James

James the red engine No. 5

****James**** is The No. 5 mixed traffic engine on The North Western Railway. He's known for his love of his Red Paint and Vanity.

## James

When **James** first came to Sodor, He had an accident with a Goods Train causing him to derail near Crosby. Thomas rescued **James**, and **James** was repaired while Thomas received his Branch Line. When he returned, **James** had some incidents with Sir Topham Hatt I's a new top hat and a Brake Pipe on his Coaches which was Repaired with a Bootlace. **James** redeemed himself by taking the most Troublesome Train on The Line and even Pulling the Wxpress. Since then, **James** has become a Respectable member on The NWR.

**James** rescued Rosie and her passengers from a collapsing bridge which was later named after him. **James** also tried to handle the disagreeable new trucks, though his rough manner only made them cross.

Following the fatal accident with Gordon's express at Brendam Docks, **James**, like the other engines, shunned Thomas under the faulty assumption that he had caused the accident. When Diesel 10 and his army took over the island, **James** was captured and held at the docks. Once freed by Thomas, Lady, and Grant, **James** assisted in retaking Sodor from the enemy.

Later, he insulted the Logging Locos apparent lack of work ethic, but he quickly changed his disposition when they rescued him from a fallen tree. He was present at the lighting of the Sodor Christmas tree in Wellsworth, and he later cheered on Edward as he rescued Gordon and Spamcan.

Upon meeting Gerald, **James** is rather short with the newcomer, remarking that he looks more like a tank than an engine.

During the mass protests held by the Anti-Rail League supporters on Sodor, **James** loses control of his goods train and nearly kills a paralyzed Fat Controller. **James**, now disturbed at his inability to handle freight cars, takes out his anger on freight cars. **James** had become detached and disassociated himself from the other engines. Gerald suggests treatment for **James** by having sessions with Emily Hatt, but **James** angrily rebuffs him. Later that evening, during the big storm, **James** sees a line of trucks and begins to ruthlessly bump them ferociously, not realizing that Paxton was at the end of the train. After this incident, **James** decides to get treatment and begins sessions with Emily Hatt.

During the Great Truck Rebellion, **James** led a charge against the trucks with Donald and Douglas by fiercely bumping them across the yard after Oliver's accident. When Douglas's train breaks away, **James** helps Toad save Gordon from a collision with the cars. When **James** learns the truth of what the trucks felt, he becomes much more open minded and even decides he doesn't need his sessions with Emily Hatt anymore.

Since then, **James** has been more accepting of others. He was one of the first to accept Melody, kindly showing her around the island. When Gordon berates Melody as an outsider, **James** rushes to her defense. Melody later confronts **James** in the yard, and **James** apologizes for Gordon's behavior. It is at this point that Melody opens up to **James**, speaking for the first time in years to thank him. After Melody tells him of her history with Oliver, **James** takes her to see her old friend at the Sodor Steamworks.

In Making Spirits Bright, **James** was shown to have grown fed up with Gordon's attitude.

### Alternate Timelines

In an alternate world where P. T. Boomer's attack on the railway was successful, **James** is one of the few engines to survive. He works with the other survivors to acquire the Silver Avenger Armor. **James** is shown to have been deeply embittered by the ravaging of Sodor, accusing Edward of letting both Diesel and Thomas "fall behind." Later, Boomer and the types of diesels capture **James**, killing him when Toby refuses to divulge Percy's location.

When Gordon visits the future in a vision on Christmas Eve, **James** is shown to be indifferent about his death. In this world, **James** pulls the express in Gordon's absence.

## Persona

**James** known to be extremely vain and self-centered, and this often manifests itself in bitter rudeness. However, he has recently become more soft-hearted, showing great kindness to Melody and forgiving the troublesome trucks for their misbehavior.