"Race: Heat Two" is the second of several eliminator races we see in Starlight Express. The Original London production ran three heats, but all later productions run two heats. The key feature of this race in all later productions is Poppa racing with Dustin, and winning a place in the final. This plot point took place in Heat 3 in the original version of the story.
The 30th anniversary revisions add short sung lyrics to the build-up to the race, as they do to Heat One.
1984 London Production - Rusty's Race[]
Rusty, who had been so despondent about his chances in the race without Pearl, has decided instead to race with Belle, against Electra and Pearl. However seeing his crush as a competitor distracts Rusty, and he's just not fast enough to win against the Electric.
In the original London production, each race had three race pairs. The first engine to win the heat qualifies for the final. Technically, when the race structure was overhauled for the Broadway production, cutting three heats to two, it was this race which was cut, in which Rusty was beaten by Electra. Heat Three, where Poppa wins a place in the final, became Heat Two in all subsequent productions.
Musical themes featured in this race include "Call Me Rusty", "AC/DC", and "No Comeback". This music is included on the 1984 Original Cast Recording as "The Race", but positioned in the running order as if it were Race One.
The entries for "Race: Heat Two" are as follows:
Heat Two - Poppa's Race[]
See Race Tables to see all racers across productions
Broadway 1987 & Subsequent US Productions[]
Determined to prove the sulky Rusty wrong, Poppa decides to enter the race. The only partner available to him is the unlikely candidate, Dustin. However by luck and chance, Poppa wins the race and a place in the final.
From Broadway onwards, Control commented on the races, there are four engines competing and the first two engines to finish the win qualifies for the final. The race entries are the same for the 1989 North American Tour and Las Vegas.
Musically the race includes themes from "No Comeback" and "Engine of Love". However the Las Vegas race music did not use any themes beyond the specific race music.
The entries for "Race: Heat Two" are as follows:
- Track One: Hashamoto and Volta (2nd Place qualifier)
- Track Two: Bobo and Buffy
- Track Three: Espresso and Ashley
- Track Four: Poppa and Dustin (Winner)
Japan/Australia Tour 1987 / 1990[]
The national engines were given twins so all of the nationals enter in "Race: Heat One" while their twins race in "Race: Heat Two".
The entries for "Race: Heat Two" are as follows:
- Track One: Nakamura/Yamamoto and Volta (2nd Place qualifier)
- Track Two: Turnov 2/Vladimir and Ashley
- Track Three: Pendelino and Red Caboose
- Track Four: Poppa and Dustin (Winner)
- Track Five: Coco and Pearl
- Track Six: Flying Hamburger and Joule II
Bochum, Germany 1988 Onwards[]
The entries for "Race: Heat Two" are as follows:
- Track One: Weltschaft and Joule (2nd place qualifier)
- Track Two: Bobo and Buffy
- Track Three: Espresso and Ashley
- Track Four: Poppa and Dustin (Winner)
Like in the first race, the Engines try to cheat, apart from Poppa, who becomes victim of the others. The races have been re-choreographed often, but some story elements remain constant. Poppa starts off heading the wrong way and stumbles in front of the other racers, causing them to leap over him. Buffy and Ashley take care of their Engines after a big fight, by picking them up from the ground. Just like Volta, Joule is a fierce race-partner, taking part in the small battles more than the Coaches. Usually, all trains reach the finish line. In the 2018 changes, Poppa and Bobo become female and are renamed Mama and Coco while Joule and Buffy are replaced by Carrie the Luggage Van and Belle the Bar Car. Espresso now races with Volta, who is now male.
"Call Me Rusty", "No Comeback", "Engine of Love" all feature in the original race music. the 2013 German recording only features "No Comeback" besides the specific race music.
