Better Late Than Never

*“Time's time! Why should I keep my passengers waiting, while Henry and James dawdle about all day on viaducts?”*
―Thomas

## Better Late Than Never

### Writer

* Christopher Awdry (original story)
* Britt Allcroft and David Mitton (adaptation)

### Producer

* David Mitton
* Robert D. Cardona

### Narrator

* Ringo Starr (UK/US)
* George Carlin (US)

## Release details

### Released

* 12th November 1986 (UK)
* 6th May 1988 (AUS)
* 7th May 1989 (US; Ringo Starr)
* 21st February 1991 (JPN)
* 9th May 1991 (SWE; Louise Raeder)
* 8th June 1993 (US; George Carlin)
* 1997 (KOR; KBS)
* 17th April 1998 (GER)
* 19th August 2002 (LATAM)
* 19th August 2004 (KOR; JEI TV)
* 21st January 2008 (HUN)

## Episode guide

### Next

Break Van/Donald and Douglas

***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 viaduct on the main line is being repaired, with the arches being 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 avoid it collapsing under them. Because of this, the engines are often late making it to the junction where Thomas waits for his passengers. Thomas grumbles about this to Henry, who defends himself by telling Thomas that they have to go at a reduced speed during the repair work. Thomas however is seldom interested and leaves to try to make up for lost time.

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, he is late for Bertie's passengers and now they often find themselves waiting on the platform. This makes Bertie cross with Thomas, whom Bertie tells when he arrives that he thought Thomas could go faster than that. He then remarks they should have another race, thinking he could now beat him, angering an exhausted Thomas who blames the main line engines for "dithering" on the viaduct and claims it to be an excuse for laziness.

Another day, James arrives later than ever. He apologises, stating that a hold-up at Cronk station combined with the delay at the viaduct contributed to his lateness. Thomas (as usual) has no interest in excuses and leaves grumbling. He attempts to reach the station as fast as he can but is unable to make up very much time. However, things change when Thomas spots Bertie at the level crossing with his radiator steaming. Thomas tells Bertie he is late, but Bertie tells Thomas 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 here instead of leaving them stranded. Thomas 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.

When Bertie is repaired, he and Thomas make up their argument, and both agree that sometimes being late is not such a bad thing after all.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* James
* Bertie
* Annie and Clarabel (*do not speak*)
* Edward (*cameo*)
* Trevor (*cameo*)
* One Little Boy (*cameo*)
* Sir Topham Hatt (*mentioned*)

## Locations

* The Viaduct
* Elsbridge
	+ Elsbridge Sheds
	+ The Carriage Shed
* Tidmouth
* Hackenbeck Tunnel (*stock footage*)
* Terence's Field (*stock footage*)
* Single Track Siding and Road Beside Rail Signals Runby (*stock footage*)
* Wellsworth (*mentioned*)

## Trivia

* Stock footage from Thomas' Train, Thomas and the Guard, Thomas and Bertie and a deleted scene from Thomas and Trevor are used.
* The ending was filmed at the same time as Bertie's Chase, since Thomas and Bertie are in the same positions at Tidmouth, although with different camera angles.
* In the US, this episode aired before Saved from Scrap; this means that the audience would not know who Trevor is. It also aired before A Close Shave.
* 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 1990's, most notably on VHS and Cartoon Network, used the end credits from Duck Takes Charge. When a future release came out, Christopher was given credit for the episode.
* A scene from this episode is shown in the 2006 British Drama film; '***After Thomas'***.
* After this episode aired on 27th August 1991, the final ten episodes of Series 2 were not rebroadcasted, making this episode the last one in the 1991 series as Children’s ITV was about to air Rupert in September 1991.
* In the Nick Jr. version of the Shining Time Station episode, "Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk", a few scenes and lines were cut:
	+ In 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.

## Goofs

* Edward has Thomas' whistle sound at the very beginning.
* Thomas has to wait for James and Henry at the junction; they are supposedly bringing Thomas' passengers, but James is pulling vans instead of coaches, and Henry is not pulling anything at all.
* In many scenes, Clarabel is facing the wrong way.
* Bertie's face is loose when he says "Late again!" and is clearly being held in position by blu-tack.
* When Thomas stops at at the station, there are passengers at the platform. But when Bertie pulls up to tease Thomas, there are no passengers on the platform.
* When Thomas says "Time's time!" his eyes are wonky.
* At the end of the episode when Thomas leaves the station, the track moves a bit by itself.
* In Ringo Starr's US narration, when Thomas says "They dither about on the viaduct and then blame Sir Topham Hatt's workmen," there is an echo in the background. This is audio from the UK version.
* In the scene where Bertie arrives at the station while waiting for Thomas, his eyes are a bit wonky.