James

**James** was a red engine who worked on the Island of Sodor and a former main character on *LOCOMOTIVES*. He unfortunately died at the end of Season 1, by tumbling off the unstable viaduct.

## Persona

In Episode One, James is assigned the Express as Gordon gets to pull a VIP train. At Elsbridge Station, James is cross at Toby for being late and despite this, calls him reliable, before puffing away. James is later seen rocketing past Kirk Ronan Station before arriving at Tidmouth Station, meeting Thomas. He tells Thomas he’s never gone so fast and hopes to be able to pull the train again. At Tidmouth Sheds that evening, James, along with the other engines, is told of Neil’s death by Gordon.

In Episode Two, James is told to help Rosie at the mine after pulling the mail train, before being told by Thomas that Rosie won’t be her usual self but James dismisses this. James is later seen at Kirk Ronan Station with Gordon, when Henry arrives and they speak about the new engine, Duck - all of them laughing at his expense. Later, James, along with Henry and Gordon, arrive at Knapford Station and find Duck there, deciding to mock him over his name. However, Thomas comes to Duck’s defence, insulting James over the time he needed bootlaces to fix a hole in a brake pipe on one of his trains and the time he spun like a top on a turntable. This leads to James, along with Gordon and Henry, vacating the area.

In Episode Three, James does not appear.

In Episode Four, James is sat in the Yard, being told about the discovery of a World War 2 bomb which was found unexploded near Gordon’s Hill, by Gordon. Duck soon arrives, scolding the three for their choice of conversation right next to passengers in Knapford Station and wanting to be able to shunt without them getting in his way. Sir Topham also arrives to tell the three off for the very same reason.

In Episode Five, James arrives with some trucks at The Goods Shed, where Percy has been sent following his fall down a mineshaft. James tells Percy not to worry about Sir Topham Hatt punishing him but he is still unsure as James leaves.

In Episode Six, James arrives at The Harbour and meets Lady, but finds his nerves get the better of him and just stammers before puffing away. James finds Thomas at Wellsworth Station and gets some advice from him on the matter before returning to The Harbour and trying his luck. Unfortunately, Lady just dismisses him altogether, leaving James rather bitter.

In Episode Seven, James arrives at Kirk Ronan Station and tells Duck about how he cut Gordon off at the Junction. Duck scolds James for his inconsideration, and when James defends himself by saying he was keeping spirits high, Duck rebukes it.

In Episode Eight, James pulls Donald from the wreckage of the Stationmaster’s house, trying to console his bad feelings. James also does the same with Douglas when he slips down the pier rail at The Harbour.

In Episode Nine, James is at Tidmouth Sheds along with the other engines as they are told both Donald and Douglas can stay on Sodor, and also tells Percy to shut up whilst Sir Topham reveals this. He cheers in amazement with the other engines, too.

In Episode Ten, James arrives at The Harbour to find an overworked Henry and offers to help him. Henry arrives at The Harbour later to find the train not taken and Henry curses James, just as he appears behind him. Henry realises and apologises before James explains the ordeal he had to go through to get back. Just then, Lady arrives and tells James and Henry that Edward has been crushed by a mound of coal at The Coaling Plant.

In Episode Eleven, James jealously watches Donald as he talks to Lady at Tidmouth Hault Station, before backing up too quickly and smashing his vans against the walls of The Harbour. Donald shunts James into The Harbour Sheds before being reprimanded by Sir Topham, being given the punishment of shunting. When James arrives to do his punishment, he finds The Yard in a state of disarray and realises Duck was behind it.

In Episode Twelve, James gets to take the Express as Gordon is ill. Gordon warns James not to take the left track as Toby is checking whether it needs maintenance or not. James mostly ignores this warning. James arrives at Crosby and finds Henry broken down on his line, so decides to take the left track anyway, out of responsibility to get his passengers to their destinations on time. When James reaches the top of Gordon’s Hill, he runs into Toby who had run out of water at the top. At the next station, James and Toby stop so Toby can have a drink, before seeing Percy rocket past with his vans. When James next finds Percy, he is with Alfred, off the rails and covered in chocolate. He makes an amusing comment that at least the chocolate will come off.

In Episode Thirteen, James watches Donald and Lady from Maron Station. When Henry arrives, he tells James to give up regarding Lady, before Lady orders Henry into The Harbour, as he is late.

In Episode Fourteen, James does not appear.

In Episode Fifteen, James, along with Emily and Gordon, are told Henry will be returning from Crewe. James jokes about Henry still smelling of fish before being told to shut up by the other two, and scolded specifically by Gordon.

In Episode Sixteen, James and Duck are discussing the inspection at The Harbour. Duck teases James over Lady and when James falls for it, Duck reveals he was lying before puffing away, leaving James unimpressed. At the end of the episode, James is with the other engines at Tidmouth Sheds as they cheer for Alfred, who had just saved Thomas from falling off The Viaduct.

In Episode Seventeen, James does not appear.

In Episode Eighteen, Gordon breaks down at Tidmouth Station whilst pulling the Express and once again, James is tasked with pulling it the rest of the way, mocking Gordon as he leaves. James gets to Gordon’s Hill and discovers he is unable to pull the train all the way up, so Gordon comes to his rescue and is his back engine. At Wellsworth Station, Emily and Gordon belittle James together. At Tidmouth Sheds, James, along with the other engines, is told that Douglas is leaving Sodor, before also being told that Douglas was the stowaway twin that wasn’t meant to come to Sodor.

In Episode Nineteen, James finds Lady and Donald arguing at The Harbour over Douglas leaving, and comes to Lady’s defence. James warns Donald that his actions will send him down a dark path, before taking his train down the line. Later, James rushes through Knapford Station, almost hitting Edward in the process but doesn’t stop to check if he’s okay. At Crosby Yards, Sir Topham arrives on board Toby and criticises James for his lack of consideration and sends him to his shed. He is at Tidmouth Sheds whilst the other engines discuss whether Thomas is okay or not.

In Episode Twenty, James volunteers to help the Sudrian Crisis Prevention Department to search for bombs by The Viaduct. He heads off to meet them. Later, James asks to get some more coal and as he leaves, Alfred’s runaway trucks plough into the back of James and send him dangling off the edge of The Viaduct. James’ Driver runs off to get help, but unfortunately never manages to get it in time, as James falls off the edge and into the watery depths below. Douglas passes The Viaduct shortly after this time and fails to notice James at the bottom. He is later found by Percy and Alfred, the latter of whom goes to get the breakdown train.

## Basis

James was based on the L&YR Class 28, with extended bogey wheels.