James

"I'm the brightest red engine on Sodor!"

— James in various episodes

James
Number: 5 Class: L&YR Hughes Class 28 experiment featuring a leading pony truck and larger driving wheels. Later paired with a 3500g Fowler tender Designer: George Hughes Builder: Horwick Works Built: 1912/1913 Configuration: 2-6-0 Arrived on Sodor: 1924-5

James is a red mixed-traffic L&YR Class 28 engine who works on the North Western Railway.

Persona

James is very proud of his splendid red paint work. He hates pulling trucks, and believes that he should only pull coaches. He thinks himself superior to the others, and can be shallow, boastful, naughty, and vain, particularly to those who appeared old-fashioned, weak, slow, or dirty. This has caused him to have somewhat of a rivalry with Toby. 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.

Despite everything else, James has shown a caring side, is normally hard-working, and like everybody else, wants to be responsible, reliable and really useful engine on the Fat Controller's railway.

Livery

James is painted NWR red with black lining and gold stripes. Before arriving on Sodor, he was painted black with red lining.

Appearances

• Season 1 - Thomas and the Ice Cream Delivery, Troublesome Trucks, A Day for Duck, James and the Trouble with Trucks, Henry's Happy Day (cameo), Gordon and the Express Journey, James and the Big Red Balloon, Henry's Sneezes (cameo), Oliver's Mansion Adventure (cameo), and Thomas and the Snow (cameo)
• Season 2 - Thomas and the Mountain (cameo), James' Market Day, Stepney's Journey Out, Henry Helps Out, The Trouble with Trucks (cameo), James, Edward and the Slow Goods Train, Donald and Douglas the Scottish Twins, Edward Saves the Day (not named; does not speak), Neil the New Engine (cameo), A Magical Tale, The Trouble with Trains (does not speak), Buzz Buzz, Bees!, and Thomas and the Snowy Surprise (cameo)
• Season 3 - Cranky the Crane (cameo), Salty the Dockyard Diesel (cameo), Harvey Saves the Day, A Bad Day for Harold (cameo), Elizabeth the Lost Lorry (cameo), The Fogman and the Horn, Peter Sam and the Winter Special (cameo), It's Just Snow, Trouble Twins (cameo), Diesel the World's Strongest Engine (cameo), The Ghost Train (cameo), Percy and the Garden Gnomes (cameo), Stuck in the Middle, Scary Jack Frost, Gordon's Goods Train, Percy's Chocolate Crash, Thomas, Percy and the Squeaky Mouse, Thomas the Jet Rocket Engine, and Edward the Very Reliable Engine (not named; does not speak)
• Season 4 - Emily's Special Surprise (cameo), Percy Saves the Day, Edward's Steam Fair (stock footage cameo), What's the Matter Henry? (cameo), James and the Boiler Burster, Arthur's Spotless Record (cameo), Bulgy Returns, Harold to the Rescue (cameo), The Best Dressed Engine of All, Gordon and Spencer the Fast Engines, Hasty Puddings (cameo), and Thomas' Three Cheers (stock footage cameo)
• Season 5 - Kevin and Cranky (cameo), Scruff's Makeover, Winston the Inspection Car (cameo), Gordon Runs Weak, Calm Caitlin (cameo), Standard Stafford (cameo), Henry and Hiro (cameo), The Lost Puff (cameo), The Thomas Way and the Wrong Way (cameo), The Phantom Train, Too Many Rescue Engines (cameo), Thomas the Lazy Engine (cameo), Santa's Little Engines (cameo), Christmas for the Diesels, The Frozen Tidmouth Turntable, The Afternoon Tea Express (does not speak), The Fishy Kipper, and Thomas Takes a Shortcut (cameo)
• Season 6 - Edward the Old Reliable Engine, Faulty Flatbeds (cameo), Disappear Diesels (cameo), Tram Trains, Toad's Evening Off, Duck Stuck in the Water, Duck and the Coaches, Thomas and the Cable (cameo), Duncan's Grumpy Journey (cameo), Spencer's Important Visitor, Toad's Great Idea, Last Load for Christmas, Duncan's Humbug Christmas (cameo), Reg's Special Present (cameo), Emily Saves the Island, Timothy and the Bumper Cars (cameo), and Samson's Skilful Service
• Season 7 - Where's Geoffrey?, Helpful Hiro (cameo), James Sorts it Out, Percy and the Missing Cargo (stock footage cameo), and James and Flynn
• Skarloey Railway - Puffed Out Engine (does not speak), A Happy Day for Skarloey, Duncan's Delivery, and James Helps Out

He will appear in the eighth season.

Specials:

• Gordon and Spencer: An LNER Rivalry
• Mystery of the Missing
• The Engines Split

James is likely to appear in Oliver's Escape.

Gallery

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Awdry's model of James

James in the first season

James in his black livery in The Adventure Begins

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James' wheels in CGI

James in his red livery in The Adventure Begins