Talk:Rusty the Steam Engine

Rusty based on Stanier 2-6-4T???
Rusty is based on the LMS Stanier 2-6-4T.

I'm curious as to how this is proven? Where is Rusty's costume beyond generic "Steam Train"? I'm not disputing, but very curious!

Belle pullman 22:03, 30 September 2007 (UTC)


 * It says on his costume. Not sure from which  production, but there is one where he has 'stanier' on his 'fire'. - ElphaPearl


 * I am interested to see that this discussion started so long ago. I bumped into a ref on the LMS 3-Cylindered Stanier 2-6-4T page and was curious to see where the information came from. (Hence 'fact' added recently.) At present I am assuming that it is 'wishful thinking' by some fan or other. The trouble is that there are now Wikipedia mirrors worldwide that are stating this as fact...!


 * Now, when I first saw the London show (with the decent songs still in place and with its original cast - showing my age here!) I assumed that most of the engines were US prototypes, as the characters (control included) were speaking with American accents. That would therefore rule out any Stanier class...


 * Bearing in mind I have so far drawn a blank about the exact link between The Railway Stories (Thomas the Tank Engine) and the genesis of Starlight Express, finding out which specific locomotives the characters are based on would seem like a forlorn hope.


 * I suggest that if a ref cannot be found within a couple of weeks, we should remove this as bad information.


 * EdJogg (talk) 22:39, 29 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Good observation, ElphaPearl, but his costume actually says "STANDARD" across the boiler doors. But I bet that's where the confusion came from!  It's crystal clear in one of the German 2003 press photos.  So the "fact" is probably based on that inaccurate observation...  unless anyone out there can identify the costume details more clearly?  Belle pullman (talk) 00:58, 30 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Well that would make a bit more sense. Perhaps it refers to one of the BR standard classes of locomotives? But even then, just having the word 'standard' on the costume doesn't really prove anything! (It wouldn't have been written on the locos concerned.) Certainly isn't enough to say determine which engine he is based upon. :o) -- EdJogg (talk) 02:08, 30 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Clear pictures are hard to come by via Google. I found this page, describing a home-made costume, but it has a clear diagram of the chest motif (showing "standard"). Another 'clue' might be the fact that many (all?) of the costumes have a 4-wheel bogie shown on the outside of the sleeve cuffs, so that might indicate the leading wheels. But does he have a (coal) bunker on his back, or a tender?
 * EdJogg (talk) 02:29, 30 January 2008 (UTC)


 * The place to look for clear pictures is www.starlightexpress.de where under "Pressebereich" and "Downloads", "pressefotos" gives you access to the full, hi-resolution press images. Rusty and Poppa both clearly have "Standard" written on them.


 * I don't think there is actually enough information in the costumes to relate them to one specific model of engine.  I suspect that various details were taken from different steam trains, and some elements are not related to the rolling stock at all, for instance that Rusty wears overalls over short sleeves.  The costume designs are a blend of anthropomorphic influences with a touch of artistic licence!   Belle pullman (talk) 14:02, 30 January 2008 (UTC)
 * I'm sure I saw a design with 'Stanier'. Anyway, what does 'Standered' Stand for? I'm Curious! ElphaPearl (talk) 21:59, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

Ferro
Shouldn't this version of the character have his own section? Would anyone mind if   I went ahead with it? ElphaPearl (talk) 21:57, 10 February 2008 (UTC)


 * There is already a section dedicated to the alternate names Rusty has had, if you have anything more to say add it there. Ferro is not a separate character to Rusty, it is simply the spanish translation of the name.  Belle pullman (talk) 23:49, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

Will Martin
While Will Martin has sung two of the songs from Starlight with the NZ tour Pearl, he is not playing Rusty - http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/news/1393959/Singers-summer-sizzler clearly denies this. http://www.willmartin.net/ makes no mention of the show. As Will Martin is not a cast member, his recordings are of no more importance than the hundreds of other recordings of songs from the show that have been made, and is not of relevance to Rusty the Steam Engine. Rebecca Wright's "Only He" is notable to Pearl tho, since she IS cast. Belle pullman (talk) 22:29, 27 March 2009 (UTC)