James the Red Engine


 * “I'm James, the splendid engine!”
 * ―James to Geroge

James is a mixed-traffic tender engine who works on the North Western Railway, usually working along the Main Line. He is a rather vain engine, and quite spiteful. He is a supporting character in the sudrian chronicles franchise.

Origins
On James' 1st day, Thomas is shunting when some trucks push James across the Island and into a field. Thomas comes to his rescue with the Breakdown Train and is rewarded with two coaches and his own branch line.

Near Death
James almost has an accident, and almost explodes! But Thomas interviens, and Ferdiand gets killed instead. When Thomas is elected Controller,

Planning Against Thomas
James took part in a plot to stop Thomas from going to far with his new found power.

Race Against Thomas
James asks Thomas if he want's to have a race. Thomas agrees, and says he'll do if it gets him off of his lazy tender. Thomas is shoked when there are more Engines (including Eagle) taking part in the race.

Encounter with George
One day in the sheds, James was trying to get a fly away from him. George approached him, and asked who he is. James introduced himself, and said that he assumed the steam roller was George. George responded that he was, and James asked why he was back. George responded that he wasn't working for the Fat Controller, he was working with P.T Boomer. James told George that Boomer was a criminal, but George didn't listen. James became sad that he was alone, but Duck came out and scarred James.

Neglected by Thomas
James (along with Percy) was neglected by Thomas because he spent all of his time with Nick.

the 2 engines then make a bond and start to talk to each other more, and get taken hostage by Jacob Smith in the climax of the movie, but the Fat Controller and Thomas save them and defeat Jacob Smith.

Reducing Thomas' Work
When Thomas could only go under 20 miles an hour, Gordon and James became worried about him. They decided that they would shunt their own coaches as they were heavier than trucks. Thomas later caught them, and angrily confronted them. Thomas was understandably upset, and had a collided with Gordon when both of them started to leave.

James' Basis
James is based on the L&YR Class 28, a class of 0-6-0 mixed-traffic tender locomotive designed by George Hughes for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway and built by Horwich Works between 1909 and 1912. It was a rebuild of Aspinall's Class 27, with the addition of a Belpaire firebox, a Schmidt/"twin-plug" superheater and the extension of the footplate and front sandboxes.

Trivia

 * James is named after James Furze, a friend of Edmund Ward's son.
 * James was voiced by PercyFan 6, who also voiced Henry and Thomas.