set off quickly, without a brake van. Soon one of the truck's couplings came loose and as Percy puffed up the hill, the weight of the trucks behind him snap the coupling. The last four trucks rolled back down the slope and hit the brake van with a bump. Luckily, the guards saw the runaway trucks coming and screwed the brakez hard on before jumping clear. After the incident, Percy agrees that brake vans are vital after all.

Once, an out-of-control Donald had luckily avoided a head-on collision with BoCo and his good train. BoCo's driver accelerated the train through a loop line, with Donald just missing Boco's brake van.

Personality
A large majority of brake vans are non-sentient. However, there are at least two known vans depicted with faces. In summary, they are described as being spiteful and stern.

List of known sentient vans:

Basis
These brake vans are based on NER Diagram V4 10 ton and LNER "Toad B" 20 ton brake vans. The NER V4 was introduced in 1908, and was adapted by the LNER for its standard brake van design in 1924, creating the Toad B, which remained in production until 1929, when it was supplanted by the similar Toad D and E designs. In the Railway Series, the Spiteful Brake Van shares the same basis.

Livery
These brake vans are painted grey and brown. There are also red brake vans with white lettering privately owned by the Sodor China Clay Company.

Appearances
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The Railway Series

 * The Three Railway Engines - Edward and Gordon
 * Thomas the Tank Engine - Thomas and the Trucks
 * James the Red Engine - Troublesome Trucks
 * Henry the Green Engine - The Flying Kipper
 * Edward the Blue Engine - Cows
 * Percy the Small Engine - Percy and Harold
 * The Twin Engines - Break Van
 * Main Line Engines - Edward's Exploit
 * Thomas and the Twins - Trevor Helps Out

Companion Volumes
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 * 1984 - James the Red Engine and the Troublesome Trucks
 * -|Other Media=

Magazine Stories

 * 2011 - Off Colour

Annual Stories

 * 1988 - Percy and the Brake Van
 * 1989 - Quick Thinking
 * 1996 - James Gets Cracking

Trivia

 * To date, the Spiteful Brake Van and the brake van in James the Red Engine and the Troublesome Trucks are the only known brake vans of this design to have faces.

Merchandise

 * Motor Road and Rail
 * TrackMaster