Thomas Puts the Brakes On - S12-E17
Continuity mistake: Thomas has a brake van when he arrives at the bridge. When Stanley, Thomas, Murdoch, and Rocky start looking for the bricks, the brake van disappears.
Thomas Puts the Brakes On - S12-E17
Revealing mistake: In the very last shot of the episode, Thomas and Stanley are faceless.
Thomas Puts the Brakes On - S12-E17
Revealing mistake: When Stanley shunts Thomas into the yard, Thomas is eyeless.
Answer: Butch the breakdown truck must have pulled Gordon's tender all the way up the rails so the breakdown train can reach it and also Butch helped to get Gordon close to the winch.