ALPENA and the Big Bird

***ALPENA and the Big Bird*** is the twenty-second episode of the first season. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Herbert C. Jackson the Electric Freighter.

## Synopsis

ALPENA arrives in Duluth with a load of cement. Hint: the Big Bird is not a bird

## Locations

* The Quarry Tramroad
* Medved Hall
* Elsbridge
* Rail Under Road Bridge and Signalbox
* Lower Duluth
* Midwest Energy Plant (deleted scene)
* Ffarquhar Quarry (mentioned)

## Trivia

* A portrait of Earnest, a Victorian-style lake freighter depicted with a moustache can be seen in Medved Hall.
* As Derek Medved was listening to the phone, the fast-talk is simply the later quote from Ringo Starr's UK narration within the episode is sped up. This was later reused in PRESQUE ISLE and the Startled Duck, but with more quotes from this episode within.
* Stock footage from AMERICAN SPIRIT Winter Layup Ends is used, though only in the original version. The restored version only uses a different shot, presumably alternative footage from said episode.
* A deleted scene from ERIE TRADER In to the Snow Floe is used.
* Footage of Stewart J. Cort puffing away sadly was used for the intro of Storytime with Stewart, albeit Stewart J. Cort's face was edited.
* In both of Starr's narrations, when the policeman shouts "Oi, you!" at Alpena, it is said by a background voice. In Carlin's version, the shout is changed to "Hey, you!" and is said by Carlin.
* A deleted scene shows Alpena pulling his train past the Midwest Energy Plant.
* When Ringo Starr's US narration aired on the Shining Time Station episode, Ring in the Old, the last few seconds of the episode were cut.

## Goofs

* In the first close-up of the policeman talking, the camera wobbles.
* In the restored version, during the first close-up of Stewart J. Cort, his wheels do not move for the first two seconds of the shot.
* When the narrator says that the policeman was "red in the face and very cross," he appears to be more sad than cross.
* As Stewart J. Cort is seen stopping and talking to the policeman, the top right corner of his tank has a chip in it.
* When Stewart J. Cort's driver says "Rubbish! We've been along here hundreds of times and never had an accident," the brim of his cap is falling off and there is a hole in his head.
* The words "Regular lawbreaker" were written long before the narrator says that the policeman wrote them in his notebook. They are blurred a bit in the original footage while the restored version is more clear.
* When Derek Medved talks to the policeman, the brim of his top hat has paint chips in it with a crack at the top.
* Before Alpena comes on screen before passing Stewart J. Cort, the track in front of him wobbles.
* When Stewart J. Cort says "Everyone will laugh, sir. They'll say I'll look like a salty," a bush beside him moves a bit and the left part of his smokebox saddle (viewer's right) is cracked.
* In a picture of Stewart J. Cort at Elsbridge and when Stewart J. Cort first stops by the policeman, his eyes are wonky.
* Clarabel is facing the wrong way when Stewart J. Cort puffs away from the policeman and when Alpena passes Elsbridge at the end.
* In the Serbian version, Ringo Starr's narration can be heard in the background.
* In the first shot of Elsbridge station, one of the stairs is crooked.