Bert

"Well, go on. Aren't you going to impress us with your thoughts after all?"

- Mike, Jock the New Engine

   Bert  Bert is the quietest of the Arlesdale Railway engines.
 * Based on: Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Irt
 * Builder: Duffield Bank
 * Designer: Sir Arthur Heywood
 * Built: 1894
 * Configuration: 0-8-2, originally 0-8-0T
 * Arrived on Sodor: 1967

Bio
Bert worked on an unnamed line in England until 1967, at which time it closed down and he, Rex and Mike were sent to Sodor to work the Arlesdale Railway. Some time after his arrival, Bert took offence when the Reverend W. Awdry and the Reverend Teddy Boston accidentally sprayed him with mud while passing him in their car, and in retaliation Bert drenched the Reverend Teddy Boston with water when he took a ride in Bert's cab. However, both parties made up and Bert was as a result featured in the Reverend W. Awdry's next book, Small Railway Engines.

For a long time Bert had trouble with steaming, but this has stopped since he was rebuilt into a narrow gauge outline with a taller chimney, dome and cab in 1972. In 1976, he was rebuilt with a larger boiler, giving his current appearance.

Persona
Bert is friendly, and somewhat clever and cynical.

Basis
Bert is based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway's River Irt.

Livery
Bert is painted blue with red-and-yellow lining. He has a brass dome, red nameplates with yellow writing mounted each side of his smokebox and "Arlesdale" written on his tender in yellow.

Railway Series

 * "Small Railway Engines"
 * "Oliver the Western Engine" (cameo)
 * "Duke the Lost Engine"
 * "Jock the New Engine"
 * "Wilbert the Forest Engine"

Merchandise

 * Trading Cards (discontinued)