Bertie

* III
* II
* I

Keith Wickham (*2013-2020*)

Stephen Donald (*2001; UK, Railway Adventures*)

Robin Smith (*2001; US, Railway Adventures*)

Rob Rackstraw (*2021; Nursery Rhymes*)

England (*built*)

*“We have a friend called Bertie, and he's a bus, but he likes the railway. Sometimes he teases us about it, but he'd never want to see it ripped up.”*
―Duck telling Bulgy about Bertie[src]
**Bertie** is a red bus who works alongside Thomas' Branch Line. He is owned by Sodor Roadways.

## Contents

* 1Biography
* 2Personality
* 3Technical Details
	+ 3.1Basis
	+ 3.2Livery
* 4Appearances
* 5Audio Files
* 6Trivia
* 7References

## Biography

As in the television series, Bertie reprised some of his roles from the Railway Series but was later chosen to take visitors to the Vicar's party and teased Trevor by calling him a "stick-in-the-mud" and old fashioned. However, he proceeded to get himself stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out by Terence. After that, Bertie thanked Trevor and gave him an apology for teasing him.

When Edward had an accident on the day before he was to take the Brass Band to a concert, Bertie had to take them instead but got stuck in the mud again. Luckily, Edward was repaired and took the Brass Band to their concert.

Bertie is continuously alluding to his race with Thomas and how he could win next time. He actually raced Thomas again and won after Thomas got side-tracked with collecting the sports medals.

Bertie and Thomas have seemed to continue this tradition of racing. However, in the seventeenth series, he was re-routed, giving him an advantage. Thomas is still able to beat him occasionally.

In the nineteenth series, he, Thomas and Spencer got into an argument after Mr. Percival claimed two wheels was best; Bertie argued four wheels was in fact best. He tried to prove his point by taking The Duke and Duchess of Boxford to Callan Castle after both Thomas and Spencer failed to do so, but he too failed after receiving a flat tyre. Harold eventually came to the Duke and Duchess' rescue. Bertie later teased Thomas by telling him about what was on the other side of a mountain on his branch line. Thomas was cross by Bertie's teasing and became determined to find out what was there. Thomas eventually discovered it was a roadside billboard Bertie was describing, though he got into an accident while trying to find out. Bertie visited him at the Steamworks and apologised, though Thomas was able to trick him into believing that he was getting fitted with wings.

In Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, while he and Thomas were racing, Thomas nearly collided with Toby while Bertie nearly collided with Oliver the Excavator. At Ffarquhar, he complained that he was always getting stuck behind slow construction vehicles since the construction of the new branch line had started. He was then seen on the road by the Harwick Branch Line. Sheep were in his way, but Bertie just smiled.

In the twenty-first series, Bertie ended up breaking down while he and Thomas were racing. This ended up with Thomas taking on his passengers but ended up getting requests for lots of unscheduled stops, which made him run late. However, Bertie was soon temporarily replaced by Bulgy, leading to Thomas running on time.

After being repaired, he shared the mantle of keeping Bulgy in line. Bulgy, however, was still up to his old ways, so Bertie had to remind him that the Fat Controller brought him back to help him with the passenger service; he later broke down due to struggling with passenger transport (flourished due to train halting courtesy of Bulgy). Bulgy took his passengers while Butch towed him away.

Later, when Percy created rumours of a railway show for little engines at Ulfstead Castle, Bertie took Thomas' passengers from Ffarquhar to Knapford after Thomas abandoned his duties to attend.

## Personality

Bertie is friendly and ready to help anyone in need. However, he can be quite cheeky and can even be boastful about himself, especially to Thomas, always joking around and teasing him about their races. He can sometimes be quite grumpy, as whenever he breaks down or gets stuck, he grumbles about it. He is always, however, easy-going and cheerful to everyone he sees. Unlike Bulgy, Bertie respects the railway and its engines, and serves as one of the many minds keeping the double-decker bus in line.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Bertie is based on an AEC Regal "T Class" London Country Area bus, but without a head code box. Eight 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.

Upon closer inspection, however, Bertie appears to be based on a post-war Leyland Motors "Tiger", type PS-1/PS-2, built between 1946 and 1953, with several examples surviving in preservation.

