James

**James** is a red, mixed-traffic tender engine who works on the North Western Railway. He is the railway's number 5 engine. He pulls both coaches and trucks, but would much rather pull passenger trains.

## Biography

James was designed by George Hughes and built by Horwich Works at some point between 1912 and 1913, though unlike many other engines at the time, he was fitted with wooden brake blocks. Sometime after the Grouping, James was sold to the North Western Railway.

Shortly after he arrived on Sodor, James was severely damaged in a crash when his trucks pushed him down the line and his wooden brake blocks caught on fire. He was rescued by Thomas and James was sent to Crovan's Gate Works, where he was repaired and gained functional brakes. He gained a Fowler Tender and the Fat Controller had him painted red to make him feel better after his accident.

When James returned from the Works, he became vain and troublesome. While double-heading a passenger train with Edward, he accidentally showered water on the Fat Controller's new top hat, almost forgot to stop at the station, and disturbed an elderly lady with his hiccups. After being threatened by the Fat Controller with a coat of blue paint, James became resentful and started bumping the coaches around aggressively, though this backfired on him when one of the brake pipes began leaking and needed to be mended with a bootlace and some newspapers. Following this incident, James was shut up in the shed. When the Fat Controller finally allowed him out, James was assigned to a goods train to Killdane. Although he had some trouble when some of the trucks broke away, James managed to keep the train under control and deliver it to the station and was allowed to keep his red paint after the Fat Controller had seen everything. Even though he had proven to be useful, James was still teased by Gordon and Henry for his past mistakes. However, after Gordon got lost and wound up at Tidmouth, James was allowed to take the express in his place. He did so successfully and he and Gordon became firm friends.

When Thomas left Tidmouth to run the Ffarquhar Branch Line, James, Gordon and Henry became irritated, as they now had to fetch their own trains. After an incident on the turntable that left him humiliated, James, along with Gordon and Henry, decided to go on strike, refusing to leave the shed and behaving badly when they had to work. The Fat Controller eventually shut them up in the shed and had Thomas and Edward pull their trains, though he allowed them to come out when they were sorry.

James would go on to mistreat his fellow engines. He would attempt to steal Henry's special coal, only to take real coal when his driver and fireman trick him thinking he took on special coal. When Toby and Henrietta came to work on Thomas' branch line, James insulted them by calling them "dirty objects" and boasting about how his red paint is never dirty. But later, some trucks pushed him down Gordon's Hill and he crashed into two tar wagons, spoiling his paint. Toby and Percy pulled James away, but not before Toby teased James about never having dirty paint.

## Personality

James is a very vain engine who cares mostly about his appearance. He likes to feel self-important and thinks it undignified to pull trucks. He enjoys seeking the job he considers the most honourable, believing himself to be most other engines.

James finds fun in teasing other engines. He and Thomas tease each other frequently, and James enjoys poking fun at the bigger engines, although he will side with them if he wants back up in a debate.

## Appearances

* **Series 1** - Thomas and the Breakdown Train, James and the Top-Hat, Bootlaces, Troublesome Trucks, James' Rest Cure, James and the Express, Left Behind, Thomas and Bertie (mentioned), Henry and the Elephant, Tenders and Turntables, Trouble in the Shed (doesn't speak), Push-Pull Percy (mentioned), Express Coming Through (doesn't speak), Percy Runs Away, Coal, James' Special Coal, Dirty Objects, Presents for Percy, Thomas's Christmas Party (doesn't speak), Off the Rails (doesn't speak), Leaves, Teatime for Gordon (mentioned), Paint Pots and Queens