Rusty to the Rescue

"You lucky old engine! You've been saved by the Bluebell Railway!"

- Stepney's driver

Rusty to the Rescue is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season. It aired in the US on the Shining Time Station special Once Upon a Time in 1995.

Plot
Rusty enjoys visiting the Bluebell Railway, but his driver is concerned that the line needs an engine, so Rusty consults with Douglas about finding one on the Other Railway. Douglas mentions that only diesels travel there nowadays, which is where he found Oliver. That suits Rusty and the next day he travels to the Other Railway, slipping past the diesels by fibbing that he is an inspection diesel. He finds a tank engine named Stepney alone in a siding, and he asks him if he likes bluebells. Stepney replies puzzledly that he believes bluebells are beautiful, and Rusty promises to help him run away. Their drivers agree and Rusty helps him to escape to Sodor. Thanks to Rusty, Stepney now happily runs on the Bluebell Railway.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Douglas
 * Stepney
 * Rusty
 * The Mid Sodor Railway Manager
 * Percy (does not speak)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * Gordon (cameo)
 * Diesel (cameo)
 * Daisy (cameo)
 * BoCo (cameo)
 * Mavis (cameo)
 * The Diesel (cameo)
 * Skarloey (cameo)
 * Duncan (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Bertie (cameo)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)
 * Jem Cole (cameo)
 * Oliver (mentioned)

Locations

 * Stepney's Branch Line
 * Bluebell Valley Station
 * Crovan's Gate
 * Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds
 * Rheneas Viaduct
 * Standard and Narrow Gauge Viaduct
 * Vicarstown Goods Depot
 * Bluebell Railway

Trivia

 * This is the only fourth season episode not based on a story from The Railway Series. However this episode forms the first part of a four episode story based on the book, Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine, replacing the story, "Bluebells of England."
 * The Reverend W. Awdry disapproved of this episode for its portrayal of Rusty rescuing Stepney from scrap whereas in reality, it was the representatives of the Bluebell Railway who saved him.
 * In real life, the Bluebell Railway is a heritage line in England.
 * This episode and Thomas and Stepney are the only episodes of Season 4 to not be released on VHS before airing on TV, but the UK Narrations were released before airing on TV.
 * The set of the Other Railway is the same as Skarloey Railway Engine Sheds set where Rusty met Percy and Douglas, only heavily modified.
 * In the US version, music is heard when Stepney says, "and my friend, Rusty. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Rusty!" but is absent in the UK and international versions.
 * In the UK and international versions, Henry and Gordon whistle to Rusty when he is heading to the Other Railway; the whistle sound effects are omitted in the US version.
 * Scrap models of Thomas, Gordon, and Donald/Douglas can be seen on the Other Railway.
 * The engines of the Other Railway are represented by Diesel, BoCo, Daisy, Mavis, and The Diesel, all facing opposite to the camera.

Goofs

 * In the UK and international versions, Thomas has Edward's whistle sound as he passes through Bluebell Valley Station. In the same scene, Clarabel is also facing the wrong way.
 * In the UK and in various international versions, when Rusty and Stepney return, Thomas, Gordon, and James' whistle sounds are heard, yet they are nowhere to be seen. This is because stock audio of the engines whistling is reused from the first season episode, Thomas' Christmas Party.
 * Rusty's truck and brake van disappear in the close-up shot of his driver in his cab.
 * When Rusty says "Right, we'll find one tomorrow," he has dried-up glue around his face.
 * When Rusty first arrives on the Other Railway, some chains are hanging beside the signal box, but when Rusty says "Oh, what's that?" the chains disappear.
 * The tar wagon seen between BoCo and Daisy disappears in the last shot of the Other Railway.
 * On the Other Railway, the diesels constantly change places:
 * When Rusty first arrives, Mavis is to his right.
 * When the voice calls out, "Who are you?" Mavis has somehow moved behind Diesel.
 * In the shot after Rusty says, "Then I'll just go and inspect," Mavis is back to her original position, Diesel has somehow moved in front of her, and the Diesel appears in front of BoCo.
 * In the shot of Rusty escaping from his point of view, Mavis is on Daisy's track.
 * In the following shot, Daisy is on the far right track, and the Diesel has somehow moved to the smaller shed. Additionally, Mavis and Diesel have moved to the narrow gauge track.
 * In the final shot of the Other Railway, Daisy and the Diesel are back in their original positions.
 * When Rusty escapes, he passes BoCo. In the next shot, he passes a shed he already should have passed.
 * When Rusty and Stepney escape, Rusty's cab roof appears to be snapped.
 * When Rusty and Stepney leave the scrapyard, Diesel and Mavis can be seen placed on narrow gauge rails.
 * When Stepney and Rusty are on the Standard and Narrow Gauge Viaduct, the house and shed next to the track have moved compared to when Rusty went over the viaduct the first time.
 * Stepney has Rheneas' whistle sound.
 * Stepney's eyes are wonky in the final shot.

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
 * Biggest Party Video Ever!
 * Seasonal Scrapes
 * 5 Episode Video
 * The Complete Series 4

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

US

 * Rusty to the Rescue and Other Thomas Stories
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 4

DVD Boxsets

 * Adventure On the Tracks

AUS

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories
 * Mixy Presents More Favourites
 * Rescues on the Railways
 * The Complete Fourth Series
 * Active Collection

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Three and Series Four Double Pack

NZ

 * Thomas and Stepney and other Stories

NOR

 * Thomas and Stepney (Norwegian VHS)

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine Vol.4
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.6
 * Strange Story of Thomas the Tank Engine

PHL

 * Rusty to the Rescue (Philippine DVD)

MYS

 * Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady and Other Adventures
 * Passengers and Polish and Other Thomas Adventures

GR

 * A Day at the Station

DVD Boxsets

 * 3 DVD Boxset 2

ITA

 * Here Comes the Queen

UKR

 * A Train Thomas and Friends
 * Thomas and Friends - Season 4 (Ukrainian DVD)

DK

 * The Brave Engine and Other Stories

GER

 * Heroes on Rails

DVD Boxsets

 * Thomas and His Friends Box Set 1

NL

 * Rock 'n Roll (Dutch DVD)
 * The Greatest Stories: The Adventures of Edward, Toby and the Diesels

IN

 * Trucks and Other Stories

CHN

 * Thomas and Friends Season 1-4 (DVD)

THA

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 10 (Thai DVD)
 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 14 (Thai DVD)
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