Bertie's Chase

**"Bertie's Chase"** is the third episode from season two.

Edward is impatient when Thomas' fireman is away and the passengers are angry, but Bertie races to the rescue.

*“Do you think we'll catch him at the next station, driver?"
"There's good chance, our road keeps close to the line and we can climb hills better than Edward. I'll just make sure.”*
―The passengers and Bertie's driver

## Plot

One morning, Edward is waiting at Wellsworth to pick up passengers from Thomas’ train and is growing impatient. His fireman gets up on the cab roof but says he can only see Bertie. They leave, mistaking the passengers for tourists, and not knowing until too late that Bertie has Thomas’ passengers on board since Thomas' fireman is absent. He tries to stop them as they leave the station. Bertie's driver tells him that they must keep their promise to Thomas and they start to chase Edward.

Bertie tries to catch up with Edward but to no avail. At last, he reaches the top of a hill and sees Edward at Suddery, stopped at the level crossing. Bertie tears down the hill at top speed, but the crossing gates close and Edward puffs away, just as Bertie comes into the yard.

Bertie is now both very upset and tired. He apologises to the passengers, who tell him not to worry. They encourage him to start after Edward again. Bertie is not so sure, but his driver says that there is a good chance of catching Edward, as Bertie can climb hills better than him. After checking with the stationmaster, Bertie sets off again.

As they carry on, Edward comes to a hill. The coaches start grumbling, but soon they reach the top. Still having no idea about Bertie, they run smoothly into the next station. The guard blows his whistle but as the driver looks back, he cannot see a green flag. Suddenly, Bertie comes into the station and the stationmaster tells the driver and guard what happened. Edward apologises to Bertie, who claims everything was his fault. The passengers board the train and once on board, Edward says goodbye and continues with his journey while Bertie goes to tell Thomas that all is well. Thomas thanks him for being such a good friend.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Bertie
* Green Express Coaches
* Bertie's Driver
* Mrs. Kyndley (*not named*)
* Jeremiah Jobling (*not named*)
* Jem Cole (*cameo*)
* One Little Boy (*cameo*)
* The Barber (*cameo*)

## Locations

* Wellsworth
* Suddery Junction
* Wellsworth Scrap Yard
* Lower Suddery
* The Branch Line Bridge
* Upper Brendam
* Tidmouth
* Hackenbeck Tunnel (*stock footage*)

## Trivia

* Stock footage from Thomas and Bertie is used.
* In the original *Shining Time Station* airing of this episode, the episode opened with Bertie arriving at the crossing, possibly due to time constraints. The same thing occurs in the James in a Mess book for unknown reasons. The full version was first released in the James Goes Buzz Buzz VHS on 23 February 1994 and first aired on TV in Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales in 1996.
* The ending of the episode was filmed at the same time as the ending of Better Late Than Never, as Thomas and Bertie are in the same positions at Tidmouth in both episodes (although different shots are used for both episodes).
* In a deleted scene of Bertie at the level crossing, he has his tired face mask with eyebrows.
* Edward's fireman utters a part from the famous nursery rhyme "Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be?" originally from 1780, which was composed in England, United Kingdom. In the Latin American Spanish dub, he utters a part from the famous song, *El Día que me quieras*, composed by Carlos Gardel in 1934. In the Finnish dub, he utters a part from the famous song, *Emma*, composed by Tapio Rautavaara in 1969.
* In the restored version:
	+ An alternate take of Bertie passing under the bridge is used, as he is moving at a much slower pace and enters the shot earlier than in the original.
	+ The footage of Edward going down the hill is played slightly ahead of the original version.
* Mrs. Kyndley's Cottage appears at the Suddery crossing.
* This episode marks the first for a few things:
	+ The first appearance of Jem Cole.
	+ The first episode to feature Edward's tired face.
	+ The first appearance of Upper Brendam in the television series.
* This is the last episode for a few things:
	+ Green Express Coaches' last speaking roles to date.
	+ The last episode to have Bertie's name in the title to date.
	+ The last episode where Bertie's driver has a speaking role until the twenty-first season episode, Unscheduled Stops.
* This episode aired on Friday 31st May 1991 as the second episode, Thomas, Percy and the Coal was the first episode that aired on 21st May. The third episode aired after this episode was Saved from Scrap.
* This episode and the following, were the first two episodes to air as double repeat bills from 6th March 1989, ending with The Diseasel and Wrong Road on 22nd May 1989.

