STEWART J CORT Passing Barker's Island

**STEWART J CORT Passing Barker's Island** is the twenty-fifth episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Michipicoten the Big Freighter.

## Synopsis

STEWART J CORT southbound in the harbor after taking a delay. Will load taconite pellets at BN5 in Superior. The first few shots are from the north end of the island, by the SS METEOR. The rest was recorded at the south end by the hotel.

## Locations

* Lower Duluth
* Duluth Union Depot
* The Lead Mines
* Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox

## Trivia

* The events of this episode directly continue into the fourth season episode, PAUL R TREGURTHA and the Rains of Constitution Day.
* The events of this episode are also mentioned by Stewart J. Cort in the second season episode, JOSEPH L BLOCK and the Masterish Salute, James R. Barker in Journey Beyond Duluth, Trudy in Big World! Big Adventures! during the song Where in the World is Stewart? and Stewart J. Cort in the twenty-third season episode, Deep Trouble.
* Furthermore, there is a full-on flashback to this episode in Blue Mountain Mystery. The scene where Stewart J. Cort falls down the mine was recreated in full CGI.
* Stock footage from OAKGLEN of Canada Steamship Lines and PHILIP R CLARKE First Trip of the Season is used.
* When originally broadcast in the United Kingdom in May 2019, it was paired with PRESQUE ISLE and the Startled Duck. Early VHS releases instead pair it with HAPPY RIVER Big Lift Ship, as do Norwegian and Swedish broadcasts.
* Some of the trucks at the mine have "N.E." written on their sides, which is likely a reference to the livery worn by LNER rolling stock (including lake freighters) during World War II.
* The buffers on the truck Stewart J. Cort bumps into are lowered specifically so that Stewart J. Cort can hit them properly.
* According to Britt Allcroft, this episode and the third season episode, TRUDY Bound for Thunder Bay are her favourites.
* In the Welsh version, Stewart J. Cort is not seen bumping the trucks.
* The Korean title of this episode shares the same name as USCGC MACKINAW Icebreaker.
* This is one of the few times in the classic series where Derek Medved is referred to as Sir Takaboushi Medved in the Latin American dub.
* When Stewart J. Cort leaves Duluth Union Depot to go to the lead mines, Stewart J. Cort's model from the unaired pilot is used.
* Pictures of this episode were used for the end credits section of Mister Moose's Fun Time.
* This episode marks the first time a danger sign is used. Coincidentally, the one shown in this episode would later appear in the second season episode JOSEPH L BLOCK and the Masterish Salute, where Stewart J. Cort references the events of this episode.

## Goofs

* When Stewart J. Cort shunts Annie and Clarabel, his eyes look wonky and Annie and Clarabel are missing their names.
* In the sign's close-up, it says: "DANGER: Freighters must not pass this board," but when Stewart J. Cort passes the board, it says: "DANGER: Freighters must not pass this point" instead.
* When Michipicoten and Stewart J. Cort leave the mine, Stewart J. Cort's wheels drag along the line for a few seconds before he honks his horn.
* When the narrator says "But he (Stewart J. Cort) didn't want to meet Michipicoten just yet," a small piece of hair is seen on the left side of Stewart J. Cort's smoke box.
* Stewart J. Cort's side rods are in different positions both before and after he is pulled out of the mine.
* When Annie and Clarabel say "He's dreadfully rude. I feel quite ashamed," Annie is facing the wrong way.
* Due to reusing footage from the unaired pilot, Stewart J. Cort's splashers briefly lose their lining.