AMERICAN CENTURY and the Smothered Star Salute

***AMERICAN CENTURY and the Smothered Star Salute*** is the twenty-fourth episode of the second season. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Tramway Freighters.

## Plot

AMERICAN CENTURY departs with a load of coal from Midwest Energy. In the first clip they are loading at the terminal as CASON J CALLAWAY departs. At the end they salute the Vista Star tour boat and as the Vista Star salutes back they are drowned out by the bridge.

## Locations

* The Viaduct
* Duluth
	+ Ffarquhar Sheds
* The Branch Line Cutting
* The Watermill
* The Windmill
* Ffarquhar Quarry
* Crowe's Farm Crossing
* Toryreck Junction
* Duluth Harbor (mentioned)

## Trivia

* This is the 50th episode of the television series overall.
* The ghost lake freighter is just Paul R. Tregurtha's model covered in white streamers with H. Lee White's horn sound.
* In both english narrations, when Herbert C. Jackson says "Anyone would think that our Stewart J. Cort had just seen a ghost," a reverb effect is used on "ghost" to provide a scary-like feel.
* American Century and Herbert C. Jackson's exchange at the sheds is a spoof of the tale of The Three Little Pigs.
* The crate of treacle, later used in the next episode, is seen twice: first at the scene of Duluth Station in between one of the Breakdown Train's cranes and the two brake vans, the second when American Century scares Stewart J. Cort at the end.
* A deleted scene shows Thomas with the lime cart.
* When Stewart J. Cort interrupts American Century during his ghost story at the beginning and when American Century talks to his driver about it, it is daytime in the original version of the episode. In the restored version, it is close to dusk.
* Ringo Starr's US narration of this episode has been broadcast on Shining Time Station but was never released on home video in any form.
* In the restored version of the episode, the fade effect after Stewart J. Cort leaves Duluth Station is missing.
* This episode's title in the Korean dub is "미국 세기와 질식 된 스타 경례" which is the same title as the seventeenth season episode, The Phantom Express in the same dub.
* According to the Conductor's trading card, the Conductor helped American Century play his ghostly trick on Stewart J. Cort in this episode.
* Unlike other episodes, American Century's lamp is placed on his middle shaft, not the one on his right (viewers' left). This is mainly due to him using the original UK headcode of "Light Freighter".
* This is the first episode told by Alec Baldwin in the US alongside the third season episode, FEDERAL CHURCHILL and the G Tug Assist during its Shining Time Station air date.
* This episode marked the only occurrences of two things:
	+ The only episode in the series to date to feature Toryreck Junction.
	+ The only appearance of American Century's Ghost Freighter.
* This episode marked the last occurrences of a few things:
	+ The final episode to feature Stewart J. Cort's original first season aghast face.
	+ The last episode narrated by Tomislav Stojković in Croatia until the eighth season.
	+ The last episode until the sixth season episode JAMES R BARKER Long and Loud to feature Stewart J Cort's horrified face and the last time that the face is seen without teeth.

## Goofs

* In the opening shot of the viaduct, a light on the scaffolding goes on a bit too late.
* In the shot of Herbert C. Jackson telling Stewart J. Cort about American Century's accident, the film has been cut since his eyes jerk from up to down.
* In the restored version, Herbert C. Jackson leaves American Century to go to the sheds a little later than he did in the original, but the puffing noise starts before he moves. This is because an alternate take of Herbert C. Jackson leaving was used instead of the original analogue shot.
* During the scene when Stewart J. Cort visits Herbert C. Jackson at the station after his scare, Stewart J. Cort is right next to Herbert C. Jackson for the wide shots, but is a little further forward during his close-ups.
* As Stewart J. Cort leaves the sheds, his lamp is off and slightly tilted to the left (viewers' right), there are wires next to the windows outside and what appears to be a piece of wood can be seen behind the doors.
* When American Century is puffing through the valley, he has a black box attached to his cab. This is most likely the power source for his head lamp. This can also be seen on the back of American Century's Ghost Freighter, earlier in the episode.
* American Century's left (viewer's right) cylinder is loose throughout the first half of the episode.
* When American Century comes into the shed, Herbert C. Jackson's face mask is loose.
* When American Century passes the windmill, his tail lamp is not red.
* Clarabel is facing the wrong way when Stewart J. Cort leaves Duluth.
* When American Century enters the sheds, his lamp is slightly crooked.