Bernie Blanks as Rusty, Germany 2004
Rusty is the main protagonist of Starlight Express.
Profile
"Rusty is the steam train delegated to the sidings. His only friends are Dustin, Flat-Top and, occasionally, the Rockies. His dream is to win the championship race and win the heart of an observation car named Pearl. But the diesel and the electric say he doesn't have what it takes. So he relies on Poppa, the old steamer, and the midnight train, the Starlight Express to win."
Music numbers
Original London
- Call me Rusty - with the coaches
- Coda of Freight - Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Starlight Express - Solo
- I am the Starlight - with the Starlight
- Only You - with Pearl.
Revised London
- Call Me Rusty - shortened version with the coaches
- Coda of Freight - Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Crazy - with the coaches
- Starlight Express - Solo
- Starlight Sequence - with the Starlight
- Next time you fall in love - with Pearl.
Bochum
- Liebesexpress (Love train (Engine of love)) - with the coaches
- Endlich kommt für mich die Zeit (Finally the time comes for me (Call Me Rusty)) - with the coaches
- Fracht Reprise (Freight Reprise (Coda of Freight))- Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Crazy - with the coaches (2002 onwards)
- Starlight Express - Solo
- Starlight Sequenz - with the Starlight
- Allein im licht der Sterne (Alone in the starlight (Next time you fall in love)) (2002 onwards) or Du Allein (You alone (Only You)) (until 2002) - with Pearl.
Revised Bochum
- Fracht Reprise (Freight Reprise (Coda of Freight))- Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Crazy - with the coaches (2002 onwards)
- Starlight Express - Solo
- Starlight Sequenz - with the Starlight
- Nur Mit Ihm - (Only With Him (Only He))- With Pearl
UK/US tour
- Coda of Freight - Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Crazy - with the coaches
- Starlight Express - Solo
- Starlight Sequence - with the Starlight
- Next time you fall in love(US and the early UK) or Only he (UK) - with Pearl.
Japan/Australia tour
- Engine of Love - with the coaches
- Coda of Freight - Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Starlight Express - Solo
- Starlight Sequence - with the Starlight
- Only you - with Pearl.