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Rusty is a small narrow gauge 0-4-0 Midlander Diesel locomotive in Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. He is kind, helpful, faithful, friendly, and wise, has a big heart and is a best friend for life. Rusty is mostly a credit to the Skarloey Railway. He usually has problems with Duncan, who usually insults him and ignores his wise words.
Heroic Role
Rusty's important job is maintenance work on the Skarloey Railway, providing help when he can.
When Sir Handel pretended to be ill, Rusty was asked to assist Peter Sam with the slate trucks, and later that day had to perform a rescue operation at the quarry when Peter Sam had an accident on the incline.
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.
In the episode "Rusty to the Rescue", he traveled to the Other Railway where he came across Stepney the Bluebell Engine. Plucking up courage, he helped Stepney to escape being scrapped and was honored for saving the engine's life.
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.
Along with Skarloey, Rheneas, and Elizabeth, Rusty saved the Skarloey Railway from abandonment. Rusty also once saved Duncan from falling into a river from an old bridge after he refused to listen.
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.
He was later seen in a queue of engines at Ulfstead Castle after Percy told the latter there was to be a railway show there.
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 also has a rather distinctive two-tone horn. Rusty is quick to remind others with regards to proper conduct, particularly Duncan, who was initially very suspicious of the little diesel. But despite their arguments they both seem to make amends in the end, because of how kind and tolerant Rusty is. 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.
Sometimes, Rusty had an occasional habit of being prone to procrastination, impatient and careless but he has managed to contain his good work ethic, especially while working at the Blue Mountain Quarry and the railway.
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’s horn sourced from the Morris Minor 1000 van is a stock sound effect that can be heard in various other TV shows, movies, commercials and other medias.
- Rusty is the only narrow gauge diesel to ever be seen in the entire television series.
- Rusty was the only character 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.
- 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, 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.
