| For other uses, see Rusty. |
- “I wish all diesels were like you. Let's be friends.”
- ― Duncan
Rusty is a little orange narrow gauge diesel engine who carries out maintenance work and odd jobs on the Skarloey Railway.
Biography
When Sir Handel pretended to be ill, Rusty was asked to assist Peter Sam with the slate trucks, and later that day had to help him at the quarry when Peter Sam had an accident on the incline.[4]
Following the return of Skarloey, Rusty was put back on maintenance duties but had an argument with Duncan about taking care of a "bad bit" of track near Cros-ny-Cuirn. While initially refusing to help the conceited Duncan when he derailed, Skarloey reminded Rusty of the little diesel's responsibility towards the passengers and Rusty set out at once, later making up the quarrel with Duncan.[5]
Later, Rusty helped save Stepney from scrap, and brought him to the branch line through Bluebell Valley.[6]
During the construction of Boulder Quarry, Rusty was concerned about a mysterious Boulder which stood above the site, thinking it was watching the little diesel. Rusty's concerns would later be proven when the Boulder ran loose at the quarry and Rusty narrowly avoided being squashed by it.[7]
Along with Skarloey, Rheneas, and Elizabeth, Rusty saved the Skarloey Railway from abandonment.[8] He also once saved Duncan from falling into a river from an old bridge after he refused to listen.[9]
One Christmas, when Duncan began complaining more than ever, Rusty had the idea of telling the Thin Controller, who devised a plan. Rusty later saw Duncan lose his temper with Luke, who was blocking the track in front of him. But when Duncan felt sorry and helped Luke carry on his way, Rusty saw this too and told the Thin Controller.[10]
He was later seen in a queue of engines at Ulfstead Castle after Percy told Rusty and all the other little emgines on Sodor there was to be a railway show there.[11]
Personality
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 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.
Rusty is quick to remind others with regards to proper conduct, particularly Duncan, who was initially very suspicious of the little diesel. Despite their occasional disagreements, they both seem to make amends in the end, because of how kind and tolerant Rusty is.
Rusty occasionally has bouts of being tempermental, especially when he feels he has been wronged, but always puts his duties to the railway, its passengers and his friends over personal squabbles. He has also had occasional habits of being prone to procrastination, impatience and carelessness, but he has managed to retain his good work ethic, especially while working at the Blue Mountain Quarry and the railway. He also has a rather distinctive two-tone horn, of which he is very proud.
Technical Details
Basis
Rusty is based on the Talyllyn Railway's No. 5, Midlander, a Ruston and Hornsby 44/48HP diesel. Unlike his Talyllyn Railway counterpart, Rusty was never rebuilt with a different shaped radiator and has a horn instead of a whistle.
Livery
Rusty is painted orange with yellow lining around his windows and his name and number written in white on his sides. His radiator is black with a brass cap.
Appearances
Official Description
From Official Website:[1]
| “ | Rusty: Rusty is very self assured and is a dedicated worker with a huge heart. Loves adventure as well as all the other engines and will do anything to make their lives easier. Fearless in nature, Rusty always smiles in the face of adversity. A pal for life.
|
” |
From Official Website:[2]
| “ | Rusty: Rusty is very self-assured and is a dedicated worker with a huge heart. Rusty loves adventure and the other engines, which makes their lives much easier.
|
” |
From Official Website:[3]
| “ | Rusty: Rusty is the only diesel engine on the narrow gauge railway. He is a very self-assured and dedicated worker with a huge heart. Rusty loves adventure and especially loves his two-toned horn.
|
” |
From Official Website:[4]
| “ | Rusty: Rusty is the only diesel engine on the Narrow Gauge Railway. He loves adventure and especially loves his two-toned horn.
|
” |
Audio Files
Themes
| First used | Last used | Composers | Theme Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 4 | Mike O'Donnell Junior Campbell |
||
| Series 7 | |||
| Series 9 | Series 10 | Robert Hartshorne | |
Horns
| First used | Last used | Sound Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Series 4 | Series 7 | |
| Tuneful Toots | ||
| Series 9 | Series 12 | |
| Blue Mountain Mystery | Series 24 | |
Trivia
- Rusty's name is a portmanteau of his builder Ruston and Hornsby.
- Rusty's large scale model is currently on display in Japan at the Hara Model Railway Museum with his alternative happy face (previously on display at Nitrogen Studios).
- In the television series, Rusty is near twice the size of his basis. This was so his eye mechanism and the motor could be accommodated. When he received a large scale model and later returned in CGI, he remained the same larger size for continuity reasons.
- Nitrogen Studios went to the Talyllyn Railway and took measurements of Rusty's basis in order to accurately render him in CGI. This was also the case with Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel and Peter Sam.
- Matt Wilkinson gave Rusty a West Country accent.
- Rusty is one of the engines to have a stock recording of a horn:
- His series 9-12 horn came from a Morris Minor 1000 van, which can be heard in various other media. He has a two-toned version of this in Tuneful Toots. He would later use it again from Blue Mountain Mystery onwards, but with a somewhat additional upgraded sound.
- His series 9-12 horn is also the same horn used for Brum the Car.
- Rusty is the only narrow gauge diesel to ever be seen in the entire television series.
- Rusty was the only character in the US dub not referred to by a specific gender, and was considered gender-neutral by some sources up until the ninth series, where he has officially been referred to as a male, and has remained the same since.
- As a result of the character being genderqueer from Series 4-7, Rusty is the first LGBTQ+ character in the Thomas & Friends franchise.
- Rusty was called Rooky in Series 4 and 5 of the French dub, regaining the original English name in Series 6.
- Rusty was called Zlatko in the Slovenian dub.
- The Strasburg Rail Road's No. 2 diesel shunter is painted to resemble Rusty, and beginning in 2020, it has been dressed up as him during Day Out With Thomas events.
- Rusty's small scale model is currently owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch,[12] along with those of Duke, Skarloey and Sir Handel.
- Rusty is one of three engines who were able to save an engine from scrap. The other two include Douglas and Thomas.
- He appeared forty years after he appeared in The Railway Series.
References
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