| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the magazine story. |
- “Don't use the old wooden bridge! It's dangerous!”
- ― Rusty giving a warning
Trusty Rusty is the twenty-fifth episode of the seventh series.
Plot
While Rusty is crossing a wooden bridge during his routine inspection, he hits a bump, and his driver inspects the bridge, realising that it is in early stages of collapsing. Realising that it may soon be dangerous to cross, Rusty immediately hurries off to warn the engines. Arriving at the depot, where all the engines are getting their coal, he warns them about the bridge. Duncan, however, is sceptical and asks how Rusty would know, saying that he is only a diesel and he puffs away without waiting to be filled with coal. Rusty tells the Fat Controller about the bridge, and he agrees to send engineers to inspect it. After Rusty's driver puts up a "Closed" sign, the engines are then re-routed for their journeys.
Meanwhile, Duncan realises his plan on getting more coal for the journey home, but the coal staithe is empty. When he asks Skarloey where he can find the nearest staithe, he tells him it is on the other side of the wooden bridge. Despite warning Duncan that he knows not to cross it under Rusty's orders, Duncan retorts that Rusty keeps making things sound worse then they are, and he and his driver decide to face the risks, much to Skarloey's shock. When Duncan arrives at the junction, his driver removes the warning sign, and they puff towards the bridge. Not knowing it is a mistake, Duncan runs out of steam, causing him to stop on the bridge, which then suddenly starts to collapse from Duncan's weight. Hearing the news from Skarloey, Rusty races off to rescue Duncan who is still hanging on for dear life. Rusty slowly rolls onto the bridge, and with a long chain coupled to Duncan, he pulls him off the bridge just in time, right before it finally comes down.
That evening, the Fat Controller scolds Duncan for his irresponsible actions throughout the day. Duncan readily apologises and thanks Rusty for saving him and being brave to help, and the Fat Controller praises him as a Really Useful Engine. Rusty smiles and feels really reliable too.
Characters
- Skarloey
- Duncan
- Rusty
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Rheneas (cameo)
- Peter Sam (cameo)
- Jem Cole (cameo)
- Refreshment Lady (cameo)
- Stepney (stock footage cameo)
Locations
- The Old Wooden Bridge
- Sodor Castle
- West Lakeside Junction
- The Depot
- Tea Room Station
- The Old Trestle Bridge
- Rocky Ridge Line
- The Craggy Track
- Skarloey Railway Yard
- Passing Loop and Water Tower Runby
- Bluebell Valley (stock footage)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twenty-second episode of the seventh series.
- Deleted stock footage from Rusty to the Rescue is used.
- The scene of Rusty rescuing Duncan from the bridge is similar to Toby's Tightrope, as Mavis and Rusty are both diesel engines and Toby and Duncan are both steam engines.
- The episode's title would later on be referenced by Rusty in the twenty-fourth series episode, The Great Little Railway Show.
- This episode marks the last of a few things:
- Rusty's last episode with a leading role until the ninth series episode, Tuneful Toots.
- Duncan's last episode with a leading role until the ninth series episode, Duncan and the Old Mine.
- The last episode to have Tomohisa Asō, Hideo Ishikawa and Ryōichi Tanaka as part of the Japanese voice cast.
- If stock footage counts, this would be the last appearance of Stepney until the twelfth series episode, Rosie's Funfair Special. If stock footage does not count, then Stepney's actual last appearance would be in the sixth series episode, Edward the Very Useful Engine, as stock footage is also used for his role in the seventh series episode, Edward's Brass Band.
- The last episode to feature the Fat Controller as controller of the Skarloey Railway.
- The last appearance of the narrow gauge engines in the Gullane era and their last appearance until the ninth series.
- The last appearance of Rusty until the special Calling All Engines!.
- The last time until the sixteenth series where narrow gauge engines are seen with drivers and firemen.
- The last appearance of Rusty's original horn sound.
Goofs
- When Duncan arrives at the coal bunker, Skarloey already looks shocked even before the former headed for the bridge.
- When Rusty races to the rescue, the scene is mirrored because viewers can see that his number and name are reversed and the door to his cab is on his left when it should be on his right.
- When Rusty pulls Duncan clear of the bridge, it suddenly jerks downwards slightly as it begins to fall, and they fade away; this is due to a film cut.
- Wires can be seen under Duncan when the narrator says, "A beam snapped." The wires are also seen when he is about to fall, and when Rusty pulls him clear.
- The narrator says, "Rusty chuffed bravely onto the bridge," but Rusty is a diesel.
- When Rusty moves closer to Duncan on the bridge, studio equipment is seen sliding out behind the cliffs behind Rusty on the right hand side of the screen and again when the narrator says "soon they were coupled up."
- When Duncan runs out of steam on the bridge, the narrator says he used up all his coal, but the coal can still be seen in his bunkers.
- Most of the sound effects of the support beams splashing into the water are out of sync.
- When Rusty begins to pull Duncan off the bridge, Rusty's coupling hook moves a little.
Quotes
- Rusty: Don't use the old wooden bridge. It's dangerous.
- Duncan: How would you know? You're only a diesel.
________________________________________________
- [after Duncan has been saved from the collapsed bridge]
- The Fat Controller: That was very irresponsible.
- Duncan: Yes, sir. Sorry, sir, and Rusty, you were very brave.
- The Fat Controller: Yes, Rusty. You really are a useful engine.
- Rusty: Thank you, sir.
Merchandise
In Other Languages
| View content | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Home Media Releases
UK/AUSUK DVD Packs
AUS DVD Boxsets
WALUSCAN
DVD BoxsetsZA
DVD BoxsetsSWEJPNKORDKDVD BoxsetsMYSTWNHKITATHA |
| #01 Emily's New Coaches | #10 Toby's Windmill | #19 Bulgy Rides Again |
| #02 Percy Gets It Right | #11 Bad Day at Castle Loch | #20 Harold and the Flying Horse |
| #03 Bill, Ben and Fergus | #12 Rheneas and the Roller Coaster | #21 The Grand Opening |
| #04 The Old Bridge | #13 Salty's Stormy Tale | #22 Best Dressed Engine |
| #05 Edward's Brass Band | #14 Snow Engine | #23 Gordon and Spencer |
| #06 What's the Matter with Henry? | #15 Something Fishy | #24 Not So Hasty Puddings |
| #07 James and the Queen of Sodor | #16 The Runaway Elephant | #25 Trusty Rusty |
| #08 The Refreshment Lady's Tea Shop | #17 Peace and Quiet | #26 Three Cheers for Thomas |
| #09 The Spotless Record | #18 Fergus Breaks the Rules | |