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'Arry and Bert (also known as Iron 'Arry and Iron Bert) are twin diesel shunters who work at the smelters and scrapyards of the Sodor Ironworks. They have also been seen frequently working at the Ffarquhar Quarry.
Biography
Thomas & Friends
In their first appearance, 'Arry and Bert crept alongside a lonely Stepney, who had mysteriously been sent to the smelters by mistake. They shunted Stepney into the larger smelting shed underneath a giant grabber and threatened to scrap him. Thankfully, Stepney was saved by the Fat Controller, once the diesels had left.
Despite being villainous, 'Arry and Bert are also known for playing tricks on steam engines, such as making them "middle engines". Once, they shunted trucks in front and behind Percy. This later led Percy to being pushed onto the coal tipper by mistake. Later, 'Arry and Bert played the same trick on James. Sometime later, they frightened Fergus away from the smelters and bullied Neville, which made the engines think he was planning to bump them.
On some occasions, 'Arry and Bert's teasing ways backfire. Once, they played a ghostly prank on Thomas and Emily during Halloween, though they ran away when they thought Emily was a ghost. Another time, 'Arry and Bert teased Percy for having a whistle. Percy paid them back by creeping up behind them and blowing on his whistle. Later, along with Diesel, 'Arry and Bert began teasing Thomas for being smelly, but were later covered in stinky cheese.
'Arry and Bert were also part of the group of diesels that took over the Sodor Steamworks. They later teased Henry because of the coal he had to use by calling him "Mr. Special Steam". They also laughed at Gordon after he ran into Diesel's flatbed and damaged his bufferbeam.
'Arry and Bert liked being rough and tough along with Diesel, but they realised Diesel was trying to be nice to everyone. So Thomas took 'Arry and Bert to the ducklings while Diesel followed behind them. Diesel, 'Arry and Bert then realised the ducklings were cute.
When Diesel had bumped Daisy, he caused her springs to break. A rumour spread about Daisy being scrapped and Mavis told 'Arry and Bert about the rumour, which horrified the two and they both told Diesel, who thought that they were blaming him.
Personalities
'Arry and Bert are unquestionably devious and scheming. They feel superior to steam engines and working at the scrap yards, they enjoy the chance to break up engines or at least make their lives more difficult. Due to their grim task, they have earned a reputation on Sodor as "The Grim Messengers of Doom".
'Arry and Bert also have a tendency to act scheming, slimy, greasy and oozy. According to their merchandise bios, they wish to scrap Oliver and Stepney, who have both escaped the cutter's torch once before. They have also attempted to scrap Fergus.
However, despite their prejudices, the diesels have co-operated with steam engines on occasions and when they are in trouble, steam engines often come to the rescue.
Technical Details
Basis
'Arry and Bert are based on BR Class 08 diesel-electric shunters. Over seventy members of this class survive today in preservation, while around 100 remain in service on the national rail network. They were in fact the most successful shunting engines in the world, with 996 of them built. Diesel, the Diesel Shunter, Splatter, Dodge, Paxton, Sidney, Ulli and the Mainland Diesels are also members of this class.
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'Arry and Bert are painted green-grey with yellow hazard stripes on their fronts with yellow cabs. They have "Sodor Ironworks" written on their sides in white.
Appearances
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Voice Actors
'Arry
Bert
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Trivia
- The two are not quite identical: Bert has more stubble.
- Bert is the first character in the franchise to share his name with another character and the second to do so in the television series.
- The 1998 Official Website and Question Time with Sir Topham Hatt called 'Arry and Bert "The Yellow Diesels".
- In merchandising and the official website, the twins are named "Iron 'Arry" and "Iron Bert".
- 'Arry is called "Harry" in Japan.
- 'Arry and Bert's television series models do not have handrails, although some of their merchandise lines do.
- 'Arry and Bert's fifth series models were repainted and constructed into Splatter and Dodge for Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
- A model of 'Arry and one of Bert used to be on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.
- 'Arry's name was not revealed until merchandising of him was released.
- 'Arry and Bert have gone through a few changes in the television series:
- Series 6:
- Their side rods change from silver to black.
- Their faces became smaller.
- The text, "Sodor Ironworks", on their sides became bigger.
- Their models were significantly less weathered than the previous series.
- Series 12:
- Their faces become smaller still.
- Series 14:
- Their faces returned to the size they were in Series 5.
- They gained new horn sounds.
- Series 18:
- They each gained a tail-lamp.
- Series 6:
- On 'Arry's trading card, he is depicted with more stubble than Bert, opposite of how they usually are.
- There were a few occasions where they went faster than their basis' top speed.
- 'Arry is the only character whose Mini does not have a classic variant, despite having a DC comics variant.
- 'Arry and Bert's liveries might have been inspired by the NS Class 600's livery of black and yellow in some merchandise, even though the NS Class 600 resembles a British Rail Class 11 more than a British Rail Class 08, which is 'Arry and Bert's basis.
- 'Arry and Bert were possibly named after the nicknames of two brothers, from the 1970s BBC animated children's show Adventures of Sir Prancelot. These characters full names were Harold and Albert respectively[2].
Quotes
- “Stepney was all alone, but not for long. Two diesels approached.
"Got ya this time, Stepney. You'll make very fine scrap indeed. Buffer 'im, Bert!"
The diesels took him to the large smelting shed
"Bye-bye, Stepney!" said the diesel.” - ―'Arry and Bert's introduction, "Stepney Gets Lost", fifth series
- “The next day, James arrived at the smelters. He was determined not to be tricked by 'Arry and Bert.
"'allo, James!" oozed 'Arry. "Come to learn a thing or two from those who know?"
"Just get my trucks ready and stay out of my way!" huffed James importantly.
"Yes, sir". Bert chimed greasily.” - ―James meets 'Arry and Bert, "Middle Engine", sixth series
- “Fergus and his driver arrived at the smelters.
"I want to go back to the Cement Works! None of the other engines like coming here, its so scary!"
"You're right!" said his driver.
Just then, the scrap diesels emerged.
"'Ello! Are you happy to be here?"
"Noooooo!" cried Fergus.” - ―Fergus meets 'Arry and Bert, "Fergus Breaks the Rules", seventh series
Merchandise
- ERTL (discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (normal, oil-covered; discontinued (cheese-covered Bert; discontinued))
- Take Along (normal and metallic; discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- TrackMaster (discontinued)
- Bachmann (discontinued)
- Hornby (discontinued)
- Lionel (discontinued, later reintroduced with LionChief remote)
- My First Thomas (Arry only with Bert's face discontinued)
- My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
- Trading Cards (discontinued)
- De Agostini (discontinued)
- Minis
- Classic Minis
- Neon Minis (Bert only)
- DC Super Friends Minis ('Arry as Shazam (2015 & 2016) and Bert as Shazam (2017))
- Electrified Minis (Bert only)
- Space Minis (Bert only)
- Aquatic Minis (Bert as a jelly fish; with 'Arry's face mask)
- Adventures (Bert only; discontinued)
References