Bertie's basis

### Livery

Bertie is painted in the common red livery of buses in the United Kingdom, mostly famously used by London Transport. His number plate, CRD54, refers to the fact that it was first seen in *Edward the Blue Engine*, published in 1954 and illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby. His interior was originally cream-colored with red seats, but in the CGI series, he retained his red seats while his interior became red.

## Appearances

* Television Series
* Other Media

### *Thomas & Friends*

* **Series 1** - Thomas and the Guard (*pre-filmed footage cameo*), Thomas, Terence and the Snow (*not named; does not speak*), Thomas and Bertie, Tenders and Turntables (*cameo*) and Thomas' Christmas Party
* **Series 2** - Bertie's Chase, The Runaway (*mentioned*), Better Late Than Never, The Deputation (*cameo*), Edward's Exploit (*stock footage; does not speak*) and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree (*cameo*)
* **Series 3** - Percy's Promise (*cameo*), Gordon and the Famous Visitor (*cameo*), Donald's Duck (*does not speak*), Thomas Gets Bumped, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon (*cameo*), Thomas, Percy and the Post Train (*cameo*), Trust Thomas, Mavis (*cameo*), Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party, Buzz, Buzz (*cameo*), All at Sea, Tender Engines (*cameo*), Oliver Owns Up (*deleted scene cameo*), Bulgy (*does not speak*) and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure (*cameo*)
* **Series 4** - You Can't Win (*cameo*), Steam Roller (*cameo*), Rusty to the Rescue (*cameo*), Bowled Out (*cameo*), Thomas and the Special Letter (*mentioned*) and Mind that Bike (*does not speak*)
* **Series 5** - Lady Hatt's Birthday Party, Toby and the Flood (*cameo*), Toby's Discovery (*cameo*), A Surprise for Percy and Busy Going Backwards (*cameo*)
* **Series 6** - Harvey to the Rescue, Scaredy Engines (*cameo*), James and the Red Balloon (*cameo*) and Thomas the Jet Engine
* **Series 7** - Edward's Brass Band, Harold and the Flying Horse (*cameo*) and Three Cheers for Thomas
* **Series 8** - Thomas and the Tuba, Percy's New Whistle, Gordon Takes Charge (*does not speak*) and As Good as Gordon (*does not speak*)
* **Series 9** - Thomas and the Rainbow (*does not speak*), Duncan and the Old Mine (*mentioned*) and Thomas and the Golden Eagle
* **Series 10** - Seeing the Sights, Topped Off Thomas (*does not speak*) and Thomas and the Colours
* **Series 11** - Gordon and the Engineer (*does not speak*), Smoke and Mirrors and Thomas in Trouble (*cameo*)
* **Series 12** - Rosie's Funfair Special (*does not speak*) and Saved You!
* **Series 13** - Double Trouble (*does not speak*)
* **Series 14** - Charlie and Eddie (*does not speak*) and Being Percy (*cameo*)
* **Series 15** - Gordon and Ferdinand (*cameo*), Stop That Bus! and Wonky Whistle
* **Series 16** - Race to the Rescue
* **Series 17** - Wayward Winston and Thomas' Shortcut
* **Series 18** - Disappearing Diesels (*cameo*), Thomas and the Emergency Cable (*cameo*) and Samson Sent for Scrap
* **Series 19** - Who's Geoffrey?, Very Important Sheep, Den and Dart (*cameo*), Two Wheels Good, Thomas the Babysitter and The Other Side of the Mountain
* **Series 20** - The Way She Does It (*cameo*)
* **Series 21** - A Most Singular Engine (*cameo*), Hasty Hannah, Unscheduled Stops and The Big Freeze
* **Series 23** - Free the Roads
* **Series 24** - Thomas' Fuzzy Friend, The Great Little Railway Show, Emily to the Rescue and Cleo's First Snow

#### Specials

* **1992** - Thomas and the U.K. Trip (*cameo*)
* **2000** - Thomas and the Magic Railroad
* **2008** - The Great Discovery (*does not speak*)
* **2010** - Misty Island Rescue (*cameo*)
* **2015** - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure
* **2016** - The Great Race (*cameo*)
* **2018** - Big World! Big Adventures!

