Poppa background and role

Poppa background and role

Personality;

An old, retired steam engine, Poppa was the former champion many years before Greaseball came 

into the picture. He is also the oldest train in the trainyard. He preaches of the Starlight Express, a god-like entity who will help those who call upon him. He is revered and loved by the Freight and Rusty, but disregarded as a doddery, old fool by pretty much everyone else.

Poppa is generally believed to be Rusty's father, although this has never been explicitly stated in any production. In the original London production, Poppa would refer to Rusty as "son", and even in a line in Laughing Stock, "that's my boy". Whether Poppa is literally Rusty's father, or not, he is clearly a father-figure to Rusty and the Freight.

Role;

We first meet Poppa in a scene change after the first race, as we move to the freight yard. Poppa is singing The Blues, while the Hip Hoppers dance along, Dustin plays the Mouth Organ and Flat-top kills time waiting for something more fun to happen. Rusty comes to them, very depressed that he's lost Pearl as a race partner. Poppa reminds Rusty that the Starlight Express will help if he just believes in himself. With moments before the race closes 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?" hip hopper 1 has hooked up with the British Train, Flat-top flat-out refuses, but Dustin is really excited at 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.

Poppa and Dustin race against 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 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? 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"