Better Late than Never

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***Better Late than Never*** is the fifteenth episode of the second series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book More About Thomas the Tank Engine.

## Plot

Work has become difficult for the engines on the Island of Sodor as the main line viaduct is being repaired with the arches needing to be strengthened. As the Fat Controller is unwilling to close the railway during repairs, the work is taking a long time and all engines crossing the viaduct must cross slowly and carefully so as to safely avoid it collapsing under them. Because of the delay, the engines are often late making it to the junction station where Thomas waits for his passengers. One day, Thomas grumbles about this to Henry, who defends himself by saying that they have to go at a reduced speed during the repair work. Thomas, however, dismisses this actual circumstance as a bad excuse and sets off leaving Henry at a loss for words.

Normally, when Thomas stops at Tidmouth Station, Bertie arrives soon after and his passengers go straight from him to their train. But, because the larger engines are late for Thomas, Bertie's passengers now often find themselves waiting for him at the platform, which makes Bertie cross with Thomas. When Thomas finally arrives, Bertie tells him that thought he could go faster than that. Bertie then suggests to Thomas that they should have another race, jokingly adding that he could now beat him. Thomas, feeling insulted, angrily lets off steam and blames the main line engines for "dithering" on the viaduct and blaming the Fat Controller's workmen. He claims that their reasons are only an excuse for laziness and then fumes away.

One day, James arrives later than ever at Elsbridge and apologises to Thomas, stating that a hold-up at the big station combined with the viaduct's repair work contributed to his lateness. Thomas has no interest in excuses as usual and grumbles as he leaves to try to make up for lost time. He attempts to reach the top station as fast as he can, but is unable to make up very much time. However, things change when Thomas suddenly meets Bertie at the level crossing with his radiator steaming. Thomas asks Bertie what the matter is and tells him that he is late, but he replies that he feels dreadful and his driver cannot repair him. Thomas running so late brings a bit of relief, as he can now pick up the passengers at this point instead of leaving them stranded. He no longer feels cross and is sorry for Bertie, and promises to send for help at the next station. Thomas leaves with Bertie's passengers on board and brings them home safely.

 File:BetterLateThanNever28.png
Once Bertie is now repaired, he and Thomas make up for their argument, and both agree that sometimes being late is not such a bad thing after all, and they then return to work.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* James
* Bertie
* Annie and Clarabel Template:Do not speak
* Edward Template:Cameo
* Trevor Template:Cameo
* Charlie Sand Template:Cameo
* Sidney Hever Template:Cameo
* Jeremiah Jobling Template:Cameo
* One Little Boy Template:Cameo
* Sir Topham Hatt Template:Mentioned

## Locations

* The Viaduct
	+ Hawin Ab
* Elsbridge
	+ Elsbridge Crossing
	+ Elsbridge Engine Sheds
	+ The Carriage Shed
* Tidmouth
* Hackenbeck Tunnel Template:Stock footage
* Terence's Field Template:Stock footage
* Dryaw Signal Runby Template:Stock footage

## Trivia

* Stock footage from Thomas' Train, Thomas and the Guard and Thomas and Bertie, an alternate scene from Bertie's Chase and a deleted one from Thomas and Trevor are all used.
* In the US and Canada, this episode aired before Saved from Scrap; this means that the US and Canadian audience would not know who Trevor is.
* This episode marks the first time Bertie breaks down.
* For the remainder of the second series, the viaduct is always seen undergoing repairs.
* Christopher Awdry's credit for the episode was originally shown when the episode was compiled with Break Van, later versions throughout the 1990s, most notably on VHS and Cartoon Network, used the end credits from Duck Takes Charge. However, in the remastered and restored versions of this episode, Christopher was given credit for that episode instead.
* A scene from this episode is shown in the 2006 British Drama film, *After Thomas*.
* In the Shining Time Station episode, *Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk*, the final scene was cut.
* In the Nick Jr. US dub of the Shining Time Station episode, *Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk*, a few scenes and lines were cut:
	+ Since the scene of Henry crossing the viaduct was a few seconds short, George Carlin's lines were cut and the last of the music was relocated to that scene.
	+ The scene of Edward crossing the viaduct a second time is cut.
	+ When Thomas told Bertie he is late, it goes right to the close-up of Bertie skipping the last few seconds of the previous scene and music.
	+ George Carlin's line "With a last cheerful greeting, the two friends went back to work", was cut as well as the last close-up of Bertie and the last two scenes.
* The JEI TV version of the Korean dub added subtitles to inform viewers what a radiator is.
* This episode was never released on home video in South Korea.

## Goofs

* Edward has Thomas' whistle sound at the very beginning.
* When Edward goes over the viaduct for second time, the normal puffing sound effect plays, despite moving slowly on the viaduct.
* In many scenes, Clarabel is facing the wrong way.
* When Thomas says "Time's time", his eyes are misaligned.
* Thomas has to wait for James and Henry at the junction; they are supposedly bringing Thomas' passengers, but for unknown reason, James is pulling vans instead of coaches, and Henry is not pulling anything at all.
* In the scene where Bertie arrives at the station while waiting for Thomas, his eyes are slightly misaligned.
* The narrator says that Bertie is cross, but he is sad.
* Bertie's face is loose when he says, "Late again!" and is clearly being held in position by blu-tack.
* When Thomas stops at the station, there are passengers at the platform. But when Bertie pulls up to tease Thomas, said passengers are nowhere to be seen.
* In Ringo Starr's US dub, when Thomas says, "They dither about on the viaduct and then blame Sir Topham Hatt's workmen," an echo from the UK dub can be heard in the background.
* At the end of the episode, when Thomas leaves the station, the track noticeably moves slightly by itself.

## In Other Languages

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## Episode

Better Late than Never - UKUK NarrationBetter Late than Never - US (George Carlin)US re-dub
## Reference

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