## Goofs

* Whilst the fireman is climbing out of the window, a gap can be seen where the cab roof has come loose.
* When the fireman is on Edward's roof, paint chips on the cab are visible and Edward's whistle is out of scale. Also, the windows were dirty, while in the previous scene they were clean.
* When Edward leaves the station, smoke rises in between the coaches.
* When Bertie passes the village, a piece of camera equipment can be seen at the top of the screen.
* In some scenes, Bertie drives in the middle of the road.
* When Bertie passes by Thomas' Branch Line, we can see studio equipment at the top left corner of the screen.
* When Bertie reaches the top of the hill, his wheel is crooked.

* The woman in green's hat changes from green to brown.
* When Bertie passes Edward under the bridge, Edward's coaches slow to a stop at the end of the screen.
* Blu-tak can be seen under one of the passengers when Bertie's driver speaks to the stationmaster.
* In the close-up of Edward after Bertie brings him the passengers, a speck of dirt is on his face.
* When Edward reaches the last station, his whistle is tilted. Also, the coaches stop before he does.
* When Bertie is going downhill, he passes Edward twice by the side. This due to the fact that the producers did not want to make Bertie catch up with Edward at the Lower Suddery crossing in time.

* Thomas' eyes are wonky when Bertie sees him.
* In the beginning when Edward's crew are talking, there is a gash on one of their foreheads.

## Home Media Releases

UK
* Thomas, Percy and the Coal and Other Stories
* The Best of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
* Thomas Comes To Breakfast and Other Stories
* Thomas' Christmas Party and 17 other stories
* Playtime
* The Complete Series 2
* Fun Time Favourites
* My Little Thomas and Bertie Adventures
* Thomas, Percy and the Coal

DVD Boxsets
* Classic Collection

US
* James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories
* Thomas and His Friends Help Out
* Thomas' Useful Stories
* Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 2

DVD Packs
* Totally Thomas Volume 3
* Totally Thomas Volume 7
* James Goes Buzz Buzz and Other Thomas Stories/Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories **Double Feature**
* Thomas' Trackside Tunes/Thomas and His Friends Help Out **Double Feature**
* Ultimate Thomas Collection

AUS
* Thomas, Percy and the Coal and Other Stories
* Playtime
* The Complete Series 2
* The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 1 (*restored*)
* My First Thomas with Thomas

DVD Boxsets
* My First Thomas
* My First Thomas
* Complete Series 1-10
* Classic Collection
* Series One and Series Two **Double Pack**

JPN
* Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 7
* The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.8
* Nice to Meet You Thomas!
* Thomas and Bertie's Race
* The Complete DVD Box 1
* Don't Be Defeated by Thomas and Friends!!

NZ
* Saved from Scrap and Other Stories
* Thomas, Percy and the Coal and Other Stories
* Playtime
* Bumper Video Collection Volume 2
* Thomas Train Set Compilation Video

FRA
* Saved from Scrap

GER
* Friends Help Friends
* Thomas and His Friends Part 3
* Thomas and His Friends Vol. 3
* Thomas in Trouble

DVD Boxsets
* Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

NL
* A Nasty Case
* The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Edward, Toby and the Diesels

UKR
* A Train Thomas and Friends

PHL
* Down the Mine

NOR
* Favourties From Thomas and Friends
* Thomas Celebrates Christmas
* Thomas the Tank Engine 3 (Scandinavian VHS/DVD)

FIN/ISL
* Thomas the Tank Engine 3

ITA
* A Daring Rescue

IN
* Down the Mine and Other Stories

BRA
* Helping the Friends

DNK
* The Runaway Train and Other Stories

SVN
* Bertie's Race

MYS
* Henry's Forest and Other Thomas Adventures
* Bertie’s Chase and Other Adventures

ROM
* Thomas and the Great Runaway

DVD Packs
* Triple Pack 1

SER
* Thomas the Tank Engine

HRV
* Thomas in Trouble

CHN
* Thomas and Friends Season 1-4

HK
* Thomas and Friends Volume 3 (VCD)

THA
* Thomas and Friends - Volume 5