History Recap / ThomasTheTankEngineS1E14ThomasAndBertie

'''U.S. Title''': Thomas and Bertie's Great Race

'''Air date''': November 20th, 1984

'''Adapted from''': ''[[Recap/TheRailwaySeriesB4TankEngineThomasAgain Tank Engine Thomas Again]]'', "Thomas and Bertie"
[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/280px-thomasandbertie39_9814.png]]

Thomas is waiting at a junction when a bus drives up alongside. The bus introduces himself as Bertie, who remembers Thomas from the time he took his passengers home after Thomas crashed into a snowdrift, and that he's come to help his passengers. 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 leaf 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'll 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 don't like to be bounced like peas in a pod, and The Fat Controller warns Thomas not to race at dangerous speeds.

The narrator then tells the audience that Thomas and Bertie would like to have another race, but doesn't think they ever will. [[Recap/ThomasTheTankEngineS7E26ThreeCheersForThomas Or do they?]]

!!Tropes featured in the episode:
* TheBigRace: The first for Thomas and Bertie. They would have more races later on in the series, despite the narrator saying he doesn't think they ever will.
* CallBack: Bertie mentions the time [[Recap/ThomasTheTankEngineS1E13ThomasTerenceAndTheSnow Thomas was rescued by Terence.]]
* GracefulLoser: Despite losing the race, Bertie congratulates Thomas for his win.
* NameAndName
* OhCrap: Thomas as Bertie gains the lead.
-->'''Thomas:''' Oh deary me, oh deary me...
* PerpetualSmiler: Bertie, who had yet to gain any of his alternate face models, even when he is "fuming" at the level crossing.
* RacingTheTrain: It's more of a train vs vehicle variant.
* TheRival: Bertie to Thomas. Thomas did gained his respect in the end, however, and both have become more of {{Friendly Rival|ry}}s.
* StockFootage: Footage from "Thomas and Gordon" and "Thomas and the Guard" is being used.
----

* TheBigRace: The first for Thomas and Bertie. They would later have races later on in the series.]]

* TheBigRace

!!Tropes featured in the episode ([[YMMV/ThomasTheTankEngineS1E14ThomasAndBertie YMMV here]]):

'''Air date''': November 20th, 1984 (UK), March 12th, 1989 (US)

'''Air date''': October 17th, 1984 (UK), March 12th, 1989 (US)

The narrator then tells the audience that Thomas and Bertie would like to have another race, but doesn't think they ever will. Or do they?

Bertie the Bus challenges Thomas to a race, to see who can get to the end of the line first. Thomas faces obstacles such as stations, signals and a slow start, Bertie has bus stops and traffic lights - who will win?

'''Air date''': October 20th, 1984 (UK)

!!Tropes featured in the episode:

U.S. Title: Thomas and Bertie's Great Race