Thomas and James

*This article focuses on the relationship between Thomas and James.*

Thomas only says that Percy is his best friend, from the series we can understand how James’ and Thomas’ friendship is really close and they are best friends just like Thomas and Percy. They are part of the iconic trio with Percy. Even though Thomas and closer with Percy, Thomas is best friends with both James and Percy. Together both Thomas and James get on really well with each other. They love playing and being useful. Even though most of the engines claim how James is a show off, deep down James cares especially his friendship with Thomas. They both look out for each other.

## Overall

Sometimes they can annoy each other but loves to have fun together. They also tease each other at times but they maintain a close relationship.

Thomas, Percy and James are in a friendship group together. Although they have the steam team, these 3 are the closest of friends. James is close with Percy whilst Thomas is best friends with both Percy and James. At the end of Tale of the brave, they stood together looking at the sea whilst Gator sails off. This shows how developed their relationship is with each other and the sunset marks how important the trio are and no matter what happens they stick together. I think that the fans on this show appreciates this trio group

## Hints

### **Specials**

* In "Thomas and the Magic Railroad", Thomas and James had a conversation at Tidmouth Sheds.
* In "Calling All Engines", James abs Thomas were together
* In "The Great Discovery", Thomas and James raced to the Wharf.
* In "Hero of the Rails", James helped Thomas to look after Hiro
* In "Misty Island Rescue", James (along with Gordon, Edward and Sir Topham Hatt) sailed to Misty Island to find Thomas.
* In "Day of the Diesels", James (along with Edward, Henry, Gordon, Toby and Emily) joined Thomas and Percy to save the Steamworks from Diesel 10.
* In "Blue Mountain Mystery", Thomas passes James two times in this film.
* In "King of the Railway", Thomas, James and Percy were all called on to help the Earl restoring Ulfstead Castle. The iconic trio worked together
* In "Tale of the Brave", They both look for Percy when Percy wasn’t in Tidmouth sheds. When Percy was saying goodbye to Gator, Thomas and James came from behind Percy and together they look at the sea whilst Gator sailed off. The iconic trio stood together and both Thomas and James complimented how brave and wise Percy was and they rode together in the sunset at the docks
* In "The Adventure Begins", James is the first friend Thomas made.
* In "Journey Beyond Sodor", Thomas and James are main characters. As they both were leaving the mainland they apologised for being rude to each other sang together about how that their friendship really matters and not who is the favourite engine

### Season 13

* In "Creaky Cranky", Thomas greets James along with Henry at Brendam Docks at the beginning of the episode. Thomas asks them where they are chuffing to. James explains that he is taking wood to make a stage for the children's show and barrels of lemonade to drink. Thomas thinks that's exciting. He tells James and Henry that he'll see them later at the summerhouse. James and Henry whistle goodbye to Thomas. Later, Thomas meets James at the washdown. Thomas explains to him that he doesn't have a lot of jobs and offers to deliver his heavy load of wooden barrels for him. He then tells him that he'll be perfectly polished for the party. James agrees with him and thanks him.
* In "The Lion of Sodor", When it's time to reveal the Lion of Sodor, ￼James tells Thomas that it's a big day because the Lion of Sodor is here. Then, after the Lion of Sodor is a mess, James along with Gordon laugh at the messy statue. Thomas feels terrible.
* In "Tickled Pink", Thomas along with Percy and Gordon laugh at James in his pink livery. This makes James upset.
* In "Slippy Sodor", James is the first engine to laugh at Thomas' funny funnel. He says hello to him first, then starts laughing at his funny funnel. Thomas feels upset.
* In "The Early Bird", Thomas meets James at Tidmouth Sheds and asks him where Percy is. James does not know and tells him he has too much to do to see Percy.
* In "Play Time", Once Thomas reaches the Town Hall, James is next to him and the narrator says that his cheeks were red as James' shiny coat.
* In "Thomas and the Pigs", Thomas collects apples from James. Later, James gives an idea of what the piglets might like, but Thomas doesn't have time to hear his idea.
* In "Steamy Sodor", Once James arrives at the Steamworks, he is surprised to see Thomas there and asks him why he's there. Thomas tells him that Victor is away and that he's in charge. ￼James tells him that he has a blocked funnel, but Thomas misheard him and thinks James needs a new funnel. James then says "No I don't!" Later, Thomas along with Victor go to James and explains he wants the twigs and straws unclogged from his funnel.
* In "Splish, Splash, Splosh", Thomas sees James at a junction and thinks that he might like his game. He then splashes James and his flatbed of strawberries. James gets very mad. Later, when Thomas meets up with him along with Emily, he explains that he'll deliver the flour and strawberries so they'll both go to the washdown. James is happy and states that now he'll be shiny and best and clean.

