James

"I am a splendid engine, ready for anything. You never see my paint dirty."

- James, Dirty Objects

    James    James is a vain, red, mixed-traffic engine.
 * Number: 5
 * Class: L&YR Hughes Class 28 2-6-0 hybrid with Fowler tender
 * Designer: George Hughes
 * Builder: Horwich Works
 * Built: 1912/1913
 * Configuration: 2-6-0, originally 0-6-0
 * Arrived on Sodor: 1923

Bio
James was designed by George Hughes and built at Horwich Works in 1912/13 as an 0-6-0 with wooden brakes. Sometime after his build, but before going to Sodor, James was experimentally rebuilt with a pony truck, making him a 2-6-0. In 1923, James was sold to Sir Topham Hatt for mixed traffic duties. After his first accident, he had his front sandboxes removed, was rebuilt with proper brakes and a Fowler tender (due to his old tender being badly wrecked from the crash), and repainted red with gold stripes and black lining. He was troublesome when he returned, ruining Sir Topham Hatt's new top-hat with his steam and jarring his coaches so much that a brake pipe leaked. He was threatened to be painted blue (which James detests), but later promised to be useful again and made the line's worst trucks behave after being given a second chance. He also pulled the express for Gordon when the latter was switched off the main line, and went on strike along with Gordon and Henry. He later made rude remarks about Henry when he was using special coal, called Toby and Henrietta 'dirty objects', and subsequently got into an accident with some tar wagons.

James was of the opinion that he would pull the Royal Train, much to the skepticism of the others due to the time he became stuck on Gordon's Hill. Later, James became a runaway when two naughty boys fiddled with his controls, and was rescued by Edward. He and Gordon played a joke on Percy by convincing him of the existence of backing signals. Upon Duck's arrival, Percy and the newcomer blocked James and the other big engines out of the shed as revenge for teasing them. When Diesel arrived on trial, James earned the nickname "Rusty Red Scrap-Iron". James, like the other two, were turned against Duck, but were sorry after receiving proof of his innocence.

In the seventeenth season, he teased Scruff, scared Percy and Stephen, and was challenged by Henry to pull "The Flying Kipper" after he accused Percy of being scared of the dark. He also slept at the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre when the turntable at Tidmouth Sheds froze.

In the eighteenth season, James used Toad as his brakevan when taking some coal trucks. He began to go fast and hit a branch on Gordon's Hill, which jolted loose the coupling between him and his trucks, causing a runaway. He and Rocky later rescued Duck from some flooded track, but due to James refusing to let Rocky's crane arm being secured down, Rocky knocked a signal over. Later, when Duck told the other engines about slip coaches, James claimed the idea as his own, but did not know how to use slip coaches, causing a collision.

Persona
James is very proud of his splendid red paintwork. He hates pulling trucks, and believes that he should only pull coaches. He thinks himself superior to the others, and can be shallow, boastful, and vain, particularly to those who appear 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.

James was the last engine to retain a prejudice against Diesels. However, after stalling on a cold day, he was rescued by the Works Diesel, and James had to admit that nothing was wrong with Diesels. This appears to be one of the few lessons that has stuck.

The television series has remained fairly loyal to James' original personality.

Basis
In The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, it is stated that James is based on a Class 28 locomotive from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Works, itself a development of the Class 27. The Class 28 engines were designed by George Hughes, and had Belpaire fireboxes, a Schmidt superheater, and an extended footplate and sandbox.

Sodor "historian" Martin Clutterbuck has pointed out that James strongly resembles an G&SWR "Austrian Goods" 2-6-0 from the Glasgow and South Western Railway, but with the addition of a Belpaire firebox. At any rate, the Reverend W. Awdry used an engine of this class to represent James on his model railway. It is possible that he rejected this prototype for James' official "biography" on the grounds that an English locomotive would be more likely to end up on Sodor.

