Bertie's Chase

Bertie's Chase
Season	2
Episode	3
Air date	April 20, 1988
Writer	The Rev. W. Awdry
Director	David Mitton
Episode guide
Previous	Cows
Next	Saved from Scrap

Bertie's Chase is the third episode of the second series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book Edward the Blue Engine.

Plot

One morning, Edward is waiting at Wellsworth to pick up passengers from Thomas’ train and is growing impatient. His fireman gets up on the cab roof but says he can only see Bertie, who is likely carrying tourists. With no sign of Thomas, they leave just as Bertie pulls up shouting that he has Thomas’ passengers on board since Thomas' fireman is absent. He tries to stop them, but neither Edward or his crew hear him and they leave the station. Bertie's driver tells him that they must keep their promise to Thomas and they start to chase Edward.

Bertie tries to catch up with Edward but to no avail. He soon finally reaches the top of a hill and sees Edward at Lower Suddery, stopped at the level crossing. Bertie tears down the hill at top speed, but the crossing gates close and Edward puffs away just as Bertie comes into the yard.

Bertie is now both very upset and tired. He apologises to the passengers, who tell him not to worry and encourage him to start after Edward again. Bertie is not so sure, but his driver says that there is a good chance of catching Edward as Bertie can climb hills better than him. After checking with the stationmaster, Bertie sets off again.

As they carry on, Edward comes to a hill. The coaches start grumbling, but soon they reach the top. Still oblivious about Bertie, they run smoothly into Upper Brendam. The guard blows his whistle but as the driver looks back, he cannot see a green flag. Suddenly, Bertie comes into the station and the stationmaster tells the driver and guard what happened. Edward apologises to Bertie, who claims everything was his fault. The passengers board the train and cheer for Bertie, while Edward says goodbye and continues with his journey. Bertie goes to tell Thomas that all is well. Thomas thanks him for being such a good friend.

Characters

• Thomas
• Edward
• Bertie
• Bertie's Driver
• Mrs. Kyndley (Not named)
• Jeremiah Jobling (Not named)
• Jem Cole (Cameo)
• One Little Boy (Cameo)
• The Barber (Cameo)

Locations

• Wellsworth
  • Crocks Scrap Yard
• Suddery Junction
• Lower Suddery
  • Suddery Hill
• The Branch Line Bridge
• Upper Brendam
• Tidmouth
• Hackenbeck Tunnel (Note: stock footage)

Trivia

• Stock footage from Thomas and Bertie is used.
• In the original Shining Time Station airing of this episode, the episode opened with Bertie arriving at the crossing, possibly due to time constraints. The same thing occurs in the "James in a Mess and Other Thomas the Tank Engine Stories" book for unknown reasons. The full version was first released in the "James Goes Buzz Buzz" VHS on 23 February 1994 and first aired on TV in Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales in 1996.
• The ending of the episode was filmed at the same time as the ending of Better Late Than Never, as Thomas and Bertie are in the same positions at Tidmouth in both episodes (although different shots are used for both episodes).
• In a deleted scene of Bertie at the level crossing, he has his tired face mask with eyebrows.
• Edward's fireman utters a part from the famous nursery rhyme "Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be?" originally from 1780, which was composed in England, United Kingdom. In the Latin American Spanish dub, he utters a part from the famous song, El Día que me quieras, composed by Carlos Gardel in 1934. In the Finnish dub, he utters a part from the famous song, Emma, composed by Tapio Rautavaara in 1969.
• In the restored version:
  • An alternate take of Bertie passing under the bridge is used as he is moving at a much slower pace and enters the shot earlier than in the original.
  • The footage of Edward going down the hill is played slightly ahead of the original version.
• Mrs. Kyndley's Cottage appears at the Suddery crossing.
• This is the first episode to feature Edward's tired face.
• This is the last episode for two things:
  • Bertie's name in the title.
  • Bertie's driver having a speaking role until the twenty-first series episode, Unscheduled Stops.
• This episode aired on 28th May 1991 as the second episode, Thomas, Percy and the Coal was the first episode that aired on 21st May. The third episode aired after this episode was Saved from Scrap.
• This episode and the following, were the first two episodes to air as double repeat bills from 6th March 1989, ending with The Diseasel and Wrong Road on 22nd May 1989.

Goofs

• Whilst the fireman is climbing out of the window, a gap can be seen where the cab roof has come loose.
• When the fireman is on Edward's roof, paint chips on the cab are visible and Edward's whistle is out of scale. Also, the windows were dirty, while in the previous scene they were clean.
• When Edward leaves the station, smoke rises in between the coaches.
• When Bertie passes the village, a piece of camera equipment can be seen at the top of the screen.
• In some scenes, Bertie drives in the middle of the road.
• When Bertie passes by Thomas' Branch Line, studio equipment can be seen at the top left corner of the screen.
• When Bertie reaches the top of the hill, his wheel is crooked.
• The woman in green's hat changes from green to brown.
• When Bertie passes Edward under the bridge, Edward's coaches slow to a stop at the end of the screen.
• Blu-tak can be seen under one of the passengers when Bertie's driver speaks to the stationmaster.
• In the close-up of Edward after Bertie brings him the passengers, a speck of dirt is on his face.
• When Edward reaches the last station, his whistle is tilted. Also, the coaches stop before he does.
• When Bertie is going downhill, he passes Edward twice by the side. This due to the fact that the producers did not want to make Bertie catch up with Edward at the Lower Suddery crossing in time.
• Thomas' eyes are wonky when Bertie sees him.
• In the beginning when Edward's crew are talking, there is a gash on one of their foreheads.

Transcript

• See here

Gallery

• See here