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
 * Percy (does not speak)
 * Henry (cameo)
 * Gordon (cameo)
 * Diesel (cameo)
 * Daisy (cameo)
 * BoCo (cameo)
 * Mavis (cameo)
 * The Diesel (cameo)
 * Skarloey (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Bertie (cameo)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)
 * Jem Cole (cameo)
 * Oliver (mentioned)

Locations

 * Crovan's Gate
 * Rheneas Viaduct
 * Stepney's Branch Line
 * Bluebell Valley Station
 * Vicarstown Goods Depot
 * Standard and Narrow Gauge Viaduct
 * Bluebell Railway (mentioned)

Trivia

 * This is the only fourth season episode not based on a story from the Railway Series.
 * The set of the Other Railway is the same as Crovan's Gate set where Rusty met Percy and Douglas, only heavily modified.
 * In real life, the Bluebell Railway is a heritage line in England.
 * 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 Japanese versions.
 * In the UK version, 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 Thomas, Gordon, and Donald/Douglas models 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.
 * In the US, this episode aired before Rusty Helps Peter Sam, so early American viewers would not know who Rusty is.
 * The Reverend 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.
 * This episode forms the first four part episode based on Stepney the Bluebell Engine.
 * This episode marks Diesel's last appearance until the sixth season episode, The World's Strongest Engine.

Goofs

 * In the British and international narrations:
 * Thomas has Edward's whistle sound as he passes through Bluebell Valley Station. Clarabel is also facing the wrong way.
 * Gordon has Duck's whistle sound.
 * 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 from Thomas' Christmas Party is used.
 * 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 and Stepney escape, Rusty's cab roof appears to be snapped.
 * When Rusty and Stepney leave the scrapyard, Diesel 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.

UK

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

WAL

 * Thomas the Tank Engine: Bumper Special 2

US

 * Rusty to the Rescue and Other Thomas Stories

AUS

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

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

NOR

 * Thomas and Stepney (Norwegian VHS)