Livery
James was originally painted black with red lining before his accident and was given his red coat with yellow stripes and black lining to cheer him up. Sometime during the 1960s, James' black lining was repainted blue and gold. James has the number "5" painted in bright yellow with a blue border on his tender sides.

In the television series, James has always been red with gold stripes and black lining, except in the tenth season episode The Green Controller, when he was painted yellow and black, like a bumblebee, on Percy's orders. Then, in the thirteenth season episode, Tickled Pink, James was painted in a pink undercoat.

In the Railway Series, he carries two builder's plates on the sides of his cab.

James' twins
The Mid-Hants Railway repainted a Southern Railway N Class 2-6-0, No.31874, into the livery of James. The engine retained this colour scheme for many years, and participated in the Railway Series Golden Jubilee celebrations at the National Railway Museum. However, following the withdraw of the N Class in 1998, the Mid-Hants Railway quickly repainted its cousin-engine, a Southern Railway U Class 2-6-0, No.31625, into James for the 1999 season. After the withdraw of the U Class, the N Class reprised its role as James, only wearing a face during Thomas events. However, due to the fact that both of these engines are privately owned, they will be leaving the Mid-Hants Railway in 2014. For the Mid-Hants Railway's "Steam Railway" supported gala in September 2012, it was decided to repaint N Class No. 31874 in wartime black to carry its Southern identity No. 1874; this means that James will no longer appear at the Thomas events at the Watercress Line.

However, the repainting of the engine created a stir among railway enthusiasts, who felt that it was wrong to paint a historic main line locomotive in such a garish livery. Nevertheless, the locomotive was popular with the railway's younger visitors.

On the East Lancashire Railway, the unrestored LMS 2MT 2-6-0 No. 46428 has been painted as James, although his face only appears during Day Out with Thomas events.

James on the big screen
James is voiced by Susan Roman in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. In the movie, James was present when Diesel 10 first arrived at Tidmouth Sheds. He also was at the Smelter's Yard when Diesel 10 arrived with Junior. He almost gets thrown into the melting pit by Diesel 10, but luckily Junior uses his gold dust to magic them to near the magic buffers, where Mr. Conductor is waiting.

Appearances
{{Scroll box||content = ===Railway Series===
 * Thomas the Tank Engine
 * James the Red Engine
 * Tank Engine Thomas Again (mentioned)
 * Troublesome Engines
 * Henry the Green Engine
 * Toby the Tram Engine
 * Gordon the Big Engine
 * Edward the Blue Engine
 * Four Little Engines (mentioned)
 * Percy the Small Engine
 * The Eight Famous Engines
 * Duck and the Diesel Engine
 * The Little Old Engine
 * The Twin Engines
 * Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine
 * Main Line Engines
 * Small Railway Engines (mentioned)
 * Enterprising Engines
 * Oliver the Western Engine
 * Duke the Lost Engine (cameo)
 * James and the Diesel Engines
 * Great Little Engines (mentioned)
 * More About Thomas the Tank Engine
 * Gordon the High-Speed Engine
 * Thomas and the Twins (cameo)
 * Thomas and the Great Railway Show
 * Henry and the Express
 * Wilbert the Forest Engine
 * Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines
 * Thomas and his Friends

