Iron Bert

This article is about **Iron Bert**. You may be looking for **Iron 'Arry and Iron Bert**, **Iron 'Arry** or **Bert the Miniature Engine**.

## Iron Bert

* 2017
* 2014
* 2012
* 2006
* 1999

## Details:

### Active:

1999-2004, 2006-2009, 2012-2016, 2018 (*planned release*) (UK)
1999-2002, 2012-2016, 2018 (*planned release*) (AUS)
2000-2001, 2012-2016, 2018 (*planned release*) (US)
2000-2001, 2012-2019 (INT)

### Ranges:

ERTL 1:64 Scale Range
The ERTL Collection
Take Along
Take-n-Play
Collectible Railway
Adventures (*cancelled*)

### Portrait Number:

70 (1999)
79 (2002)

### Item Number:

31440 (ERTL)
LC76035 (TA)
X2430 (TNP; 2012)
CBL84 (TNP; 2014)
FCR23 (CR)

### Asst. Number:

36363 (ERTL)

**Iron Bert** (also labelled as **Bert**) is a diesel who works at the Smelters Yards. He has a twin named Iron 'Arry.

## Product Description

### **1999 ERTL collector card**

'*Arry and Bert work in the scrap yards and smelters sheds. They are grim messengers of doom. They love breaking up steam engines and are determined to rid the Island of Sodor of them, because as far as they are concerned, diesels do everything better!*

### **Historical Note**

*Devolved from a 1944 LMS/English Electric design, Class 08, 350hp shunters were built in large numbers some 1,193 being constructed from 1952. Hundreds were still in service in the 1990's, with some being preserved. Originally numbered D3000 - 4192, they became 08.001 to 08.958, with gaps due to scrapping, under the computerized TOPS system.*

### **2002 ERTL collector card**

'*Arry and Bert work in the scrap yards and smelters sheds. They are grim messengers of doom, determined to rid the Island of Steam Engines, because as far as they are concerned diesels are better.*

### **2006 UK Take Along collector card**

*Iron Arry and Iron Bert, are diesels that work in the scrap yards and the smelting shed.*

## Timeline

* 1999 (pin-hook couplings, black buffer beams and running board, moulded silver side rods, Britt Allcroft licensing, made in China)
* 2001 (Gullane licensing)
* 2003 (U-hook rear coupling; only available in the UK)
* 2006 (red running board, two-way magnets, red buffer beams and running board, side rods removed, name on chassis)
* 2012 (CG style face, buffer beams and running board reverted to black, updated details, moulded black side-rods)
* 2013 (cheaper metal, made in Thailand)
* 2014 (one-way magnets, lighter shade of yellow, hollowed out wheel pins)
* 2017 (clip connectors, only in select countries)

## Variants

* Iron 'Arry and Iron Bert
* Collectable Metallic Arry and Bert

## Trivia

* Iron Bert's first ERTL prototypes do not have the Sodor Ironworks text.
* Although most ERTL models that reused toolings from previous models were dated to the year said models came out, Iron Bert is correctly dated 1999 despite reusing Diesel's tooling. Iron 'Arry, Splatter and Dodge were also dated 1999 due to reusing the same chassis.
* Iron Bert's Take-n-Play model is one of the few engines to have side-rods molded in. Other characters include Timothy, Iron 'Arry and the 2013 Diesel, Paxton and Sidney.
* Iron Bert, Iron 'Arry and Hiro are the only re-designed Take-n-Play characters in 2015 not to have a blacked-out cab, despite all other re-designed engines acquiring the change.

## Gallery

Prototype ERTL Iron BertSecond prototype ERTL Iron 'Arry and Iron BertERTL Iron Bert1999-2000 ERTL Iron Bert box1999-2000 ERTL Iron Bert collector card2000-2002 ERTL Bert box2002-2004 ERTL Iron Bert box2002-2004 ERTL Iron Bert collector cardTake Along Iron Bert2006 Take Along Iron Bert box2012-2014 Take-n-Play Iron Bert2014-2016 Take-n-Play Iron BertCollectible Railway/Cancelled Adventures Iron Bert