James

James is a mixed-traffic tender engine who worked on the North Western Railway

Biography
James was built in 1912 as a unique, modified design of a Lancashire and Yorkshire Class 28 converted from an 0-6-0 to a 2-6-0. He was originally painted black with red stripes and red lining. He was set to work immediately under the direct controller of regional manager George Hugh. James and George Hugh formed a close bond as James grew older and more experienced. James even took away George and his wife at their wedding.

However, everything changed upon the arrival of nationalization in 1921. The Railways Act was passed and the Lancashire and Yorkshire became part of both the LMS and the LNER. James' region of the line suffered during this transition and the small branchline he worked at was forced to close a mere 3 months after the Railways Act was passed. Not wanting to sell off his best engine for scrap, Mr. Hugh kept James hidden for over four years behind a small station until he could find him a new home.

In 1925, Sir Bertram Topham Hatt was looking for another engine to replace Henry while he was being rebuilt and eventually tackle local mainline passenger and goods services. George Hugh made Sir Topham a deal and James was brought to the railway.

On his first day, James met Thomas, Edward, and Gordon, and had a mishap with some trucks which caused him to derail just before Elsbridge. Thomas rescued him and took him to Crovan's Gate works where he was fitted with proper brakes and repainted a bright red with gold stripes. James became very proud of this new paint and became overconfident. This led to a number of mishaps and incidents that caused him to be shut up in the shed for several days. James eventually proved his worth when he opened up about his past, hauled a long line of freight cars up Gordon's hill all on his own, pulled the express after Gordon had failed, and helped to settle the feud between Gordon and Thomas.

In 1929, James along with Henry and Gordon went on strike after they became increasingly frustrated with the increasing work load and increasing disrespect they felt they were receiving. However, after remembering his past and how he was abandoned for so long, James came to his sense rather quickly and meekly agreed to get back to work with Henry, leaving Gordon on strike all by himself. James also appeared to be very rude to both Percy and Toby upon their arrivals, still establishing himself as superior and more important.

In 1957, James became involved in a confrontation between Duck and Diesel when Diesel spread rumors about Duck. James believed Diesel at first, but then came to realize that Duck hadn't spread any rumors at all. While this was happening, James began to grow a personal vendetta against Edward. This was quickly squashed after Edward rescued him while he was a runaway.

In 1959, James helped execute a plan created by Henry to keep both Donald and Douglas on the railway, which backfired, and he Henry and Douglas were all taken into custody. James was given 8 days of community service for his crime. After being released, he and Douglas made their journey home to Sodor. However, they were infiltrated by Splatter and Dodge. Splatter captured James and brought him back to the works where Thomas, Edward, and Donald were being held. Mr. Hugh eventually found them and brought James back to Crovan's Gate where he convinced Gordon to go after Diesel 10. James took Sir Bertram, Charles, Mr. Hugh, Lowham, and the bodyguards to Patrick Boomer's workshop where he could only listen from the outside of the workshop as Bertram and the bodyguards were killed. After the police arrived, James and Diesel took Henry back to Sodor where they assisted in stopping Diesel 10 from escaping. James later attended Sir Bertram's memorial service at Knapford Station.

Personality
After being given a second chance at life, James the Red Engine is eager to prove himself on the Fat Controller's Railway. James is very prideful and can often times be arrogant, but he knows to never take the good for granted. James cares very deeply for his friends, and has an especially close bond with Henry.

James often times boasts about his paintwork which can get him into trouble. But he ultimately knows that being useful and reliable comes before appearance.

Basis
James is based on a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (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. One Class 27, 52322, survives and is operational at the Ribble Steam Railway.

According to The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, James is an experimental member of the Class 28s; he is fitted with a front pony truck (thus making him a 2-6-0 instead of an 0-6-0), 5'6" driving wheels instead of the class' original 5'1" ones and a Fowler tender. His front sandboxes also appear to be mounted underneath his footplate rather than joined to his leading splashers.

Livery
James is painted in the North Western Railway's red livery with black lining and gold boiler bands. His dome is brass, and his number is painted on the sides of his tender in yellow with black lining.

Season 1

 * Sodor Then and Now 5: Proving Worthy (S1, E5)
 * Sodor Then and Now 6: Little Engines (S1, E6)
 * Sodor Then and Now 7: Old Faithful (S1, E7)
 * Sodor Then and Now 8: The Work Begins (S1, E8)
 * Sodor Then and Now 9: The Caledonian Engines (S1, E9)
 * Sodor Then and Now 10: Boomer's Reign (S1, E10

Trivia

 * GTSH Productions intended to modify the Trackmaster Flip Face James by applying black wheels from the RC James and use the Flip Face James as the official James model. However, the wheels would not fit and the wires on the Flip Face James broke in August of 2018.