Television series

 * Season 1 - Thomas and Gordon (cameo), Edward and Gordon (cameo), The Sad Story of Henry (cameo), Edward, Gordon and Henry (cameo), Thomas' Train (cameo), Thomas and the Trucks (cameo), Thomas and the Breakdown Train, James and the Coaches, Troublesome Trucks, James and the Express, Thomas Goes Fishing, Tenders and Turntables, Trouble in the Shed (does not speak), Percy Runs Away, Coal, The Flying Kipper (cameo), Whistles and Sneezes (cameo), Thomas in Trouble (cameo), Dirty Objects, Off the Rails (does not speak), and Thomas' Christmas Party
 * Season 2 - Cows (cameo), Saved from Scrap (cameo), Old Iron, Percy and the Signal, Duck Takes Charge, The Runaway (cameo), Pop Goes the Diesel, Dirty Work, A Close Shave (does not speak), Better Late Than Never, Break Van, The Deputation, Edward's Exploit, and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree (cameo)
 * Season 3 - A Scarf for Percy, Percy's Promise (cameo), Time for Trouble, Gordon and the Famous Visitor (cameo), Donald's Duck (cameo), Thomas Gets Bumped (does not speak), Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, Diesel Does it Again (cameo), Henry's Forest, The Trouble with Mud, No Joke for James, Trust Thomas, Buzz, Buzz, Tender Engines, Escape, Oliver Owns Up, Bulgy (cameo), Percy, James and the Fruitful Day, and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure (cameo)
 * Season 4 - Sleeping Beauty, Bulldog, Four Little Engines (does not speak), Rock 'n' Roll, Steam Roller (cameo), Gallant Old Engine (cameo), Thomas and Stepney (cameo), Train Stops Play (cameo), Bowled Out, Henry and the Elephant, Toad Stands By (cameo), Bulls Eyes (cameo), Thomas and the Special Letter (does not speak), Paint Pots and Queens, Fish (cameo), and Mind that Bike (cameo)
 * Season 5 - Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry, A Better View for Gordon, Lady Hatt's Birthday Party (cameo), James and the Trouble with Trees, Gordon and the Gremlin, Baa! (cameo), Put Upon Percy (cameo), Haunted Henry (cameo), Something in the Air (cameo), Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach, Thomas and the Rumours, Oliver's Find (cameo), Happy Ever After (cameo), Make Someone Happy, and Busy Going Backwards
 * Season 6 - No Sleep for Cranky (cameo), Salty's Secret (cameo), Harvey to the Rescue, A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter (cameo), Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry (cameo), The Fogman, It's Only Snow, Twin Trouble (cameo), The World's Strongest Engine (cameo), Scaredy Engines (cameo), Percy and the Haunted Mine (cameo), Middle Engine, James and the Red Balloon, Jack Frost, Gordon Takes a Tumble, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, Thomas, Percy and the Squeak, Thomas the Jet Engine, and Edward the Very Useful Engine (cameo)
 * Season 7 - Emily's New Coaches (cameo), Percy Gets it Right, Edward's Brass Band (cameo), What's the Matter with Henry? (cameo), James and the Queen of Sodor, The Spotless Record (cameo), Bulgy Rides Again, Harold and the Flying Horse (cameo), Best Dressed Engine, Gordon and Spencer, Not So Hasty Puddings (cameo), and Three Cheers for Thomas (cameo)
 * Season 8 - Thomas and the Tuba (does not speak), Percy's New Whistle (cameo), Thomas to the Rescue (cameo), James Gets a New Coat, Thomas Saves the Day, Percy's Big Mistake (cameo), Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough (cameo), Don't Tell Thomas, Emily's New Route, Thomas and the Firework Display, Gordon Takes Charge (does not speak), Spic and Span, Edward the Great, Thomas and the Circus, Thomas Gets It Right, As Good as Gordon, Halloween (cameo), Too Hot for Thomas, James Goes Too Far, and Percy and the Magic Carpet
