What is the name of the bus in the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' stories?
Bertie the Bus Bertie the Bus Bertie the Bus is a small red bus character from The Railway Series books by the Rev. W Awdry and who also appears in the spin-off children's television series "Thomas & Friends" (AKA Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends). Bertie first appeared in 'Thomas, Terence and the Snow', a story in "Tank Engine Thomas Again" (published 1949). His first major appearance came in the next story, 'Thomas and Bertie', where he had his famous race with Thomas. The story proved to be very popular, which ensured that Bertie would return. He did eventually return, in Edward the
Thomas the Tank Engine the second book in the series, "Thomas the Tank Engine", and was the focus of the four short stories contained within. Thomas's best friends are Percy and Toby. In 1979, British writer/producer Britt Allcroft came across the books, and arranged a deal to bring the stories to life as the TV series "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" (later simplified to "Thomas & Friends"). The programme became an award-winning hit around the world, with a vast range of spin-off commercial products. When Awdry created Thomas, the engine existed only as a wooden toy made for his son Christopher. This engine