2018 Revisions[]
- Track One: Ruhrgold and Carrie (2nd place qualifier)
- Track Two: Coco and Belle the Bar Car
- Track Three: Espresso and Volta
- Track Four: Mama and Dustin (Winner)
| RUHRGOLD: | Aus dem Weg, ich bin der Meister! | Clear my track, I am the master! |
| Schnapp dir dein Gepäck, Gleise frei! | Get your baggage here! Clear my track! | |
| ESPRESSO: | Aus dem Weg, Viva Italia! | Clear my track, Viva Italia! |
| Stark und süß und heiss, Gleise frei! | Strong and Sweet and Hot! Clear my track! | |
| COCO: | Aus dem Weg für die Franzosen! | Clear my track for the French! |
| Je ne regrette rien, Gleise frei! | I have no regrets! Clear my track! | |
| MAMA (I Got Me Melody): | Ich hab Dampf | I got steam! |
| Und mehr brauch ich nicht! | And that's all that I need! | |
| DUSTIN: | (spoken) Sprecht mir alle nach, sagt Dampf! | (spoken) Let me hear you all say steam! |
"The New Starlight Express" London 1992[]
From 1992 onwards, the London production adopted a four-race structure, adapted for the lack of Caboose. The races are recorded in abridged form on the 1993 "New Starlight Express" recording.
"Rolling Stock" and "No Comeback" feature on the recorded race music, with "Engine of Love" and "Rolling Stock" being the key melodies used live.
The entries for "Race: Heat Two" are as follows:
- Track One: Bobo and Ashley (2nd place qualifier)
- Track Two: Ruhrgold and Joule
- Track Three: Turnov and Wrench
- Track Four: Poppa and Dustin (Winner)
| CONTROL: | Control! Control! |
| Heat two! Heat two! | |
| Race time minus one minute! | |
| Race time minus one minute! | |
| In track one: Bobo the French TGV with Ashley the smoking car. | |
| In track two: Russian the Russian engine with Wrench the repair truck. | |
| In track three: Ruhrgold the German engine with Joule the dynamite truck. | |
| And in track four: Rambling Poppa McCoy with Dustin the big hopper. | |
| Trains to your tracks! | |
| 20 seconds... | |
| 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... | |
| Trains gone! | |
| They set off for the second heat | |
| And Poppa's in back and struggling | |
| He's gone the wrong way! | |
| He's on the crossing! | |
| Look out, Poppa! | |
| Leaping locomotives! | |
| Still Bobo, with Turnov in pressing in second. | |
| But Bobo wastes the Russian! | |
| Bobo's out in front | |
| But Ruhrgold's truck takes Ashley out! | |
| That was vicious! | |
| Hey Bobo, you lost your coach | |
| That puts Ruhrgold in the lead | |
| But Turnov's not having any... | |
| It's Turnov: the Russian leads! | |
| Ouch! | |
| Poppa shows Turnov he still packs a punch. | |
| We have a unique fight here | |
| Ruhrgold's taking Bobo! | |
| Wrench is taking Bobo! | |
| And Poppa's taking the lead! | |
| But Dustin takes him wide | |
| Letting Ruhrgold through | |
| It's Ruhrgold, Turnov, Bobo and Poppa coming out of the high level | |
| And Ruhrgold stops. | |
| This time it's Turnov who ??? | |
| This is getting really mean. | |
| Bobo goes through to take the lead. | |
| Turnov breaks free to make second. | |
| Poppa's in third and he's gonna have to find something special as they turn for home... | |
| Poppa's turning on the power as they approach the tunnel. | |
| The old guy does it! | |
| Poppa wins! | |
| Winner of heat two: Poppa McCoy with Bobo in second place. | |
| Poppa and Bobo have a place in the final! |
Mexico 1997[]
Following the German production line-up, Bobo is replaced with Carioca the Brazilian engine, and Ruhrgold is replaced with Pibe the Argentinian engine. [1]
| CONTROL: | Aqui Control, Aqui control | CONTROL: | Here is Control! Here is Control! |
| Segunda eliminatoria | Second eliminator heat! | ||
| De Nueva York a la Ciudad de México | From New York to Mexico City | ||
| Guardavías, despejen los carriles | Martial, clear the tracks! | ||
| Falta un minuto para la carrera | One minute away from the race | ||
