Breakdown Train (RWS)

"The cranes are for lifting heavy things like engines and coaches and trucks."

- Thomas' driver, Thomas and the Breakdown Train, Thomas the Tank Engine

The Breakdown Train is composed of two cranes, flatbeds and a coach for the workmen.

The Breakdown Cranes
The Breakdown Cranes are manned by workmen and deployed at accident scenes to lift engines, coaches and trucks onto the rails.

Biography
Thomas once brought the Breakdown Cranes to rescue James after a crash caused by the Troublesome Trucks.

Basis
The Breakdown Train was based on a Cowans Sheldon 30 ton breakdown crane. In later volumes, it was replaced by a Cowans Sheldon 45-ton breakdown crane.

Livery
The cranes and flatbeds were originally painted dark green. They were later painted red with the top of the cranes painted cream. Finally, they were painted in a dull green-brown.

Works Unit Coach
The Works Unit Coach is a type of coach used for workmen. It is also stated to be used to aid and transport injured people.

Basis
The works unit coach is based on some apparently freelance coaches, although they do bare a resemblance with some pre-grouping company builds (from the Great Northern and Great North of Scotland railways). However, in The Railway Series, it appears similar to the non-corridor suburban coaches operated by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.

Livery
The works unit coach is painted orange with a white rooftop.

In the television series, the works unit coach is all painted grey-green. There are also several other works unit coaches, all painted in different liveries, such as blue, grey, brown, dark green and orange with a white rooftop.

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * Thomas the Tank Engine - Thomas and the Breakdown Train
 * Henry the Green Engine - The Flying Kipper
 * Toby the Tram Engine - Dirty Objects
 * Mountain Engines - Danger Points
 * Duke the Lost Engine - Sleeping Beauty
 * James and the Diesel Engines - Crossed Lines

Companion Volumes
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 * 1984 - Thomas's Christmas Party
 * 1986 - Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree

Trivia

 * The Breakdown Train is sometimes seen with two vans, presumably loaded with crane equipment.