#### Music Videos

* **Series 3** - Thomas' Anthem and I'm Thomas the Tank Engine
* **Series 4** - Thomas' Anthem Grand Finale, Let's Have a Race, Toby, Don't Judge a Book By its Cover, The Island Song, Really Useful Engine and Thomas' Christmas Song
* **Series 5** - Night Train, The Snow Song, Come for the Ride and Harold the Helicopter
* **Series 6** - James the Really Splendid Engine, Little Engines, Down by the Docks, Winter Wonderland and Never, Never, Never Give Up
* **Series 7** - The Red Balloon and The Whistle Song
* **Series 8** - Surprises
* **Series 9** - Pride and Every Day's a Special Day on Sodor
* **Jack and the Sodor Construction Company** - The Work Song and One Friendly Family
* **Series 10** - Favourite Place, H is for Harold, Navigation, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells
* **The Great Discovery** - Where, oh Where is Thomas? and Thomas, You're the Leader
* **Series 17** - Hey, Hey Thomas! and On a Journey Today
* **Series 18** - The Best Friends Express
* **Thomas' YouTube World Tour** - A World Around You, Navigation, Thomas' Anthem and Rules and Regulations
* **Series 19** - Let's Go! and Race with You
* **Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure** - We Make a Team Together
* **The Great Race** - Streamlining (*cameo*) and You Can Only Be You (*fantasy*)
* **Series 21** - Set Friendship in Motion
* **Big World! Big Adventures!** - Where in the World is Thomas?
* **Series 24** - Fall is So Much Fun
* **Nursery Rhymes** - Tunnels, Bridges, Tracks and Hills and Happy Birthday to You (*cameo*)

#### Learning Segments

* **Series 8** - Being Blue (*does not speak*), The Children Wait for Gordon (*does not speak*) and Helping One Another (*does not speak*)
* **Series 9** - Same Colour (*does not speak*), What's New at the Station (*poster cameo*), Percy in the Dark (*does not speak*) and Knowing What To Do (*does not speak*)
* **Series 10** - Who Can Take Them? (*does not speak*) and Percy's Story (*cameo*)

#### DVD Game

* Arthur's Tricky Travels and Sir Topham Hatt's Helping Hand

#### Storytime

* **Series 1** - Happy Birthday Thomas! and The Other Side of the Mountain

### Magazine Stories

* **1987** - Hello, Thomas! (*mentioned*)
* **1988** - Thomas and Bertie, A Late Start for Thomas, Bertie's Chase, The Runaway (*mentioned*), The Vicar's Fête, Better Late Than Never, Edward's Exploits (*mentioned*) and A Bump on the Line
* **1989** - Bertie's Bumpy Road and Diesel's Christmas (*does not speak*)
* **1990** - Thomas and the Umbrella (*mentioned*) and Trouble on the Track
* **1992** - All Aboard! (*cameo*)
* **1993** - Trevor to the Rescue! (*does not speak*), All Steamed Up! and Fetching Freight
* **1994** - The Hot Soup Special!
* **1995** - School-time Thomas! (*mentioned*)
* **1996** - Proud Mavis! (*does not speak*), Bulgy's Dream, Night Lights and The Thomas Kart! (*cameo*)
* **1997** - Annie and Clarabel (*cameo*), The Road Race and Trevor's Christmas Surprise
* **1998** - The Beached Whale! (*does not speak*), The Carnival!, Rhyming Engines, The Big Speech! (*does not speak*), Thomas and Bertie!, The Exhibition!, The Best Bus and Oliver (*cameo*)
* **1999** - Thomas is Rescued
* **2000** - Thomas Gets Delayed and Rude James (*cameo*)
* **2001** - Dents All Round!, A Special Story About Bulgy, A Special Story About BoCo (*cameo*), The Pop Show (*does not speak*) and Rolling Around! (*mentioned*)
* **2002** - Birthday Bus, Whistling! (*does not speak*), Road Wreckers and I Used to be Red
* **2003** - Playbus, Sunshine! (*does not speak*), Feeling Fine (*does not speak*), Harvey to the Rescue! Gordon's Surprise (*mentioned*), Bridges (*cameo*), Where's Wag? (*does not speak*), Frozen Engine, Air Share!, Sandblasted! (*cameo*), Making a Splash! and Bertie's Bumpy Ride!
* **2004** - Thank You, Thomas!, Bertie and the Race, Holiday Hat (*does not speak*) and Bertie's Bad Day
* **2005** - Bus, Stop! (*does not speak*), Badgers' Way, George's Little Joke, Trying Time (*does not speak*), Cat and Mouse, Stranded (*does not speak*), As Good as Gordon (*does not speak*) and The Big Bell
* **2006** - Heavy Load, Bulgy's Back, Stop and Shop, Percy's New Whistle and The Carol Concert (*cameo*)
* **2007** - The Best Smile (*does not speak*), The Telescope (*does not speak*) and In for Treatment
* **2009** - Spring Special (*cameo*) and Spring Time Special (*cameo*)
* **2010** - Misty Island Rescue (*cameo*), Ready, Steady, Go! and Thomas and the Rainbow! (*mentioned*)
* **2011** - Horrible Hiccups (*does not speak*), Party Time and Show Time (*does not speak*)
* **2012** - Bulgy's Back, Double Trouble (*does not speak*), A Special Shelter (*mentioned*), Where's That Bus?, Charlie and Eddie (*does not speak*) and Wonky Whistle (*does not speak*)
* **2013** - Spring Special, Horrible Hiccups (*does not speak*), Spring Special, A Friend in Need (*cameo*), Toby to the Rescue (*mentioned*) and Wayward Winston (*speaks in speech bubble only*)
* **2014** - Engine Trouble (*mentioned*), Thomas Takes a Shortcut and Whistle-Stop Tour (*does not speak*)
* **2017** - Engine Trouble (*mentioned*)