 * Season 9 - Percy and the Oil Painting (cameo), Thomas and the Rainbow (does not speak), Molly's Special Special (cameo), Thomas' Milkshake Muddle (cameo), Thomas and the Toy Shop (cameo), Respect for Gordon, Thomas and the Birthday Picnic (cameo), Thomas and the New Engine, Toby Feels Left Out, Thomas Tries His Best, Thomas and the Statue, Thomas' Day Off (cameo), Thomas' New Trucks, Saving Edward (cameo), Thomas and the Golden Eagle (cameo), Keeping up with James, and Flour Power (cameo)
 * Season 10 - Follow that Flour, Thomas and the Jet Plane (cameo), Percy and the Funfair, The Green Controller, Thomas' Tricky Tree (cameo), It's Good to be Gordon (cameo), Seeing the Sights (cameo), Toby's New Shed (cameo), Topped Off Thomas (cameo), Thomas and the Shooting Star, Big Strong Henry (cameo), Wharf and Peace, Thomas' Frosty Friend, Thomas and the Colours, Duncan's Bluff, Thomas and the Treasure, and James the Second Best
 * Season 11 - Thomas and the Storyteller, Emily's Rubbish, Dream On (cameo), Dirty Work, Hector the Horrid, Gordon and the Engineer (cameo), Thomas and the Spaceship (cameo), Henry's Lucky Day, Thomas and the Lighthouse, Thomas and the Big Bang (does not speak), Thomas Sets Sail, Don't be Silly, Billy (cameo), Edward and the Mail (cameo), Hide and Peep (cameo), Toby's Triumph (cameo), Thomas and the Runaway Car (cameo), Thomas in Trouble, Thomas and the Stinky Cheese, Sir Handel in Charge, and Ding-a-Ling
 * Season 12 - Thomas and the Billboard, Heave Ho Thomas! (cameo), James Works It Out, Tram Trouble (cameo), and Percy and the Bandstand (cameo)
 * Season 13 - Creaky Cranky, The Lion of Sodor, Tickled Pink, Double Trouble (cameo), Slippy Sodor, The Early Bird, Play Time (does not speak), Thomas and the Pigs, Percy's Parcel, Toby's New Whistle, A Blooming Mess, Thomas and the Runaway Kite (cameo), Steamy Sodor, Splish, Splash, Splosh!, The Biggest Present of All (does not speak), Snow Tracks (cameo), Henry's Good Deeds (cameo), Buzzy Bees (cameo), and Hiro Helps Out (cameo)
 * Season 14 - Thomas' Tall Friend (cameo), James in the Dark, Pingy Pongy Pick Up, Charlie and Eddie (cameo), Toby and the Whistling Woods, Henry's Health and Safety (cameo), Diesel's Special Delivery, Pop Goes Thomas, Being Percy, Merry Winter Wish, Thomas and the Snowman Party, Thomas' Crazy Day (cameo), Jumping Jobi Wood!, Thomas and Scruff (cameo), O the Indignity, Jitters and Japes (cameo), and Henry's Magic Box
 * Season 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand (cameo), Edward the Hero (cameo), James to the Rescue, Happy Hiro (cameo), Up, Up and Away! (cameo), Henry's Happy Coal (cameo), Let it Snow (cameo), Surprise, Surprise (cameo), Spencer the Grand (cameo), Stuck on You, Kevin the Steamie (cameo), Wonky Whistle (cameo), Percy the Snowman (cameo), Tree Trouble (cameo), and Fiery Flynn (cameo)
 * Season 16 - Race to the Rescue (cameo), Express Coming Through (cameo), Percy and the Monster of Brendam (cameo), Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train (cameo), Thomas Toots the Crows (cameo), Bust My Buffers! (cameo), Percy and the Calliope (cameo), Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor, Salty's Surprise (cameo), Sodor Surprise Day (cameo), Muddy Matters, Whiff's Wish (does not speak), and Happy Birthday Sir! (cameo)
 * Season 17 - Kevin's Cranky Friend (cameo), Scruff's Makeover, Wayward Winston (cameo), Gordon Runs Dry, Calm Down Caitlin (cameo), Steamie Stafford (cameo), The Lost Puff (cameo), The Thomas Way (cameo), The Phantom Express, Too Many Fire Engines (cameo), The Missing Christmas Decorations, The Frozen Turntable, The Afternoon Tea Express (does not speak), The Smelly Kipper, and Thomas' Shortcut (cameo)
 * Season 18 - Old Reliable Edward, Flatbeds of Fear (cameo), Disappearing Diesels (cameo), Signals Crossed, Toad's Adventure, Duck in the Water, Duck and the Slip Coaches, Thomas and the Emergency Cable (cameo), Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger (cameo), Spencer's VIP, and Toad's Bright Idea
 * Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - A Tale for Thomas (cameo) and Mud, Glorious Mud (cameo)

