Thomas and Bertie

"Well done, Thomas! That was fun, but to beat you over that hill, I should have to grow wings and be an aeroplane!"

- Bertie

Thomas and Bertie, retitled Thomas and Bertie's Great Race in American releases, is the fourteenth episode of the first season. In the US, it aired on the Shining Time Station episodes Agree to Disagree in 1989 and Field Day in 1991.

Plot
Thomas is waiting at a junction when a bus drives up alongside him. The bus introduces himself as Bertie, who remembers Thomas from the time he took his passengers home after Thomas crashed into a snowdrift, and tells Thomas that he has come to help his passengers today. Thomas claims that he can go faster than Bertie. Bertie then challenges Thomas to a race. The drivers agree to the race, and Thomas and Bertie begin their race.

Bertie draws in front at the beginning of the race, until he reaches the level crossing, where Thomas passes him and takes the lead in the race, and after that, the road leaves the railway, and Thomas stops at the next station to collect passengers. He tells them to get in quickly, and as he starts off again, he seeing Bertie zooming over the bridge and taking the lead. Thomas tries to catch up, but he has to stop at the next station. Thomas now feels sure that he will lose the race, but he feels better after a drink and starts off once more.

Thomas manages to catch up to Bertie and takes the lead as he passes Bertie at the tunnel and makes it to the last station, winning the race. Everyone celebrates Thomas' victory, but they give Bertie a big cheer too. Bertie congratulates Thomas and tells him that to beat him over that hill, he would have to grow wings and be an airplane.

The two friends often talk about their race, but Bertie's passengers do not like to be bounced like peas in a frying pan, and The Fat Controller warns Thomas not to race at dangerous speeds. Although it doesn't seem likely the two will ever race again, secretly Thomas and Bertie would like to again some day.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Bertie
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Mrs. Kyndley (cameo)
 * The Storyteller (cameo)
 * Terence (mentioned)
 * Sir Topham Hatt (mentioned)

Locations

 * Elsbridge
 * Ffarquhar
 * Dryaw
 * River Els
 * The Windmill
 * Hackenbeck Tunnel
 * The Bus Yard
 * Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox
 * Lower Arlesburgh

Trivia

 * This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Tank Engine Thomas Again.
 * Stock footage from Thomas and Gordon and Thomas and the Guard is used.
 * A reference to Thomas, Terence and the Snow is made in this episode.
 * The shot of Thomas passing the windmill, was featured in the show's original opening.
 * The Korean name of Better Late Than Never is the same as the original UK title of this episode: Thomas and Bertie.
 * The episode can be seen in a Japanese game, Magical Adventure.

Goofs

 * Thomas has Percy's tired face mask on when he puffs into Elsbridge.
 * The plane seen as Thomas leaves Dryaw has a clear disc for its propeller.
 * The narrator says "...the road left the railway...", but there is a road right next to Thomas.
 * At one point, Thomas is on Toby's old tramway.
 * Annie and Clarabel keep changing position throughout the race.
 * When Thomas and Bertie start their race, a camera's shadow can be seen.
 * In the restored version, studio equipment can be seen when Thomas pulls into Ffarquhar after the race.
 * The narrator says Bertie was fuming at the gates, but Bertie looks happy.
 * Because stock footage is used, sometimes Annie and Clarabel are not behind Thomas.
 * When Thomas meets Bertie at the beginning the end of the set is visible on the far left.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway - Thomas and Bertie Story Pack, Lets Have a Race set and 65th Anniversary Thomas and Bertie Story Pack
 * Motor Road and Rail - The Big Race set and Thomas and Bertie set (discontinued)
 * Hornby - Thomas and Bertie Set
 * Take Along - Let's Have a Race Set (discontinued)
 * Books - The Great Race
 * Buzz Books - Thomas and Bertie
 * Board Books - Thomas and Bertie
 * Magazine Stories - Thomas and Bertie!/Thomas and Bertie
 * Ladybird Books - Thomas and Bertie and Thomas Down the Mine
 * My First Thomas Books - Thomas and Bertie
 * My Thomas Story Library - Bertie (discontinued)

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Further Adventures of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
 * Troublesome Trucks and other stories
 * Troublesome Trucks, Coal and other stories
 * Thomas and the Breakdown Train and Other Stories
 * Bumper Special
 * Thomas and Bertie (DVD)
 * Thomas Gets Bumped and 17 Other Stories
 * Playtime
 * My Little Thomas and Bertie Adventures
 * Tomica World (VHS)
 * The Complete First Series
 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Troublesome Trucks and 8 Other Stories (Welsh VHS)

US

 * James Learns a Lesson and Other Stories
 * Thomas and Bertie's Great Race and Other Adventures
 * 10 Years of Thomas
 * Thomas' Trainyard Adventures
 * The Early Years
 * Engine Friends
 * Season 1 (Digital Download)

DVD Boxsets

 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection
 * Totally Thomas Volume 7
 * Totally Thomas Volume 9

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Volume 4
 * Best of Thomas
 * Let's Sing Thomas Songs Together Vol.3
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 1 Vol.8
 * Nice to Meet You Thomas!
 * Keep It Up Thomas!
 * The Complete DVD Box 1
 * Thomas and Bertie's Race

PHL

 * Thomas and Friends Collection
 * Thomas, Terence and the Snow (DVD)

AUS

 * Troublesome Trucks and Other Stories
 * Playtime
 * The Complete First Series
 * My First Thomas with Thomas

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10 (Boxset)
 * My First Thomas

FRA

 * The Magic of Sodor

NZ

 * Bumper Video Collection Volume 1

GER

 * The Adventures of Thomas (VHS)
 * Thomas and His Friends Vol. 2
 * Thomas and the Guard and 4 Other Adventures
 * It's Great to be a Locomotive!

SE

 * Thomas in Trouble (Swedish VHS/DVD)

NL

 * The Great Race! (Dutch DVD)
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Thomas

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends

NOR

 * Thomas-Festival (Norwegian VHS)
 * Thomas the Tank Engine 2 (Scandinavian VHS/DVD)
 * Sports Special

FIN/ISL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 2 (Scandinavian VHS/DVD)

DNK

 * Thomas in Trouble and Other Stories (Danish DVD)

IND

 * Thomas and Bertie Adventures

ITA

 * Trouble in Store

HRV

 * Thomas and Brakesman

ROM

 * Thomas and Percy (Romanian DVD)

DVD Packs

 * Triple Pack 1

SER

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 1

SVN

 * Thomas and Conductors (Slovenian DVD)

GR

 * The Adventures of Thomas (VHS)

MYS

 * Thomas, Terence and the Snow and Other Adventures
 * Thomas and Gordon and Other Adventures

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 2 (Thai DVD)

TWN

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 2 (Taiwanese DVD)
 * }}

Video Games

 * Magical Adventure