Paxton

Paxton is a young diesel shunter. He often brings slate down from the Blue Mountain Quarry to other parts of the Island of Sodor.

## Biography

### Thomas & Friends

Paxton was one of the diesels who took over the Sodor Steamworks.

Paxton often works at the Blue Mountain Quarry and was once involved in an accident there when Blondin Bridge collapsed. He was then sent to the Vicarstown Dieselworks for repairs.

Upon his return to work at the quarry, Paxton overheard Luke telling Thomas about how the little green engine knocked a yellow engine into the sea. Paxton told Diesel about what he had heard. Diesel decided that Luke should be punished and set out with Paxton to expose Luke. However, Paxton felt bad and helped Thomas and Luke out by bringing Victor to talk to Luke and the Fat Controller.

Paxton almost got into a collision with Winston when he was a runaway, but luckily he stopped just in time. Afterwards, he warned Gordon to be checked over after an accident with stone. When Gordon ignored his warnings and broke down, Paxton brought him to the Steamworks to be repaired.

After Sir Topham Hatt told Paxton among other engines to be careful near the bumpy track, Paxton then messed around on the damaged track with Thomas, causing Thomas to collide with Toby. After Toby says Thomas "Lost his puff", Paxton searches for the "Puff" and makes himself look silly in front of Stephen and Victor. He then learns that "Puff" means steam.

He was later used by Diesel 10 to steal Christmas decorations from Tidmouth Sheds, but soon lost patience and left to collect the truck that Sir Topham Hatt had told him to collect.

Diesel once got the other diesels to hide from him. This worried Paxton, believing them to have disappeared, but he eventually found Diesel, stranded on the branch line, with no fuel and shunted him to the next station for him to stock up.

At Christmas time, he was given the job of transporting a Christmas tree to Ulfstead Castle. But the tree caused him to derail and when Diesel passed by, he refused to help Paxton. That night, Paxton pretended to be the Ghost of Christmas Present to try and remind Diesel of the true meaning of Christmas, but Diesel was too scared to listen and ran away.

One day, he was pulling trucks when he found a train struggling on Gordon's Hill pulled by Samson along with Thomas as the back engine. He offered to help and pushed Samson and Thomas over Gordon's Hill.

## Personality

Paxton is a young, gentle diesel who often works in or around the Blue Mountain Quarry and the Vicarstown Dieselworks. He is easily described as the opposite of Devious Diesel as he is good-hearted and well meaning, but gullible, naïve and easily misled. He also has a short attention span. He tends to be more of a follower than a leader and can sometimes find thinking for himself and making big decisions difficult. This may result in him being pressured into a situation he might not necessarily be comfortable with. However, if a friend is in trouble, Paxton will have the conscience and the self-assertion to do what he feels is right. As a result, the steam engines find that he is likeable and Paxton particularly looks up to Thomas at times. He also works alongside the narrow gauge engines frequently. However, Paxton can easily misjudge situations, misplace his trust in someone who might not have everyone's best interests at heart, particularly Diesel and is rather impressionable, but his good nature will ultimately show him for who he really wants to be.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Paxton is based on a BR Class 08 diesel-electric shunter. Over seventy members of this class survive today in preservation, while around 100 remain in service on the national rail network. They were in fact the most successful shunting engines in the world, with 996 of them built. Diesel, the Diesel Shunter, 'Arry, Bert, Splatter, Dodge, Sidney, Ulli and the Mainland Diesels are other members of this class.

### Livery

Paxton is painted dark green with yellow lining. His siderods and front bufferbeam are painted a rusty orange colour. His paint is chipped in places and shows signs of weathering.

