James

* 2019
* 2017
* 2015
* 2013
* 2010
* 2004
* 2002
* 2000
* 1990
* 1987
* 1986

**James** (also released as **James the Red Engine**) is a bright red tender engine.

## Product Description

### **1993 ERTL collector card**

*James is a medium sized engine. His six driving wheels are not as big as Gordon's and not as small as Thomas'. He has a fine scarlet coat and a brass dome and likes to think of himself as a really splendid engine. This can occasionally lead to high falutin' ideas about the sort of work suitable for such a noble creature: invariably they land James in trouble.*

### **Historical Note**

*James is based on a Hughes Class 2-6-0 superheated tender engine.*

### **Shining Time Station collector card**

*His beautiful scarlet red coat and shiny brass dome sets James apart as an engine of distinction.*

### **2002 ERTL collector card**

*James is a medium sized engine. He has a fine scarlet coat and brass dome and likes to think of himself as a Really Splendid Engine.*

### **2002 US Take Along collector card**

*Name: James the Red Engine*

*Color(s): Red*

*Bio: With his shiny red coat, James likes to think of himself as a Really Splendid Engine. He sometimes has grand ideas about the sort of work he should do, which can lead to trouble.*

### **2005 UK Take Along collector card**

*James is a medium sized engine, he has a fine red coat and likes to think of himself as a really splendid engine, which sometimes lands him in trouble.*

## Timeline

* 1986 (sticker face, white running board, pin-hook couplings, 6 wheels on tender, metal smokebox, matching red tender running board, red handrails, yellow number 5, black wheels, Britt Allcroft licensing, made in China)
* 1987 (red running board)
* 1990 (plastic 3D face)
* 2001 (Gullane licensing)
* 2002 (two-way magnets, side rods removed, detailed cab interior, detachable tender with different red running board, grey wheels in some copies, name embossed on chassis; only available at Target until 2005)
* 2003 (U-hook rear coupling; only available in the UK)
* 2004 (white handrails and golden number 5 in some copies; only available at Target until 2005)
* 2006 (black wheels, golden number 5 and white handrails in all availability, name printed on chassis)
* 2008 (plastic smokebox)
* 2010 (updated details, CG style face, silver handrails, buffers removed between cab and tender)
* 2013 (updated face, cheaper metal, hollowed out counterweights, made in Thailand)
* 2014 (clip connectors, tender with matching red running board; only available in select countries)
* 2015 (one-way magnets, 4 wheels on tender, unpainted buffers, shorter cab)
* 2017 (clip couplings, tender with different red running board)
* 2019 (hook and loop couplings, slightly longer, smaller cylinders, farther apart wheels, asymmetric tender, buffer beam on tender facing cab)

## Variants

* Miniature James
* Gold Rail James
* Wind Up James
* Keyring James
* Metallic James
* Clenched Face James from James and the Trouble with Trees Deluxe Play Scene
* James Goes Buzz Buzz
* Lights and Sounds James
* Talking James
* Muddy James from James' Muddy Mess
* Confetti Covered James from James' Ice Cream Express
* Fish Covered James from James and the Flying Kipper
* Talking Castle Crest James
* Pull 'N' Zoom! James
* Talking Dino Discovery James
* Busy Bee James
* Original James
* Rail Rocket James
* Graffiti James

## Availability

* Thomas, Henry and James Set
* James and the Old Coaches
* James with Troublesome Trucks
* Terence, James and Percy
* 6-Piece Gift Set 5
* 12 Piece Super Set
* Thomas and Friends Ultimate Gift Pack
* Sodor Gift Set 2
* Bertie, James and Henry
* Gift Set 2
* Collector Vehicle Pack 3
* All Aboard Toys Gift Pack 2
* Bonus Free Engine Assortment with Thomas and the Paint Car
* Engine Works Portable Playset (2006-2009)
* Roundhouse Deluxe Pack
* Thomas and Percy's Carnival Adventure (Target exclusive version)
* Thomas Carry Case Set
* James and Hector work it out set
* Classic Engines Pack
* James and the Flying Kipper
* Sodor Steamies
* All Around the Railway
* Ultimate Engine Collection

## Trivia

* On both ERTL collector cards, it is stated that James's red coat is scarlet red which is correct. This is the only time in any merchandise that this is stated.
* James's running board was only white once which was the 1986 paper face James.
* James's ERTL model is featured on the following boxes:
	+ Branch Line Playtrack
	+ Turntable Playtrack
	+ Water Tower Accessory Set (1998-2000)
	+ Tunnel Accessory Set
	+ Stationhouse Accessory Set (1999)
	+ Stationhouse Playtrack
* James's ERTL Collection promo art depicts him with grey wheels and axelboxes.
* Some copies of James's Take Along model had grey wheels with a yellow number 5, while some had the accurate black wheels and gold number, even when most characters at the time did not. The former variant was phased out in 2006 when they redesigned some items.
	+ If James was included in a multi-pack or playset, it was always the latter variant.
	+ The grey wheels scenario also happened with Duck (minus his prototype), Diesel 10, the Tidmouth Milk Tanker, Sodor Line Caboose, Bertie, Lorry (minus his prototype), Elizabeth and Bulgy, but James was the only one that had it fixed.
* James's Take Along collector card uses one of his promotional images from series 5.
* The 2013 Take-n-Play James has his handrails extend onto his smokebox, though this portion is unpainted. This also happened with Edward.