Rusty

"I wish all Diesels were like you. Let's be friends."

- Duncan, Rock 'n' Roll

    Rusty  Rusty is a Diesel who does maintenance work on the Skarloey Railway.
 * Number: 5
 * Builder: Ruston and Hornsby
 * Built: 1957

Bio in the Railway Series
Rusty was built by Ruston and Hornsby Ltd. in Lincoln, England. He was bought by Sir Handel Brown direct from the builders in 1957 to assist Sir Handel and Peter Sam. While they handled passengers and goods, Rusty was paired with CME Mr. Ivo Hugh to repair the aging trackbed along the line.

When Sir Handel pretended to be ill, Rusty was asked to assist Peter Sam with the slate trucks and later that day had to perform a rescue operation at the quarry when Peter Sam had an accident on the incline.

Following the return of Skarloey, Rusty was put back on maintenance duties, but had an argument with Duncan about taking care on a "bad bit" of track south of Cros-ny-Cuirn. While initially refusing to help the conceited Duncan when he derailed, Skarloey reminded Rusty of his responsibility towards the passengers and he set out at once, later making up the quarrel with Duncan. Later that year, Rusty and Mr. Hugh were chosen to demonstrate to a television crew how they maintained the line at Quarry Siding.

In 1961, Rusty and Mr. Hugh discovered a washed out section of track south of the tunnel and the railway was closed temporarily while he and the workmen repaired the line. He was later present when Rheneas finally returned home.

In 1964, the Lakeside loop line extension was opened in a grand ceremony at Quarry Siding. Rusty was asked to bring visitors to celebrate the occasion.

In 1984, Rusty was in charge of carrying away tree branches and other cuttings, which were being trimmed from the line so that passengers could get a better view.

In 1995, Rusty was put in charge of the weedkiller train, a job he disliked because it required slow speeds. The weedkiller later created trouble with Rheneas, who couldn't get a firm grip on the wet, greasy rails. He later had to take Sir Handel's trains after Sir Handel had caused his firebars to collapse. Rusty was present during No. 7's naming ceremony, and showed great delight upon learning that his co-worker, Mr. Hugh, was chosen as the engine's name.

Persona
Rusty is a trusty, tame, friendly little Diesel. He is a dedicated worker, often maintaining the line, while understanding and respecting the importance of his duties. He also has a rather distinctive two-tone horn. Rusty is quick to remind others with regards to proper conduct, particularly Duncan, who was initially very suspicious of the little Diesel. He has a good working relationship with both Skarloey and Peter Sam in particular. Caring, calm, and quick-thinking, Rusty is modestly a credit to the Skarloey Railway.

Basis
Rusty is based on the Talyllyn Railway's Midlander.

Livery
In the Railway Series, Rusty is painted charcoal-black with gold lining. In the television series, he is painted orange with yellow lining and white lettering.

Appearances
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Railway Series

 * The Little Old Engine
 * Gallant Old Engine
 * Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine (mentioned)
 * Very Old Engines (does not speak)
 * Great Little Engines (does not speak)
 * New Little Engine

Television series

 * Season 4 - Trucks!, Home at Last, Rock 'n' Roll, Special Funnel (does not speak), Steam Roller, Rusty to the Rescue, Thomas and Stepney, and Bowled Out (cameo)
 * Season 5 - Stepney Gets Lost (does not speak), Duncan Gets Spooked, Rusty and the Boulder, and Snow
 * Season 6 - Dunkin' Duncan, Rusty Saves the Day, and Faulty Whistles
 * Season 7 - The Old Bridge (cameo), The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop, Rheneas and the Roller Coaster, The Runaway Elephant, Harold and the Flying Horse (cameo), The Grand Opening, and Trusty Rusty
 * Season 9 - Tuneful Toots, Rheneas and the Dinosaur (cameo), The Magic Lamp, Duncan and the Old Mine, and Skarloey the Brave
 * Season 10 - Follow that Flour (cameo), Duncan Drops a Clanger, Thomas' Tricky Tree, Which Way Now?, Wharf and Peace, and Missing Trucks (does not speak)
 * Season 11 - Thomas and the Big Bang, Duncan Does it All, Sir Handel in Charge, Cool Truckings (cameo), and Wash Behind Your Buffers (cameo)
 * Season 12 - Mountain Marvel (cameo), The Party Surprise, The Man in the Hills, and Push Me, Pull You (does not speak)
 * Season 16 - Don't Bother Victor! (cameo) and The Christmas Tree Express

Specials:
 * Calling All Engines! (does not speak)
 * The Great Discovery (cameo)
 * Blue Mountain Mystery

He also cameoed in an eighth season song.

Magazine stories
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 * 1997 - Rusty the Diesel (does not speak)
 * 1998 - Really Useful Rusty!
 * 2000 - Harold's Race! (cameo) and Creepy Cutting! (does not speak)
 * 2002 - Big Ideas!
 * 2004 - Windsurfing (cameo) and Elephants and Engines
 * 2009 - Thomas and the Big Bang
 * 2010 - Big Ideas
 * 2011 - Flight Sight
 * 2012 - Blue Mountain Mystery (speaks in speech bubble only) and Going Rusty

Voice actors

 * Matt Wilkinson (UK/US; sixteenth season onwards)
 * Hideo Ishikawa (Japan)
 * Arash Marandi (Germany)

Trivia

 * A major continuity error occurred in the original American broadcasts of the ninth season, where Rusty was referred to as female by Michael Brandon. While Rusty was clearly stated as being male in the original books, not once in the television series had he been referred to in gender-specific terms until then. Nonetheless, the two episodes that contained this error, Tuneful Toots and Duncan and the Old Mine, were edited for their DVD releases, now identifying Rusty as male.
 * Rusty is actually named after his makers, Ruston and Hornsby, not his orange colour.
 * When the narrow gauge engines received large scale models in the fifth season, Rusty's face became larger. This was carried on into the CGI series.
 * One of Rusty's models is currently on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.

Merchandise

 * ERTL (normal and metallic; discontinued)
 * Wooden Railway (reissued in three-pack; coming soon, separate)
 * Take-Along (three-pack and Faulty Whistles four-pack; discontinued)
 * Take-n-Play
 * TOMY/TrackMaster
 * My First Thomas
 * My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
 * Bandai Tecs
 * De Agostini
 * Brio (discontinued)
 * Wind-up
 * Mega Bloks