Special:
 * Thomas and the U.K. Trip
 * Thomas and the Magic Railroad
 * Calling All Engines!
 * The Great Discovery
 * Hero of the Rails
 * Misty Island Rescue
 * Day of the Diesels
 * Blue Mountain Mystery
 * King of the Railway
 * Tale of the Brave

Magazine stories

 * 1987 - Edward and Gordon (cameo), Thomas and the Trucks (cameo), Thomas and the Breakdown Train, and James and the Coaches
 * 1988 - James and the Troublesome Trucks, James and the Express, Thomas and the Horse, Tenders and Turntables, Trouble in the Shed (does not speak), Percy Runs Away, James and the Tar Wagons, Old Iron, Percy and the Signal, Percy Gets Jammed, Thomas' Present, The Train Spotters (mentioned), Edward's Exploits, and Duck Takes Charge
 * 1989 - Gordon's Express, In a Sulk, Diesel's Christmas, The Party (does not speak), A Second Chance, and An Important Visitor
 * 1990 - Rumours and Speculation, Edward and the Express (does not speak), Timetable Trouble, The Backlog, Percy and the Dragon, and Trouble on the Track
 * 1991 - Duck's Service, Gordon Forgets, and Daisy in Distress
 * 1992 - James's Task and Henry and the Holidaymakers!
 * 1993 - Trevor to the Rescue!, Percy and the Parrot!, Roof Repairs!, The Wedding Engine! (cameo), The Viaduct!, and First with the Food! (mentioned)
 * 1994 - The New Station and Thomas Keeps a Secret!
 * 1995 - Keeping Clean!, The Engine Parade!, Thomas's Bell!, and A Desk for Daisy!
 * 1996 - Proud Mavis!, Gordon's Spots!, Going Slowly!, Too Tired!, The Little Line, The Trouble With Mud!, Lost Property! (does not speak), and Percy's Squeak! (cameo)
 * 1997 - Henry's Busy Day (does not speak), Henry's Hills, Henry, and James
 * 1998 - The Exhibition! (does not speak), Billy's Bones! (cameo), James Breaks the Rules, James' Hotel!, The Easter Cake! (cameo), and Christmas Crisis (does not speak)
 * 2000 - The End of the Rainbow!, and Harold's View
 * 2001 - False Alarm, Diesel Day!, and Choc-o-BoCo! (cameo)
 * 2002 - The Winning Shot (cameo), James and the Bees, and Big Ideas!
 * 2003 - New Year Cheer!, Feeling Fine, Tour of Sodor, Crane Strain! (does not speak), Books Aboard!, The Boatshow, Super Heroes! (cameo), A Foggy Friend (cameo), Harold's Bad Day (cameo), and The Most Beautiful Station (cameo)
 * 2004 - Rocket Power, Scrapes and Spills, Thank You, Thomas!, James and the Red Balloon, Scary Jack Frost, James' New Coat, Peep! Peep! Moo! Moo!, Holiday Hat, Daisy's Delight, Thomas Gets It Right, Percy to the Rescue (cameo), Harold's Bad Day (cameo), Sky Shapes, Place to Play, Toby's Troubles!, Edward to the Rescue! (cameo), Dirty Percy!, Emily's Day Out, It's Only Snow! (cameo), and The River Race
 * 2005 - King Thomas, What's Cooking?, Winter Watch, Percy and the Magic Carpet (cameo), Emily's New Route, Three Kings, Spick and Span, Really Useful Colours, and George's Little Joke
 * 2006 - Justice for James, Fun and James, Saving Edward (cameo), and Thomas, Emily, and the Snowplow (cameo)
 * 2007 - A Job for James, The Santa Engine, Ding-a-Ling!, The Best Smile (does not speak), Autumn Leaves (cameo), Surprise Visitor (cameo), and Wheely Useful
 * 2008 - Snow Trouble! (cameo), Track Race, Being Bright (cameo), and Thomas and the Lighthouse! (does not speak)
 * 2009 - New Delivery and Thomas Saves the Day (does not speak)
 * 2010 - Diesel's Special Delivery (does not speak), Magpie Mavis (does not speak), The Best Present of All (cameo), Early Bird (speaks in speech bubble only), Bubble Trouble, Christmas Dinner Diner, Big Ideas, Proud Puffers, Creaky Cranky (does not speak), Misty Island Rescue (cameo), Pulling the Post (cameo), Emily's Lucky Day (does not speak), Snow Tracks, A Blooming Mess, Thomas and the Rainbow! (does not speak), Perfect Plough (speaks in speech bubble only), and Percy and the Magic Carpet (cameo)
 * 2011 - Off Colour, Being Percy (cameo), Steam on Stamps, Smiles All Round, Misty Island Rescue (cameo), Ready, Jet Set, Go! (cameo), Watch the Clock, Really Red, The Flying Teapot (does not speak), Tickled Pink, Winter Wish (does not speak), Making Annie Smile, Steamy Sodor (does not speak), Snow Tracks (cameo), Party Time, Mirror, Mirror, Heave Ho Thomas! (cameo), Ready, Jet Set, Go! (cameo), Scrubbed Up, and Animal Adventure
 * 2012 - Clever James, Rescue Team, Tender Trouble, Paint for Percy (does not speak), Thomas and the Pigs, Museum Mayhem (possible cameo; may be seen as model only), Early Bird (mentioned), The Railway Show (does not speak), The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 643), Team Spirit Time!, Message Mix-Up!, Clock Countdown (cameo), Thomas and the Sound of Sodor (does not speak), and Keeping up with James
 * 2013 - Muddy Matters, Flash! Crash! Wallop! (does not speak), Hover Bother!, Being Percy (cameo), James and the Giant Animals, Henrietta's Holiday (mentioned), Thomas the Spotter, Gordon Runs Dry (speaks in speech bubble only), The Railway Rink (cameo), and New Year Party (cameo)
 * 2014 - Engine Trouble, The Royal Carriage, Muddy Matters, Fever!, Henry's Forest, and Henry's Hero (cameo)

