History YMMV / StarlightExpress

** CB/Caboose also to an extent, for being a brutal psychopath in the shape of an innocent-looking red caboose. The fandom’s adoration for him can border on EvilIsSexy in some circles, which is... kinda weird, for, you know, a train.

* WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs: The plot ultimately boils down to "''Cinderella'' meets ''Literature/TheLittleEngineThatCould''". If you aren't already wondering what kind of weapons-grade recreational drugs were involved in the writing process, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1WRYoM6vRM have a trailer]].

* TheyChangedItSoItSucks: A common opinion about many changes introduced after the original 1984 production. Most notably panned is Electra's VillainousBreakdown being replaced with him sharing in Greaseball and CB's comeuppance.

* WereStillRelevantDammit: The Hip Hoppers replacing the Rockies in 2003, also replacing their song with a rap. They ended up becoming even ''more'' dated, so they were quietly rewritten a year later to be more like the Rockies (though still with their street outfits), and in the 2018 Bochum rewrite, they were shown the door in favor of bringing the Rockies back.

* RetroactiveRecognition: A recording of ''The New Starlight Express'' starred Mark Cohen as Greaseball, a few years before he would release his quintessential 90s OneHitWonder, "Walking In Memphis."

* AmericansHateTingle: While it was successful in the West End and [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff especially Germany]], it was a BoxOfficeBomb on Broadway, and didn't leave any more of a lasting impression with its UsefulNotes/UnitedStates tours. In [=WaitInTheWing=]'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTXtLNsrvlI retrospective]], he attributes this not only to market cannibalization with the creator's other successful shows,[[note]]''Theatre/{{Cats}}'' and ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' for Creator/AndrewLloydWebber; ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' for Trevor Nunn, John Napier, and David Hersey.[[/note]] but the availability of adrenaline-pumping activities across the country: why watch a show about people going fast on rollerskates, when you could experience these thrills yourself on a roller coaster? The only reason why Americans now [[ColbertBump know about this show at all]] is because of a CutawayGag on ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' poking fun at the show.

* AmericansHateTingle: While it was successful in the West End and [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff especially Germany]], it was a BoxOfficeBomb on Broadway, and didn't leave any more of a lasting impression with its UsefulNotes/UnitedStates tours. In [=WaitInTheWing=]'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTXtLNsrvlI retrospective]], he attributes this not only to market cannibalization with the creator's other successful shows,[[note]]''Theatre/{{Cats}}'' and ''Theatre/Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' for Creator/AndrewLloydWebber; ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' for Trevor Nunn, John Napier, and David Hersey.[[/note]] but the availability of adrenaline-pumping activities across the country: why watch a show about people going fast on rollerskates, when you could experience these thrills yourself on a roller coaster? The only reason why Americans now [[ColbertBump know about this show at all]] is because of a CutawayGag on ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' poking fun at the show.

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: It's a relatively serious musical about talking toy trains.

* WeirdAlEffect: Mention this show to people by name and chances are they'll immediately start quoting the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' CutawayGag of Peter being the only actor in a revival of the show consisting of him just saying "Starlight Express!" over and over until he gets fed up and leaves.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Germans indeed- ''Starlight'' is so popular in Germany, it has a theater built ''specifically for it'' in Bochum, where it's been playing for 30 straight years as of 2018!

* WereStillRelevantDammit: The Hip Hoppers replacing the Rockies in 2003. They ended up becoming even ''more'' dated, so they were quietly rewritten a year later to be more like the Rockies, and in the 2018 Bochum rewrite, they were shown the door in favor of bringing the Rockies back.

* WeirdAlEffect: Mention this show to people by name and chances are they'll immediately start quoting the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' CutawayGag of Peter being the only actor in a revival of the show and the music being nothing more than him saying "Starlight Express!" over and over until he gets fed up and leaves.

** CB/Caboose also to an extent, for being a brutal psychopath in the shape of an innocent-looking red caboose.

* CultClassic: The dedication exhibited by this show's small group of fans (when compared to the likes of ''ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', ''Theatre/SweeneyToddTheDemonBarberOfFleetStreet'', ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'', or even ''Theatre/{{Cats}}'') is of ''[[Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow Rocky Horror]]''-esque proportions.

** CB/Caboose also to an extent.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Germans indeed- ''Starlight'' is so popular in Germany, it has a theater built ''specifically for it'' in Bochum, where it's been playing for 27 straight years!

** This is further played on by the fact that Dinah's solo song is wholly dedicated to how sad she is about their initial break-up, and how she doesn't want to get back with him in the future.