Captain Baxter

Captain Baxter is a tank engine who lives on the Bluebell Railway. He originally used to work for the Dorking Greystone Lime Company.

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.

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".

Real-life History
Captain Baxter was built by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. in 1877 and spent his 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. He 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 Stepney's brother, 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, he was on loan to the Didcot Railway Centre until his boiler certificate expired in October that year. Nowadays, he resides inside the Steamworks! Engine Shed.

Livery
Captain Baxter is painted maroon with his name (Captain Baxter) painted on the side of his tanks in white and his number (3) painted on the sides of his tanks under his name, also in white. His buffer beams are painted red with black buffers.

In his appearance in The Railway Series, Captain Baxter 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
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine - Bluebells of England  and Stepney's Special

Companion volumes

 * 1972 - The Railway Series: Surprise Packet
 * 1995 - The Thomas the Tank Engine Man
 * 1996 - Thomas the Tank Engine: The Complete Collection

Trivia

 * Captain Baxter was built by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. at Whitehaven, the same place as Skarloey, Rheneas, Talyllyn, Dolgoch and Smudger. 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. He 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.