James also appeared in the magazine stories, 'Smile, Please!', A Colourful Christmas, A Frog in his Throat!, A Job for James, A Long Way Up!, A Special Story about Steam, April Fools, Back-to-Front, Bricks and Tunnels, Bill and Ben's Trick, Building Blues!, Clever Climbers!, Coal Weather, Colour Quarrel!, Creaky Cranky, Daisy's Day, Daisy in Distress, Diesel's Drums, Diesel's Nasty Turn, Doctors and Nurses, Donald and Douglas, Duck and Diesel, Fast Food!, Favourite Journey, Fish and Fog!, Fishy Business, Fishy Diesel!, Flying James, Glider Rider, Gordon's Surprise, Gordon the Town Engine, Harvest, Harvey to the Rescue!, Henry's Forest, Jack Frost, James and Edward, James and the Cheese, Lazy Wheels, Leaves on the Line, Looking Splendid, Lost and Found, Luggage, Missing Murdoch, Night Work, Oliver's Mistake, Party Time!, Percy's House, Percy's Plight, Percy's Spooky Tooth, Picture Posters, Puzzles, Railway Open Day, Really Useful Edward, Rude James, Rushing Around, Scaredy Puffer!, Sea Sick, Seeing Steam, Ship Ahoy!, Size Wise, Sodor's Strong Man, Sodor Goes Pop, Special Passengers, Special Treats, Stick with Steam, Taking Off!, The Best Band, The Best Engine, The Big Wheel, The Brown Bear, The Cat Controller!, The Flower Dome, The Flower Train, The Flyover!, The Haunted Mine, The Milk Train, The Smartest Engine, The Smugglers, The Tiny Engine, The Train Trolley, and The Very Important Job. }}

