Bertie

* 2019
* 2016
* 2013
* 2010
* 2002
* 1990
* 1988

**Bertie** (also released as **Bertie the Bus**) is a friendly red bus who enjoys racing Thomas.

## Product Description

### **1993 ERTL collector card**

*Bertie has a great deal in common with Thomas. Ever since their Great Race they have been the firmest of friends. Bertie's strongest characteristic is his friendly grin and his readiness to help any engine prepared to admit that, just sometimes, roads have their uses as well as rails.*

### **Historical Note**

*Bertie is a single-decker front entrance bus, with a direct line of descent from the English charabanc of the 1930's and 40's.*

### **Shining Time Station collector card**

*Bertie is ready to help out any engine who admits that roads are just as important as railroads!*

### **2002 ERTL collector card**

*Ever since their Great Race, Bertie and Thomas have been the firmest of friends. Bertie has a friendly grin and a readiness to help any engine prepared to admit that roads sometimes have their uses.*

### **2002 US Take Along collector card**

*Name: Bertie*

*Color(s): Red*

*Bio: Bertie is a fun-loving bus who is always in the mood to race with his good friend Thomas - just to prove that roads have their use as well as rails.*

### **2005 UK Take Along collector card**

*Bertie and Thomas have been the firmest of friends since their great race. He has a friendly grin and will always lend a hand to engines in need of help.*

## Timeline

* 1988 (sticker face and windows, black and red tyres, black wheel arch and door border, slanted roof, Britt Allcroft licensing, made in China)
* 1990 (plastic 3D face)
* 2001 (Gullane licensing)
* 2002 (roof extends to the cab, detailed interior, two-way magnet at rear, name embossed on chassis; only available at Target until 2005)
* 2005 (roof extends to the cab, black windows, brighter red livery; cancelled ERTL update)
* 2006 (name printed on chassis)
* 2008 (rear magnet removed)
* 2010 (updated details, CG style face)
* 2013 (updated face, cheaper metal, lower headlights, silver wheel arch and door border, made in Thailand)
* 2016 (black windows, wheel arch and door border, unpainted tyres)
* 2019 (slightly longer, grey windows)

## Variants

* Miniature Bertie
* Gold Rail Bertie
* Pullback Motorised Bertie
* Wind Up Bertie
* Moneybox Bertie (cancelled)

## Availability

* Bertie, Edward and Gordon Set
* 6-Piece Gift Set 1
* Bertie, Harold and Thomas
* 6-Piece Gift Set 3
* 12 Piece Super Set
* Bertie, James and Henry
* Gift Set 2
* Gift Set 5
* Thomas Turntable and Video Playset
* All Aboard Toys Gift Pack
* Roadway Collector Pack
* Travel Tote (Target Australia exclusive)
* The Great Race

## Trivia

* Bertie is the first road vehicle to be released and the only one released with a sticker face.
* Bertie's windscreen is overly slanted on his ERTL model when compared to his appearance in the Railway Series and Television Series.
	+ A prototype of an updated model of Bertie was made to make the model look more accurate to Bertie's TV series model, which was planned for release in 2005, but was cancelled due to the range being discontinued. This was discovered in November 2022 when he was auctioned online along with many other prototypes, including Mike, Agnes, Jemima and The Truck.
* A promotional advertisement picture for Take Along showed the ERTL models of Bertie and Harold instead of their Take Along ones.
* Bertie's Take Along model has grey wheels, yet his prototype had the correct black ones. This also happened with James (until 2006), Duck (minus his prototype), Diesel 10, the Tidmouth Milk Tanker, Sodor Line Caboose, Lorry (minus his prototype), Elizabeth and Bulgy (minus his prototype).
* Some copies of Bertie's Take Along model have a rear magnet. This was also the case with Trevor and Bulgy.
* The image of Bertie on the Take-n-Play 2016 and Adventures 2017 boxes is mirrored.