Bertie and the Race

"Please let me past, Trevor! I am having a race with Thomas. We need to show that roads are better than tracks!"

- Bertie

Bertie and the Race is a magazine story, illustrated using photographs from the television series.

Plot
It is a very exciting day on the Island of Sodor. Annie and Clarabel are full of children and Thomas is taking them to their annual sports day. Thomas overhears one boy desiring to win a medal. Thomas thinks it must be splendid to win a medal. He later tells Bertie that he wants a medal, but Bertie tells Thomas he will have to win a race first. Then, Bertie has an idea and suggests that he and Thomas should race to the station. Thomas agrees and the race begins.

It's not long until Thomas and Bertie reach the level crossing. Thomas laughs as he sees Bertie waiting behind the crossing gates. However, Bertie soon catches up with Thomas - until he gets stuck behind slow-moving Trevor that is.

Thomas had nearly reached the station, until he is flagged down at a level crossing. The Fat Controller is there and tells Thomas that the medals for the sports day have been left in his office. He orders Thomas to fetch them and take them to the sports ground at once. It isn't long before the medals are on board and Thomas, along with his coaches, are steaming to the sports field. Thomas feels sad, Bertie must have won the race by now. The Fat Controller is very pleased to see Thomas, the Fat Controller then gives each of the winners a gold medal hanging from a red ribbon.

When Thomas reaches the next station the following morning, he is surprised to see Bertie and the children from the sports day there with a surprise for Thomas. The children present Thomas with a big home-made medal. The Fat Controller then calls him a really useful engine, but Bertie is quick to point out that he had won yesterday's race. Thomas does not mind; he has his medal and is a very happy engine.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Bertie
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
 * Trevor (does not speak)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)
 * Nancy (cameo)
 * Cyril the Fogman (cameo)

Trivia

 * This story is based on the seventh season episode, Three Cheers for Thomas.

Goof

 * In the final image, Bertie and the children are shown at Maithwaite, but in the following image which shows Thomas wearing his medal, he is at Knapford and Bertie and the children are not seen. Also, the medal, said to be made by the children, is exactly the same as the medals the Fat Controller handed out at the sports day.