### Thomas & Friends

* **Series 15** - Fiery Flynn (cameo)
* **Series 16** - Bust My Buffers! (cameo)
* **Series 17** - Wayward Winston, Gordon Runs Dry, Luke's New Friend (cameo), The Lost Puff, The Missing Christmas Decorations and Thomas' Shortcut (cameo)
* **Series 18** - Disappearing Diesels, Toad's Adventure (cameo), Last Train for Christmas (does not speak) and Duncan the Humbug (cameo)
* **Series 19** - The Truth About Toby, Henry Spots Trouble, Salty All at Sea (cameo), Den and Dart (cameo), The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead (cameo), Philip to the Rescue (cameo), Diesel's Ghostly Christmas and Goodbye Fat Controller (cameo)
* **Series 20** - Sidney Sings (stock footage cameo), Henry Gets the Express (cameo) and Saving Time
* **Series 21** - Springtime for Diesel, A Most Singular Engine (cameo), Dowager Hatt's Busy Day (cameo), Philip's Number, The Big Freeze and Confused Coaches (cameo)
* **Series 22** - Forever and Ever, Seeing is Believing (cameo), Apology Impossible, The Water Wheel (stock footage cameo), Rosie is Red (cameo), The Case of the Puzzling Parts, Counting on Nia (stock footage cameo) and Hunt the Truck (stock footage)
* **Series 23** - Gordon Gets the Giggles, Diesel Do Right and Diesel Glows Away

### Specials

* **2011** - Day of the Diesels (not named)
* **2012** - Blue Mountain Mystery
* **2013** - King of the Railway
* **2016** - The Great Race
* **2017** - Journey Beyond Sodor (cameo)
* **2018** - Big World! Big Adventures!

### Music Videos

* Day of the Diesels - Day of the Diesels
* Blue Mountain Mystery - Blue Mountain Mystery
* Series 17 - Hey, Hey Thomas! and On a Journey Today
* Series 18 - It's Christmas Time and The Best Friends Express
* Series 19 - There's Snow Place Like Home, Spring is Here! and Engine Roll Call
* Series 20 - Glynn's Christmas Wish and Accidents Will Happen
* The Great Race - Will You Won't You and Full of Surprises
* Series 21 - Set Friendship in Motion and Trying
* Journey Beyond Sodor - I Want to Go Home (cameo)
* Big World! Big Adventures! - Where in the World is Thomas?
* Series 22 - Engine Roll Call and Let's Dream

### Magazine Stories

* 2013 - The Lost Puff and Gordon Runs Dry
* 2016 - Henry Spots Trouble
* 2017 - The Kind Diesel

## Audio Files

Horn

First used Last used Sound Effect
Blue Mountain Mystery Active
Play sound
Paxton's Horn

## Trivia

* Despite Paxton's bio which claims he is always called by his nickname "Pax", he has been consistently referred to by his full name rather than his nickname. He shares this dilemma with Norman and Sidney.
* According to the Licensing Source 2015 book, Ian McCue, former producer of Thomas & Friends, stated that Paxton is his favourite character.
* Paxton was never named in Day of the Diesels outside the song.
* There have been a few occasions where Paxton has gone faster than his basis' top speed.
* Paxton shares the same horn with Monty

## Quotes

“Um...er...excuse me! Um...I-I-I wonder if, er, someone could help me? M-maybe? Please?" (thud) "...Ow.”
―Paxton after being buried in the rubble from Blondin Bridge, Blue Mountain Mystery
“Oh my! Oh my!”
―Paxton having to choose between finding Sir Topham Hatt or finding Victor, Blue Mountain Mystery
“Hi, Stephen. Thomas lost his puff and I'm trying to find it and...well, I thought that might be...the lost puff...up there..."
"Up there? Well, that's just a cloud..."
"Yes, of course. I knew that. A cloud. Okay...got to go. Great to see you. Bye, Stephen.”
―Paxton talking to Stephen about Thomas' "lost puff", The Lost Puff, seventeenth season

## Merchandise

* Wooden Railway (discontinued)
* Take-n-Play (discontinued; normal and talking)
* TrackMaster (discontinued)
* Minis
	+ Classic Minis
	+ Chillin' Minis
	+ DC Super Friends Minis (as Lex Luthor)
	+ Graffiti Minis
	+ Glow in the Dark Minis
	+ Monster Minis
	+ SpongeBob SquarePants Minis (as The Flying Dutchman)
* Bachmann
* Adventures (cancelled)
* TrackMaster Push Along