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Description
Paxton!!!

Some backstory!!

Paxton was built in 1957 at Darlington Works alongside a brother who would frequently forget where he was. He and his brother, who was given the name “Sidney,” were soon assigned as shunters to yards at opposite ends of the country. Paxton and Sidney were sad to say goodbye, but wished each other well as they went their separate ways.

Paxton’s driver had previously worked on a steam engine, and told his diesel that he needed to be kind to steam engines. They had been around far longer than he had, and as such, there was lots he could learn from them. Paxton took his driver’s words to heart, and treated every steam engine he met with kindness and respect. Paxton soon ran across a 5700 Class named “Jackie,” who worked in the yard he had been assigned to. He asked her to teach him how to shunt, and she took him under her wing. Jackie was an excellent teacher, having nearly thirty years of experience to draw from, and Paxton was an eager student. He soaked up her lessons like a sponge, said “please” and “thank you,” and even made friends with her, thinking and saying that steam and diesel would work side-by-side forever.

Poor Paxton’s ideal wouldn’t last.

The 1960’s were not a good time for steam engines, with diesels rapidly taking over their jobs and sending them to the cold and lonely wayside. Paxton was horrified to learn that the locomotives he looked up to were being either left to rust and fall apart or shunted into sidings and cut to bits. The little diesel shunter hated it when the larger and ruder diesels would mock the steam engines for their inevitable fate and boast of diesel superiority.

1963 was a particularly grim year for Paxton, as Jackie was to be withdrawn from service, something Paxton refused to accept. He’d heard about London Transport needing locomotives, and saw an opportunity to save his friend and mentor. Paxton, under cover of night, smuggled her into London, where she was quickly purchased by the LT. Jackie and Paxton bade each other a tearfull and heartfelt goodbye before Paxton left for his yard again.

But things would soon look up for the little diesel, for one day in 1968, his yard was visited by a stout gentleman in a top hat. The man introduced himself as Sir Topham Hatt and asked Paxton to tell him about himself. Once Paxton had introduced himself, the little diesel poured out his story. When he was finished, Sir Topham Hatt was staring wide-eyed at the little diesel, but quickly recovered, stating that he liked the cut of his jib, and asked if he would like to become a part of his railway. Paxton was honored and heartily accepted.

Paxton was soon sent to the Island of Sodor, and arrived at Crovan's Gate Works for a quick inspection. It turned out that he’d arrived hot on the heels of a Class 17 named Derek and a fellow Class 08 who turned out to be, of all engines, his own brother, Sidney! After their inspection, Paxton and Sidney were given slight repaints and assigned to utility work across the Sudrian network with Derek and a Class 5 tank engine from the L&YR named “Kate.”

You can frequently find Paxton at the Blue Mountain Slate Quarry to this very day, although, ever since learing that Jackie had been saved by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway on the mainland, he frequently asks if a reunion can be arranged.

Paxton is a very kind and friendly chap, who is always willing to put his best wheel forward. Although he’s not the most intelligent sort and can be rather gullible and absent-minded, his drive to be a really useful engine rivals all the best, and he’s easily among the most well-liked diesels on Sodor.

Description
Paxton!!!

Some backstory!!

Paxton was built in 1957 at Darlington Works alongside a brother who would frequently forget where he was. He and his brother, who was given the name “Sidney,” were soon assigned as shunters to yards at opposite ends of the country. Paxton and Sidney were sad to say goodbye, but wished each other well as they went their separate ways.

Paxton’s driver had previously worked on a steam engine, and told his diesel that he needed to be kind to steam engines. They had been around far longer than he had, and as such, there was lots he could learn from them. Paxton took his driver’s words to heart, and treated every steam engine he met with kindness and respect. Paxton soon ran across a 5700 Class named “Jackie,” who worked in the yard he had been assigned to. He asked her to teach him how to shunt, and she took him under her wing. Jackie was an excellent teacher, having nearly thirty years of experience to draw from, and Paxton was an eager student. He soaked up her lessons like a sponge, said “please” and “thank you,” and even made friends with her, thinking and saying that steam and diesel would work side-by-side forever.

Poor Paxton’s ideal wouldn’t last.

The 1960’s were not a good time for steam engines, with diesels rapidly taking over their jobs and sending them to the cold and lonely wayside. Paxton was horrified to learn that the locomotives he looked up to were being either left to rust and fall apart or shunted into sidings and cut to bits. The little diesel shunter hated it when the larger and ruder diesels would mock the steam engines for their inevitable fate and boast of diesel superiority.

1963 was a particularly grim year for Paxton, as Jackie was to be withdrawn from service, something Paxton refused to accept. He’d heard about London Transport needing locomotives, and saw an opportunity to save his friend and mentor. Paxton, under cover of night, smuggled her into London, where she was quickly purchased by the LT. Jackie and Paxton bade each other a tearfull and heartfelt goodbye before Paxton left for his yard again.

But things would soon look up for the little diesel, for one day in 1968, his yard was visited by a stout gentleman in a top hat. The man introduced himself as Sir Topham Hatt and asked Paxton to tell him about himself. Once Paxton had introduced himself, the little diesel poured out his story. When he was finished, Sir Topham Hatt was staring wide-eyed at the little diesel, but quickly recovered, stating that he liked the cut of his jib, and asked if he would like to become a part of his railway. Paxton was honored and heartily accepted.

Paxton was soon sent to the Island of Sodor, and arrived at Crovan's Gate Works for a quick inspection. It turned out that he’d arrived hot on the heels of a Class 17 named Derek and a fellow Class 08 who turned out to be, of all engines, his own brother, Sidney! After their inspection, Paxton and Sidney were given slight repaints and assigned to utility work across the Sudrian network with Derek and a Class 5 tank engine from the L&YR named “Kate.”

You can frequently find Paxton at the Blue Mountain Slate Quarry to this very day, although, ever since learing that Jackie had been saved by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway on the mainland, he frequently asks if a reunion can be arranged.

Paxton is a very kind and friendly chap, who is always willing to put his best wheel forward. Although he’s not the most intelligent sort and can be rather gullible and absent-minded, his drive to be a really useful engine rivals all the best, and he’s easily among the most well-liked diesels on Sodor.