| Hagan sus apuestas | Make your bets! | ||
| En el Andén uno, Pibe | In track one, Pibe | ||
| La maquina Argentina, con Joule | The Argentine Engine with Joule | ||
| Aplaudanle fuerte al gaucho | Applaud for the power of the cowboy! | ||
| En el anden dos, Carioca | In track two, Carioca | ||
| La fuerza Brasileña Con Bacha | The Brazilian power with Ashley | ||
| Firmes cuando pase el Brasileño | Stand firm when the Brazilian passes | ||
| En el Andán tres, Conan | In Track three: Conan | ||
| El Expreso de Oriente con Botana | The Eastern Express with Buffy | ||
| Aplaudana a nuestro contacto en Europa | Applaud our contact in Europe! | ||
| En el Andén cuatro un competidor | In Track four, a last minute competitor | ||
| De última hora, el humeante Jefe con Tizne | The smokey Poppa with Dustin | ||
| Una porra al vapor... | A hurrah for Steam.... | ||
| Trenes a sus Andenes, | Trains to your tracks, | ||
| Faltan 20 segundos | 20 seconds away | ||
| Se cierran las apuestas | Close the bets | ||
| 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 fuera!! | 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 They're off! | ||
| Andale jefe, jala! | Faster Poppa, pull it! | ||
| Conan se adelanta, seguido por el Pibe y Carioca | Conan is first, second is Pibe and Carioca | ||
| El jefe va hasta atrás... | The Poppa will be at the back | ||
| El jefe se perdió, | Poppa will lose | ||
| Aqui viene el jefe | Here comes Poppa | ||
| El jefe y el Pibe a la gran Final...!!! | Poppa and Pibe are the in final! |
3D Race Film - US/UK/NZ & Asia Tours[]
The pre-recorded 3D races used for touring productions since 2003 used a structure of three engines per heat, with it implied but not specified that one winner would go through to the final. However since Race One concludes in a dead heat, both winners go through to the final. The single winner from Heat Two, Poppa, takes a third place in the final.
Musically, "Whole Lotta Locomotion" is the main theme used in the race.
The entries for "Race: Heat Two" are as follows:
- Track One: Nintendo and Buffy
- Track Two: Turnov and Ashley/Duvay
- Track Three: Poppa and Dustin (Winner)
Workshop 2017 & Wembley 2024[]
The four participant structure was used during the race, similar to Heat One. During the race Orange Flash has a crash, falling centre stage and medical attention is called for. Golden Eagle and Green Arrow fiercely feud for the entire race, reaching a climax as they break out in a fight, resulting in them both being eliminated. Despite being fourth, Momma and Hydra win as they are the last pair standing.
The entries for "Race: Heat Two" are as follows:
- Track One: Golden Eagle and Joule
- Track Two: Orange Flash and Tassita
- Track Three: Green Arrow and Volta
- Track Four: Momma and Hydra (Winner)
| CONTROL: | In track 1: Rhinegold the German train, with Joule. |
| RHINEGOLD: | Clear my track, Ich bin der meister, |
| I'm the one to beat, Clear my track | |
| CONTROL: | In track 2: Espresso the Italian engine, |
| With Tassita the quiet coach. | |
| ESPRESSO: | Clear my track, Viva Italia! |
| TASSITA: | Pianissimo! Clear my track |
| CONTROL: | In track 3: Coco the French engine, with Belle. |
| COCO: | Clear my track, The French are coming, |
| Je ne regrette rien, Clear my track | |
| CONTROL: | And in track 4: red-hot Mama McCoy, |
| With Dustin the big hopper. | |
| MOMMA & DUSTIN (I Got Me Melody): | I got steam! |
| And that's all I need! |
| GOLDEN EAGLE: | Clear my track |
| No one can beat me | |
| First place will be mine | |
| Clear my track | |
| ORANGE FLASH: | Clear my track |
| Let's make some noise now | |
| Waking up the world | |
| Clear my track | |
| GREEN ARROW: | Clear my track |
| You'll be defeated | |
| This race will be mine | |
| Clear my track | |
| MOMMA: | I got steam |
| And that's all I need! | |
| Let me hear you say steam! |