Rusty's Ghost Engine was a narrow gauge saddle tank engine who supposedly worked on the Skarloey Railway.

Biography

According to legend, the engine was returning home one misty night. As the engine was travelling across the Old Iron Bridge, he suddenly derailed (attributed to a misplaced rail in an early script) and fell off the bridge, plunging into a swamp in the ravine below. While no-one was able to find his remains, in the light of the full moon, several workmen have claimed to have seen his ghost constantly trying to cross the bridge. However, it disappears half way every time, never reaching the other side.

Rusty told the story to Duncan, who was teasing Peter Sam for allowing his trucks to derail and fall into the ravine. While Duncan did not believe the story at first, Peter Sam and Duncan's respective crews arranged a plan the next day to teach him a lesson.

While crossing the bridge during a full moon, the crew secretly threw a large rock from the cab into the ravine and fireflies for unknown reasons formed into the shape of an engine. Duncan believed that the bridge was haunted and the engine was trying to cross the bridge at the same time as him. This frightened Duncan, and he quickly ran back to the safety of his shed.^[1]

In the magazine story, Creepy Cutting, the ghost engine was mentioned by Skarloey who suspected that he was haunting Echo Pass.

Technical Details

Basis

The Ghost Engine is based on the Talyllyn Railway's "Talyllyn", a Fletcher Jennings Class C 0-4-2 tank locomotive. Skarloey shares the same basis.

Livery

Rusty's Ghost Engine was painted black prior to his demise. When the engine splashes into the swamp the top and front of his cab is red. The ghost apparition was bluish white all over. The firefly formation was gold.

Appearances

Audio Files

Themes

First used	Last used	Composers	Theme
Series 5	Series 6	Mike O'Donnell Junior Campbell

Whistle

The Ghost Engine reuses and shares the same whistle sound as Percy.

Only used	Sound Effect
Series 5

Trivia

• The Ghost Engine is the first and only character to be shown perishing on screen.
• The Ghost Engine is the first character in the television series to not be made in any merchandise.
• The engine formed by the fireflies resembles Rheneas, Smudger and Dolgoch.
• The original script outline of Duncan Gets Spooked includes several details that were altered or omitted in the final episode.^[2]
  • The ghost engine's story was told by Duke instead of Rusty, and it is implied that the engine may have previously worked with him on the Mid Sodor Railway. The final episode depicts the engine more affiliated with the Skarloey Railway.
  • The engine's driver and fireman are stated to have managed to jump clear before the engine fell. They both also appear in a deleted scene.
  • The fireflies which formed the shape of the ghost engine are said to have often gathered on the viaduct. They were attracted to a certain type of tree branch placed near the line by a miner, who was in on the prank. In the final episode, this is left unexplained.
• Unlike other ghost engines in Thomas & Friends, it is never revealed whether the ghost engine was real or not. This makes him possibly the only ghost engine that actually existed in-universe.

Quote

"A long time ago, a little engine was returning home. It was a misty, moonlit night. As the engine crossed the old iron bridge, he suddenly lost control and plunged over the side into the swamps below. He was never found again. But many a workman will tell you that when the moon is full, they have seen the little engine trying to get home... but he never reaches the other side."

― Rusty^[src]

Gallery

Thomas & Friends

Model Series

Miscellaneous

Promotional Material

References