Bertie

**Bertie** is a bus who first arrived on Sodor in 1938.

## Biography

After the incident with the boulder in 1938, Bertie was one of the buses came to help the transportation in the Island of Sodor as part of the newly-formed Sodor Bus Company. In 1939, Bertie challenged Thomas to a race, which Thomas won. Their reckless disregard for the law with their race led to both of them being shunted in Rail Gate Prison for 10 days. This did have an effect on them, as it would be the last time they fell on the wrong side of the law.

In 1965, passenger and goods traffic on the Island took a hit due to the completion of a road bridge to the Mainland. Bertie was one of several road vehicles sent to the Little Western, along with George, Onslow, and Rupert (whom Bertie had nicknamed "Bulgy"). The buses had to help out with passenger traffic as, much to Bulgy's delight, the engines on the branch line had been reduced to pulling singular coaches. At a station, Bulgy insulted Maggie, one of these singular coaches, and Duck, the engine pulling her, so Bertie intervened, but this only led to Bulgy insulting Bertie as well for being a smaller bus than him.

That night, George complained to Bulgy and Onslow about an incident that Bertie witnessed; back in 1960, he allegedly got into a tiff with Oliver, who lashed out by running into him while crossing the track. George would blame this for his breakdown the next day, but Bertie contradicted this, asserting that George was deliberately blocking Oliver's way and that the tank engine barely tapped him. Bulgy still insisted that Bertie was inferior due to his size and was less than enthusiastic about them having to work together to collect railfans the next day. Being fed up with their anti-railway attitude, Bertie departed to sleep elsewhere for the night.

The next day, after finishing the tour for an indisposed Bulgy, Bertie went to the repair yard to laugh at the state of the three road vehicles. He dubbed them *The Brothers Grimm*: "Smashed" (George, who got into a physical altercation with Oliver), "Scuppered" (Onslow, who broke down after taking on a heavy load) and "Squished" (Bulgy, who tried to go under a bridge too short for him). He especially took glee in Bulgy's accident, as it proved that Bertie's small size wasn't so bad after all.

Thanks to the new bridge, many more railfans started coming to the Island in droves, and Bertie would often help the engines with their fully booked excursions.

## Persona

Bertie is friendly and ready to help anyone in need. He was quite cocky and boastful about himself when he first arrived, especially to Thomas, but after losing their race, Bertie realized he was rather arrogant to think Thomas wouldn't put up a good challenge, and the pair have been firm friends ever since.

Nowadays, Bertie won't hesitate to stick up for his railway friends, especially if they're being condescended to by road vehicles who think they're superior.

## Livery

Bertie is painted in the common red livery of buses in the United Kingdom, mostly famously used by London Transport.

## Basis

Bertie is based on an AEC Regal "T Class" London Country Area bus. 8 of these are known to survive in preservation. One of these, T31, is believed to have been the first bus to be privately preserved in the UK.

## Appearances

### The Stories of Sodor

#### Season 2

* Shunted
* Affection *(cameo)*
* Parade *(cameo)*

#### Season 3

* Aftermath *(cameo)*
* Controller
* Fog *(cameo)*

#### Season 4

* Modernisation *(cameo)*
* Mountain *(cameo)*
* Robbery *(cameo)*
* Prototypes *(cameo)*
* Aviation *(cameo)*
* Diplomacy *(cameo)*
* Creature *(cameo)*
* Beeching *(cameo)*
* Return *(cameo)*

#### SCPs of Sodor

* The Nartwin *(cameo)*
* The Standing Stones *(cameo)*

#### Season 5

* Vandalism *(cameo)*
* Competition
* Enthusiasts *(cameo)*
* Preservation *(cameo)*
* Training *(cameo)*
* Fallout *(cameo)*

#### Sodor Shorts

* Spoilers
* Constituency *(cameo)*
* Dictatorship *(cameo)*
* Revolution *(does not speak)*

## See Also

**Rail Gate Prison**

*\* = Crime Unknown*

 Residents/Workers