### Season 14

* In "James in the Dark", Due to it being very dark and without his lamp, James mistakens Thomas as Henry. Later, Thomas arrives with the workmen to fit in James' lamp. Later he sees that Thomas along with Edward are using their lamps on Allicia Botti and decides to help them.
* In "Toby and the Whistling Woods", they both are together throughout most of the episode. Toby meets them at a junction shunting trucks. They ask Toby if he's okay because he doesn't say hello. Toby is scared to puff through the whistling woods by himself and Thomas and James offer to puff with him, but Toby refuses saying that old engines never ask for help. As Toby gets frightened of the noises, he crashes into Thomas and James' freight cars. Toby eventually asks them to travel into the woods with them and they agree. They both tell Toby the sounds that Toby heard earlier. Toby is no longer afraid and was able to get to the summerhouse.
* In "Pop Goes Thomas", Thomas greets James who is taking the children to the picnic. Thomas asks James if the popping noise was the funniest sound he's heard. However, James doesn't think it's funny at all. Then a cork bounces on his paintwork. Then, the cork hits the signalman, he accidentally pulls the wrong lever causing James to bump the buffers.
* In "Being Percy", at the beginning of the episode, they are both blocking Percy's way. Percy uses his whistle to make Thomas and James chuff out of Percy's way.
* In "Merry Winter Wish", as Thomas is chasing after James, the Star of Knapford rises in the air and lands on the ground. Thomas is upset and wishes that his friends could come and help him. Then, Percy, James, and Henry arrive and help him. James and Thomas fetch Rocky . At the end, James along with Percy and Henry reveal that their wishes came true and that they were all together under the Star of Knapford.
* In "Thomas and the Snowman Party", Thomas greets James along with Percy at the Town Square. James explains to Thomas that the band will play at the party. Later, James tells Thomas that the Brass Band lost their hat. Thomas feels terrible.
* In "Jumping Jobi Wood", James yells at Thomas that his shiny red coat is ruined by Hee-haw. Thomas is upset by this. ￼

### Season 15

* In "Percy's New Friends", at the end when Thomas asks Percy who the new animals were, him and James are next to each other.
* In "James to the Rescue", Thomas greets James at the beginning and later on helps him rescue Gordon.
* In "Stuck on You" James laughs at Butch's magnet stuck on Thomas. Thomas feels embarrised by this.

### Season 16

* In "Flash, Bang, Wallop!", Thomas wants to be in James' photograph, but he ends up blocking him. James is so surprised, he veers into a siding, destroying a set of buffers and derailing. Later, Thomas apologizes to James and promises he'll rescue him. Thomas and Rocky rescue James.
* In "The Sounds of Sodor", When Thomas arrives at the Quarry, James is seen sitting in a siding and watches Thomas enter. James then rolls up to Thomas but he ignores him and puffs away. James follows him and Thomas explains that they must be quiet so that the composer can hear the sounds of Sodor. He is too busy talking to James, that he doesn't notice a barrier ahead on the tracks. Later on, Thomas asks for James' help.
* In "Muddy Matters", James meets Thomas and Percy on their way to the fair.