Derek

**Derek**, also known as **Paxman Diesel** and **The Paxman** is a medium-sized green diesel who is known for his initial "teething" troubles.

## History

### Thomas & Friends

The Fat Controller realised Bill and Ben needed help with their work and sent for Derek, but Derek's cooling system overheated on Gordon's Hill and BoCo had to come to the rescue. The news of the rescue went through the North Western Railway's rumour mill in due course until a confused Percy informed Bill and Ben that Derek had a toothache. Bill and Ben were apprehensive of Derek as a result but forgot their fear when Derek's cooling system overheated yet again and they had to help him home. Derek was then sent to the Works to be mended.

Derek returned later and was seen pulling a goods train up Gordon's Hill.

According to the Official Website, Derek now spends most of his time at the quarries and clay mines near Brendam Docks working with Bill and Ben.

## Personality

Derek is a jolly, enthusiastic diesel engine, keen on making an impression, who was brought in to assist Bill, Ben and BoCo at the China Clay quarry. Unfortunately, due to his engine, he is highly prone to teething troubles, namely overheating and suffering frequent breakdowns, for which he is apologetic for the inconvenience. As a result, he spends many a day having his engine tended to, which is unfortunate since he really wants to work hard. However, Derek is a likeable chap and even Bill and Ben decided that they liked him due to his friendly nature. Derek has an infectious charisma, is keen to help anyone around him and has a passion for sorting things out in a jiffy - if his cooling system lets him.

## Livery

Derek is painted in the BR Brunswick green livery. He has yellow warning panels on his front and back ends. He has white lining on his window frames and he has the BR Ferret and Dartboard crest on his sides.

## Appearances

* Season 1 - Diesel and the Duck Engine (c*ameo*)
* Season 3 - Marion and the Three Olivers

## Trivia

* According to Sharon Miller, she wrote Derek into a sixteenth series episode with a non-speaking role. *Bust My Buffers!* was the episode in which this was to happen, but it never materialized due to "Paxman" in the script being mistaken for "Paxton".
* Starting from *Day of the Diesels*, Derek's horn sound was reused for Salty. Before this, Derek's horn sound was also reused for the foghorn in the sixth series episode, *The Fogman* and Mavis in the same series' episode, *Buffer Bother*. It was mistakenly used for Diesel 10 in some merchandise and some games. It was also mistakenly used for Diesel in Fun Cubes.
* Derek was the first non-Awdry standard gauge engine to be introduced into the television series.
* Derek was not named in any of his appearances as in his debut episode, *Double Teething Troubles*: he was only referred to as **the new Diesel**, or simply **Diesel** and in the music video *Trying*, the lyrics say "Who's that straining up the hill?" rather than Derek's usual name. This makes him the first character to only be named in merchandise ranges.
* Originally, Derek was going to be named **Paxman**, but it was changed for fear it would offend the Paxman brand of diesels, or refer to celebrity Jeremy Paxman.
* Derek's ERTL prototype shows him with a darker and different face and a darker colour scheme. His second Ertl promotional artwork incorrectly depicts him with steam engine type wheels, a darker colour scheme, a grey undercarriage, square buffers and with no red buffer beam.
* According to his 2001 Wooden Railway Character Card, Derek was formerly known as Paxman.