Bertie also appeared in the magazine stories, A Hole in One, Clowning Around, Danger Signs!, Flag Day, Flying the Flag, Holiday Havoc!, Holidays, How Does Percy Work?, Lights On, On Inspection, Road and Rails, Slow Down, Bertie!, Slow Tow, Special Bus Service, Squeaky Wheels, The Best Bridge and The Mystery Tour.

### Annual Stories

* **1985** - Thomas and the Important Visitor and Bertie Saves the Day
* **1986** - Funnel Trouble (*mentioned*) and Golden Oldies
* **1989** - The Trouble with Sheep (*mentioned*)
* **1990** - Thomas and the Cricketers (*mentioned*), Old Square Wheels (*mentioned*) and Points of No Return (*does not speak*)
* **1991** - Thomas and the Sunday School Outing (*mentioned*)
* **1992** - Bertie to the Rescue
* **1993** - James' Traffic Jam (*does not speak*) and Thomas and the Snow Block
* **1994** - Thomas and the Tickles (*mentioned*) and Bertie the Snow Bus
* **1995** - Easter Egg Special (*mentioned*)
* **1996** - All Pull Together (*does not speak*)
* **1998** - Engines to the Rescue (*does not speak*)
* **1999** - Blooming Railways (*does not speak*)
* **2001** - Very Special Engines (*mentioned*) and Best Friends
* **2002** - A Special Day for Thomas (*mentioned*) and Percy's Dream (*does not speak*)

## Audio Files

**Themes**

**Horns**

Since the eighth series, Bertie reuses Caroline's horn sound.

In the mobile app Read and Play!, Bertie has a different horn.

In Engines Working Together, Bertie's current horn sound is lower-pitched.

## Trivia

* Bertie used to be one of twelve characters, as well as the only sentient non-rail vehicle, to appear in every series of the television series until the twenty-second series in which he did not appear in an episode, possibly due to his model being updated for the twenty-third series. He also has the most appearances out of all of the sentient non-rail vehicles in the series.
* In the French dub, Bertie was known as *Bertrand* in the first seven series.
* In some countries such as Poland, Bertie is portrayed as a female character.
* Bertie is the only road vehicle who visited Misty Island.
* From Three Cheers for Thomas until 2008, Bertie would have moving eyes edited on.
* Bertie's horn sound from the fourth to sixth series was heard in the 1987 holiday special, *A Muppet Family Christmas*.
* Bertie was the only vehicle character to retain his driver in *Thomas and the Magic Railroad*.
* Bertie is currently one of the only characters introduced in the first series to not appear in the 2021 reboot, *Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go*, the other being Henrietta.

## References

1. ↑ RWS "Bertie the Bus and Thomas the Tank Engine"
2. ↑ T&F S2 #3 "Bertie's Chase"

Expand

**Non-rail vehicles**Expand

**Ffarquhar Branch Line**