Trusty Rusty

"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, he hits a bump, and his driver inspects the bridge, realizing that it is in early stages of collapsing. Realizing 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 sign reading "Line Closed," the engines have to travel a different route.

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 has a long chain hitched to Duncan. He pulls him off the bridge, right before it finally comes down.

That evening, the Fat Controller scolds Duncan his irresponsible actions. Duncan 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
 * Peter Sam
 * Jem Cole
 * Refreshment Lady
 * Stepney

Locations

 * The Old Wooden Bridge
 * Maura
 * Sodor Castle
 * West Lakeside Junction
 * The Depot
 * Tea Room Station
 * The Old Trestle Bridge
 * Rocky Ridge Line
 * The Craggy Track
 * Bluebell Valley

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:
 * 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.

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; 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 come in a bit too late.
 * 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.
 * [Note: Rusty's warning is repeated in the US dub after Duncan is saved from the collapsed bridge]
 * [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.
 * Rusty: [US dub only] Aw, thanks.
 * The Fat Controller: Yes, Rusty. You really are a useful engine.
 * Rusty: Thank you, sir.

Merchandise

 * Magazine stories - Trust in Rusty and Trusty Rusty (magazine story)

Home Media Releases
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UK/AUS

 * Engines to the Rescue
 * The Complete Series 7

UK DVD Packs

 * Classic Collection
 * Peep Peep Party/Engines to the Rescue/The Chocolate Crunch Double Pack

AUS DVD Boxsets

 * 60th Anniversary - Limited Edition Boxset
 * Essential Collection
 * Complete Series 1-10
 * 3 DVDs
 * Series Seven and Series Eight Double Pack

WAL

 * Machines Save the Day

US

 * Percy Saves the Day and Other Adventures
 * Thomas & Friends Classic Volume 7

CAN

 * Percy Saves the Day and Other Adventures

DVD Boxsets

 * Adventure On the Tracks
 * Totally Thomas Volume 6

ZA

 * Bold and Brave

DVD Boxsets

 * 5 DVD Boxset

SWE

 * The Snow Engine

JPN

 * Let's Help Each Other, We Are Friends
 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 7 Vol.1

KOR

 * A Story That Builds Confidence

DK

 * Snow Engine and Other Stories

DVD Boxsets

 * Danish DVD Boxset

MYS

 * Fergus Breaks the Rules and Other Adventures
 * Something Fishy and Other Adventures

TWN

 * Confident Brave Little Engine
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 17

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 18
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 11

ITA

 * Hooray for Thomas

THA
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 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 26

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