Captain Baxter is a tank engine from the Bluebell Railway that originally used to work for the Dorking Greystone Lime Company.
Biography
The Railway Series
Captain Baxter spent most of his working life at the Dorking Greystone Limeworks, it was here that he gained his mannerism of strong language. Captain Baxter was later saved from scrap and brought for preservation by the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society.
When Stepney visited the Island of Sodor in 1962, he mentioned Captain Baxter in a conversation with Edward. He says that they are good friends, and both miss pulling trucks. Stepney goes on to describe him as a tough, rude engine who worked in a quarry, which gave him bad manners, and rough language. [1]
Personality
According to Stepney, Captain Baxter is a tough and rather rude engine. Unlike most engines, he enjoys working with trucks, and despite his flaws Stepney enjoys his company and retains that "he's a good sort really".
Technical Details
Real-life History
Captain Baxter was built by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. in 1877 and spent its working life at the Dorking Greystone Limeworks at Betchworth Station.
In 1960, Captain Baxter became part of the Bluebell Railway, and returned to service in 1982 after a comprehensive overhaul. It was later overhauled in 1990, and has recently returned to service following a complete overhaul. Railway volunteers are seeking to appoint the restoration team who repaired Fenchurch. From 2010, Captain Baxter was operational on the Bluebell Railway, having returned to working order in time for the railway's "Bluebell 50 Gala". Then, during the summer of 2018, it was on loan to the Didcot Railway Centre until its boiler certificate expired in October that year. Nowadays, it resides inside the Steamworks! Engine Shed.
Livery
Captain Baxter is painted vermilion red with his name (Captain Baxter) painted on the side of the tanks in white and the number (3) painted on the sides of the tanks under his name, also in white. The buffer beams are painted red with black buffers.
In Captain Baxter's appearance in The Railway Series, he has two red plates with one yellow plate in the middle of them, all on the sides of his tanks. His cylinders are painted bronze.
Appearances
The Railway Series
- Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine - Bluebells of England (indirectly mentioned) and Stepney's Special (does not speak)
Companion volumes
- 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet (mentioned; not named)
- 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man
- 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection (does not speak)
Documentaries
Trivia
- Captain Baxter was built by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. at Whitehaven, the same place as Talyllyn and Dolgoch (as well as Skarloey and Rheneas in The Railway Series). He is also one of the only standard gauge steam engines to be built by Fletcher Jennings.
- In 2016, Captain Baxter was the first standard gauge engine to visit the Talyllyn Railway. It visited the railway to celebrate Dolgoch's 150th birthday.
- In 2014, Captain Baxter was featured in the movie Muppets Most Wanted as "Randy Stevenot No. 3".
- Captain Baxter's Days Out with Thomas face is now privately owned.
Gallery
References
| Locomotives | Steam | 87546 and 98462 | Workshop Engines | Big City Engine | Jinty and Pug | City of Truro | Stepney | Bluebell and Primrose | Adams | Cromford | Captain Baxter | Flying Scotsman | Toby's Brothers | 8783 | 1020 | Stephenson's Rocket | Green Arrow | Boxhill | Iron Duke | Mallard | Duchess of Hamilton | Wilbert | Sixteen | Albert |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | Diesel | Diesel 4711 | Diesel 199 | Diesel 40125 | Diesel 31120 | 10751 | |
| Rolling Stock | Helena | |
| People | Elizabeth II | The Thin Clergyman | The Fat Clergyman | |
| Stations | Barrow-in-Furness | Brighton | Carnforth | Crewe | Euston | Horsted Keynes | King's Cross | Lakeside | Norchard | Paddington | St. Pancras | York | |
| Railways | Bluebell Railway | British Railways | Corris Railway | Dean Forest Railway | Ffestiniog Railway | Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway | Snowdon Mountain Railway | Talyllyn Railway | Toby's Old Tramway | |
| Locomotives | Stepney* | Bluebell and Primrose | Cromford | Adams | Captain Baxter | Fenchurch | Birch Grove |
|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Metropolitan Railway Coaches |
| People | Bluebell Railway Controller |