James

**James** is a main character in *Sudrian Steam*. He is one of the original engines to work on The North Western Railway. He is a mixed traffic engine, like Edward and Henry. When he first came to the island, he had wooden brake blocks, which caused them to set on fire due to trucks pushing him faster down the line. He ended up crashing, and Thomas came to help him. The two then became good friends.

## Personality

James is very proud of his splendid red paintwork. He dislikes pulling trucks and believes that he should only pull coaches. He thinks himself superior to the others and can be shallow, boastful, overconfident, naughty, and vain, particularly to those who appear old-fashioned, weak, slow, or dirty. This has caused him to have somewhat of a rivalry with Edward, Percy, Toby and Duck. However, on a number of occasions, he has found himself in need of help from those whom he has insulted and is, in the end, apologetic. Even before he was repainted red he was rather boastful.

James was the last of the steam engines to retain a prejudice against diesels. However, after stalling on a cold day, he was rescued by the Works Diesel and James had to admit that nothing was wrong with diesels. However, due to his clear dislike for Diesel and the other diesels of Sodor, this experience didn't seem to stick with him too well.

Despite everything else, James has shown a caring side, is normally hard-working and like every other engine, wants to be responsible, reliable and really useful on Sir Topham Hatt's railway.

## Series Overview

### Season 1

#### "The Long Game"

James first appears at Tidmouth Sheds one night. He goes on a long rant about how he thinks that the diesels on the mainland are conspiring against Sodor, and are going to march over the Mainland Bridge and force them all into the scrapyards. His friends all reassure him that he's paranoid over nothing, and when asked why he suddenly has this mindset, he states that Diesel has been putting ideas in his head. The other engines then begin to talk about Diesel, while James stays firm on his opinion and claims that they're playing the long game with them.

The next day, James is idling at Knapford Station, when Diesel rolls up alongside. They begin to have a bitter conversation, where Diesel begins rambling on about how diesels are revolutionary and that they're going to take the island over one day. James tries to brush him off and even embarrasses him a little by listing his past scandals on the island, causing him to leave. However, he still has a lot of thoughts racing through his mind. That night, James is present at Tidmouth Sheds when The Fat Controller announces that a new engine would be arriving due to Henry's accident. James asks if the engine is a diesel, to which The Fat Controller says yes.

The next day, Thomas, Percy, James and Stanley are talking at Tidmouth Station. The tank engines talk about how scary and horrible Tennant is to them. James states that he hasn't encountered the diesel yet, but when he does he's going to give him a piece of his mind. Later that evening, James returns to Tidmouth Station to find Tennant in the sheds. He approaches him and the two get into an argument, with James insulting him and his kind. Tennant assures him that he'll regret speaking to him like that, to which James just rolled his eyes and left passing Gordon, who had been listening the whole time.

The next day, James is at Knapford collecting passengers when Gordon puffs in alongside him, stating that he should really give Tennant a chance. James begins ranting to Gordon that he's never going to warm up to the steam engines, to which Gordon tells him that they should still try. Gordon is then surged forward by Tennant, who just bumped into his coaches. James yells at him asking him what he's doing. Later, The Fat Controller arrives and scolds Tennant, before turning his attention to James and assuring him that he is simply paranoid and that he would never replace him or anyone else with diesels. He the leaves, leaving James with a lot to think about. That night, James and the other engines fill Henry in on what had happened while he was away. He then tells Gordon to relax after the big engine begins to get worked up about his coaches, telling him he won't have to see Tennant much anymore, as he has been relocated to The Killdane Ironworks.

#### "Restoration"

James arrives at Knapford Station to see Henry staring intently at The Memorial Plaque. He then listens to Henry open up about how he still feels guilt for the incident, and assures him that it wasn't his fault and he needs to move on. Henry then leaves, and a pretty agitated Gordon arrives to talk to James. He begins asking the red engine why he forgave Tennant for everything he did, stating that he's a reckless engine who will never change. James then begins to tell Gordon that he thinks Tennant is trying really hard to make amends and that he should give him a chance. Diesel then trundles by, and the two engines agree that engines like him will never change.

#### "The Sudrian Conspiracy"

James is idling at Wellsworth Station, when he notices Diesel puff past. Realizing that he hasn't got a train with him, he gets suspicious and follows him to see what he is up to. He gets confused when he sees him go down Edward's branchline, and decides to investigate. He follows him to the Clay Pits, where he overhears a conversation between him, Glenn and Louis. He begins to put the pieces together and realizes that these strange people were the cause of the China Clay Pits explosion, and that Diesel is working for them. When Diesel is about to leave, James stops and confronts him. He tells him he heard everything and knows he's here to get rid of any evidence of an explosion. Diesel begins to make a run for it, causing James to chase him down the mainline. However, James ends up on the same line as Donald, who he collides with head on, allowing Diesel to escape.

## Appearances

### Sudrian Steam

#### Season 1

* "The Long Game"
* "Restoration"
* "The Sudrian Conspiracy"
* "Summer Massacre '96"

### Sudrian Shorts

* "Friendly Debate"
* "Monopoly"
* "The Return of DTBEN10"