The wise older engine, Poppa/Momma was a champion in their day. Sadly, their day is long gone, and now they hang around the freight yard, singing The Blues and preaching of the Starlight Express, a mysterious force that helps trains in need.
From the show's conception up until the 2017 Workshop, the character was male and known as "Poppa". In the workshop process Poppa was reconceived as female and renamed "Momma". Poppa and Momma are essentially the same character. There was little change in their role, personality, and numbers, after the gender swap, so this page represents both of the character identities.
The German version of the show spells the names "Papa" and "Mama".
Personality[]
Poppa is the oldest engine in the yard. He was a champion many years before Greaseball came into the picture, and is now retired. The Freight and Rusty love and revere Poppa. Most of the other trains disregard him as a doddery, old fool.
The material never clarifies whether Poppa is literally Rusty's father, or simply a father figure to Rusty and the Freight. The relationship between Rusty and Poppa is likely different with each pair of actors portraying the two. In the original production, Ray Shell, the original Rusty, clarified in an interview that during his run, Poppa was portrayed as a father figure. This was due to Ray holding onto the previously cut song Be A Pump. The cut material made a distinction between the characters of "Poppa" and "Daddy" respectively in their emotional and physical relationship with Rusty. However, the song never made it to opening night.
Role[]
Michael Samuels as Poppa, UK Tour 2006
We first meet Poppa after the first race, as we move to the freight yard. Poppa is singing The Blues, while the Rockies dance, Dustin plays the harmonica and Flat-Top waits for something more fun to happen. Rusty arrives, upset that he's lost Pearl as a race partner. But Poppa has an alternative for him, and introduces his old coach, Belle. Poppa reminds Rusty that the Starlight Express will help if he just believes in himself. With moments before the race closes, Rusty takes Belle. But they're racing against Electra and Pearl, and lose. Poppa then decides to show him - "I'm gonna show you that a steamer with the power within him / Can take on oil, and take on Electricity! Who'll come with me? Who'll come with me? Race behind me?". Rocky 1 has hooked up with The British Engine, Flat-top flat-out refuses, but Dustin is excited by the opportunity. The trouble that the race card is full is conveniently solved as the British train is scrapped, which Poppa interprets as a sign from the Starlight Express.
Lon Satton as Poppa, Shezwae Powell as Belle
Poppa and Dustin race against Bobo and Ashley, and Turnov and Wrench. More by chance than design, Poppa and Dustin manage to win the race. But he's over-exerted himself, and collapses, gravely ill. Rusty and the Freight come to congratulate him, but find him unable to carry on. Poppa begs Rusty to take his place in the final, but Rusty still feels he can't - "I couldn't face that losing shame". Greaseball and his Gang, Electra, Pearl and Components all catch up and mock the steamers, calling them "Laughing Stock". Seeing Pearl with Electra is the final straw for Rusty, he takes Poppa's helmet from him and steps up.
Later, in "The Rap", a big argument rages, does Poppa have the right to give away his place to his choice of replacement? Or should it default to Bobo who came second in their heat? Poppa and Rusty eventually win the argument, and Rusty keeps his place in the final.
Poppa, old, and worn out, is not seen again until the end of the downhill final, where the winner, Rusty, has disappeared. Well, Rusty went looking for Pearl, but where is Pearl? Poppa picks up the wrecked Greaseball, who had disconnected Pearl at high speed during the race, and makes him lead Poppa and most of the cast to find Rusty and Pearl. Once they find the young lovers, Poppa leads the finale "Light At The End Of The Tunnel"
In later versions of the show without Belle, Poppa realises that Rusty isn't going to change his mind and immediately decides to race himself.
Gender[]
The 2017 workshop production made a number of changes to the material, one of most prominent being the introduction of more female characters. Poppa was reconceived as female, as were the French Engine and Rocky 3.
This change was carried into the German production in 2018, with Reva Rice cast as Momma.
Musical Numbers[]
Poppa's songs have remained the same in all productions worldwide.
He also features in Race 3 (OLC) / Race 2 (other productions) where by fluke he wins, but is too worn out to continue, and is declared a "Laughing Stock" by the other characters. During The Rap he typically pulls Dustin, but stays away from the main argument.
Appearance[]
Gallery[]
Cast[]
London
| 1984 - 1985 | Lon Satton | cover Abraham Osuagwu |
| 1985 - 1987 | Lon Satton | cover Richie Pitts |
| 1987 - 1988 | Lon Satton | |
| 1988 - 1989 | Lon Satton | cover Richie Pitts |
| 1989 - 1990 | Lon Satton | |
| Mar-Sept 1990 | Maynard Williams | |
| 1990 - 1994 | Lon Satton | cover Maynard Williams |
| 1994 - 1996 | Lon Satton | |
| 1996 - 1997 | Lon Satton / Ray Shell | cover Maurey Richards |
| 1997 - 1998 | Ray Shell | cover Maurey Richards |
| 1998 - 1999 | Trevor Michael Georges | cover Maurey Richards |
| 1999 - 2002 | Trevor Michael Georges |
Broadway
| 1987 - 1989 | Steve Fowler | cover Danny Strayhorn |
Japan / Australia Tours
| 1987 | Richie Pitts | cover Trevor Michael Georges |
| 1990 | Richie Pitts |
Bochum, Germany
| 1988 - 1989 | Trevor Michael Georges | |
| 1989 - 1992 | Stevie Woods | |
| 1992 - 1993 | Stevie Woods | cover Lothair Eaton |
| 1993 - 1995 | Lothair Eaton | cover Dennis LeGree |
| 1995 - 1996 | Dennis LeGree | cover Kevin Neil Cheatham |
| 1996 - 1998 | Dennis LeGree | cover David Thomas |
| 1998 - 1999 | David E Moore | cover David Thomas |
| 1999 - 2000 | Darren Lee Frazier | cover Jimmie Earl Perry |
| 2000 - 2001 | Jimmie Earl Perry | cover Austin Jetton |
| 2001 - 2002 | Lothair Eaton | cover Austin Jetton |
| 2002 - 2004 | Lothair Eaton | cover Gavin Ashbarry |
| 2004 - 2007 | Lothair Eaton | cover Carl Abraham Ellis |
| 2007 - 2009 | Carl Abraham Ellis | |
| 2009 - 2010 | Ray Shell / David E Moore | |
| 2010 - 2016 | David E Moore | |
| 2016 - 2018 | Reginald H Jennings | |
| 2018 - 2025 | Reva Rice (as Mama) | cover Maria Jane Hyde |
US Tour 1989 - 1991
| 1989 - 1991 | Jimmy Lockett |
Las Vegas 1993 - 1997
| 1993 - 1995 | Jimmy Lockett |
| 1995 - 1997 | Lothair Eaton |
US Tour 2003 - 2004
| 2003 - 2004 | Dennis LeGree | Emergency cover Peter Hagen |
UK Tours 2004 - 2008
| 2004 - 2005 | Anton Stephens |
| 2006 - 2008 | Michael Samuels |
NZ Tour 2009
| 2009 | Lothair Eaton |
UK Tour 2012-2013
| 2012 - 2013 | Lothair Eaton |
| Asia Tour | Julian Cannonier |
Wembley, London 2024
| 2024 - 2025 | Jade Marvin | cover Sharon Wattis |
Fan Theories[]
See Here for Fan theories about Poppa / Momma.