Butch, also known as the "Sodor Heavy Recovery Unit", is a yellow and navy blue breakdown vehicle, equipped with a low loader. He later becomes part of the Sodor Search and Rescue Team.
Biography
Butch first appeared towing Lorry 3 to the docks after he overheated and broke down. After that, he received many cameo appearances. He also helped with the demolition of Tidmouth Sheds in Calling All Engines! and the rebuild of Great Waterton in The Great Discovery. He is now part of the Search and Rescue Team.
In the fifteenth series, he was given a magnet.
In the sixteenth series, Butch broke down and needed to be towed to the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre by Flynn.
In the seventeenth series, Butch towed Flynn to the Rescue Centre when he got a flat tyre when racing to a fire. He later told Flynn about the fire at Brendam Docks and encouraged him to fight it.
In the nineteenth series, Butch accidentally sprayed Thomas with mud after he got stuck while pulling a tractor. He also tried to move a whale back to the ocean but could not when it was discovered that the tide was too far out.
Later, Butch was present when the Mayor of Sodor presented the Search and Rescue Centre with a new alarm bell and was also present to help Diesel and Percy when they were stuck in the water at the Old Quarry.
After Thomas had an accident, he derailed far away from the rails so he was pulled by Butch to the Steamworks. Butch later attempted to get Rocky back on the rails by himself, but only stopped when his engine was at risk of blowing out.
Personality
Butch is serious about his job and loves working, especially with his railway friends. Despite his size, Butch has a kind heart and is always ready when his service is needed.
According to the "Thomas and Friends Writers' Bible", Butch is described very strong with a nature to match. However, he is a bit sour, because all he does is pick up wrecks.
Technical Details
Basis
Butch is based on a hybrid of a Scammell Constructor and Scammell pioneer. According to the official website, he was constructed out of parts from a diesel, a lorry and a crane.
Livery
Butch's front is painted yellow and his trailer is painted navy blue, with "SODOR HEAVY RECOVERY UNIT" written on both sides in white. Since Misty Island Rescue, he has the logo of the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre on his cab doors.
Appearances
Magazine Stories
- 2010 - Misty Island Rescue (cameo)
- 2012 - Stuck on You and Welcome Stafford (cameo)
- 2013 - Toby to the Rescue and Too Many Fire Engines! (does not speak)
- 2016 - Henry Spots Trouble (mentioned)
Official Description
From Official Website:[1]
“ | Butch the Breakdown Truck: Butch has an immense engine and is very powerful - hence his name! However, despite his size, he is a kind-hearted giant and always takes his work seriously. Best of all, Butch loves working in the company of Engines.
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” |
“ | Butch: Butch, who serves as the Sodor Heavy Recovery Unit, is an extremely powerful breakdown truck with an immense engine. He is serious about his job and loves working, especially with his railway friends. Despite his size, Butch has a kind heart and is always ready when his service is needed.
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” |
Audio Files
Horn
First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
---|---|---|
Series 15 | Active |
Trivia
- Ivan shares the same horn sound as him.
- Until the fifteenth series episode Stuck on You, Butch solely appeared as a background character, his only speaking role being in the LeapPad book Thomas the Really Useful Engine.
- Prior to this episode, Butch was only named on-screen once, in the fifth series episode Horrid Lorry. Coincidentally, this was also the only episode to feature him without a face.
- In the Norwegian dub of the nineteenth series, Butch is called "Buck"; however, the subtitles still refer to him as Butch.
- Butch is one of three characters to have been given a face after originally not having one, the other two being Henrietta and Big Mickey.
- He is also so far the only character who did not have a face originally, but was given one in the same series he was introduced in.
- Butch's magnet from the fifteenth series episode Stuck on You was later reused for a magnet at the Steelworks in Journey Beyond Sodor.
- He is one of twelve non-human characters to make his first speaking role after his debut series and/or special, the other eleven being Flying Scotsman, Toad, Bert, Paxton, Norman, Sidney, Yong Bao, Rajiv, Shane, Big Mickey (since he did not have a face until the twenty-first series) and Shankar.
- The three letters "BRK" on Butch's number plate stands for "Breakdown".
Quotes
- "Fire! Fire! Come on, Flynn! Get ready to rescue. There's a fire!"
- "You don't need me, Butch. Belle can put it out. She's already on guard at Ulfstead Castle".
- "But the fire's not at Ulfstead Castle. It's at Brendam Docks. Belle can't go, she has to stay at the fireworks!"
- "Really?"
- "Come on, Flynn. We need you! You're the only engine who can put out the fire!"
- Butch motivates Flynn, "Too Many Fire Engines", seventeenth series.
Merchandise
- ERTL (discontinued - marked as "Sodor Recovery Unit")
- Wooden Railway (reintroduced 2011; discontinued)
- Take Along (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- Adventures (discontinued)
- Collectible Railway
- Brio (discontinued)
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (with flatbed; discontinued)
- Trading Cards (discontinued)
- Mega Bloks (discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail
- Nakayoshi (with trailer; discontinued)
- Wood (discontinued)
References
- ↑ T&F S5 #02 "Horrid Lorry"
- ↑ T&F S23 #01 "Free the Roads"
- ↑ ["Thomas the Really Useful Engine"
- ↑ "Spooks and Surprises"
- ↑ ERTL
Locomotives | Belle | Flynn |
---|---|
Rolling Stock | Rocky |
Non-Rail Vehicles | Harold | Jeremy | Captain |
Stations | Maron | Sodor Airport | Killaban | Cabalnoo Maritime Museum | Cabalnoo | Whispering Woods Halt |
Members | Rocky | Harold | Captain | Butch | Belle | Flynn |
---|---|
People | Search and Rescue Centre Manager |
Locations | Sodor Search and Rescue Centre |
Road vehicles | Terence | Bertie | Trevor | Bulgy | George | Caroline | The Horrid Lorries | Butch | Thumper | Elizabeth | Nelson | Jack | Alfie | Oliver | Max and Monty | Kelly | Byron | Ned | |
|
---|---|---|
Aircraft | Harold | Tiger Moth | Jeremy | Emerson | Isla | The Hot Air Balloon | Aeroplanes | |
Watercraft | Bulstrode | Captain | Terrey | Krystyna | Canal Boats | S.S. Roxstar | Lucinda | Alysia | Northlight | Wharf Canal Boats | The Mayor's Yacht | Sodor Line | |
Cranes | Cranky | Colin | Ol' Wheezy | Hee-Haw | Happy Hook | Merrick | Reg | Carly | Big Mickey | Beresford | Kobe | Cassia | Carter | |
Others | Owen | Stefano | Trailers |