Voice Actors

 * Michael Angelis (Thomas and the Magic Railroad; original workprints only)
 * Susan Roman (Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
 * Keith Wickham (UK; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Kerry Shale (US; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Fabrice Trojani (France; eighth season onwards)
 * Katsuji Mori (Japan; first - eighth seasons)
 * Masashi Ebara (Japan; Calling All Engines! onwards)
 * Helge Winther Larsen (Norway; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Simone Crisari (Italy)
 * Mario Castañeda (Mexico; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Tobias Schmidt (Germany)
 * Waldemar Barwiński (Poland; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Jeremy Luton (The Netherlands)

Trivia

 * A large-scale working replica of James, along with replicas of Thomas, Percy, Harold, and Jack, was created by BBC Visual Effects for a tour in 2003. The battery powered locomotive is listed in the 2004 Guinness Book of Records as the largest model railway engine ever built, at 2.64 x 1.5 x 6.52 metres.
 * In Toby's New Whistle, James revealed that he once had a three-chimed whistle.
 * Michael Angelis originally voiced James in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, but he was cut from the movie and was replaced by Susan Roman.
 * In the Railway Series, James' whistle is located behind his safety valve; in the television series it is on his roof.
 * After Thomas and the Magic Railroad, James' safety valve and bufferbeam rivets disappeared.
 * In the Railway Series and television series combined, James has been painted more colours than any other engine.
 * in the Seventeenth season, James gained a permanent lamp.
 * From the Eighteenth season onwards, James' tender has a tail lamp on the back.
 * In the twelfth season, James was missing his signature crow's feet.
 * From the third season onwards, but excluding the fifth, James' brake pipe faces downwards.
 * From the twelfth season onwards, James has thicker eyebrows.
 * Since the CGI switchover, James appears to be taller than the other engines and his television series model.
 * Two of James' models are currently on display; one at Nitrogen Studios, another at Japan.
 * In an interview with SiF, Andrew Brenner stated James was one of his favourite characters, along with Toby, Bill, and Ben.
 * In the fourth season and some of the fifth, James' whistle sound was Duck's higher pitched.

Quotes

 * "If you can't behave, I shall take away your red coat and have you painted blue!"
 * James didn't like that at all. He was very rough with the grumbling coaches as he brought them to the platform.
 * "Gordon never has to fetch his own coaches, and he's only painted blue!"
 * To make James even more cross, this time no one came near him.
 * "I'll show them! They think Gordon is the only engine who can pull coaches!"

- Sir Topham Hatt threatening to repaint James blue, "James and the Coaches."


 * At last, Toby lost patience.
 * "James," he asked, "why are you red?"
 * "I am a splendid engine," answered James loftily, "ready for anything. You never see my paint dirty."
 * "Oh!" said Toby innocently, "that's why you once needed bootlaces; to be ready, I suppose."

- A conversation between Toby and James, "Dirty Objects."


 * "Any wan wad think," said Douglas, "that Donal' had his accident on purrpose. I heard tell," he went on, "aboot an engine an' some tar wagons."
 * Gordon and Henry chuckled.
 * "Shut up!" said James. "It's not funny."

- Douglas ribbing James, "Breakvan."


 * "You know little Toby," he said one day. "I'am an important engine now, everybody knows it. They come in crowds just to see me flash by. The heaviest train makes no difference. I'am as regular as clock work, they all set their watches by me. Never late always on time, that's me!"
 * "Say's you!" replied Toby cheekily.

- James boasting about himself to Toby, "Double Header."

Merchandise

 * ERTL (normal, metallic, and Gold Rail; discontinued)
 * Wooden Railway (several versions, some discontinued)
 * Take-Along (normal, metallic, Buzz Buzz, and lights and sounds; discontinued)
 * My First Thomas (normal and talking)
 * Motor Road and Rail (normal, talking, and "Busy Bee" livery; discontinued outside Asia)
 * TrackMaster (normal, greatest moments, talking, flip face, RC, and "Busy Bee" livery)
 * Hornby (discontinued)
 * Bachmann (HO and large scale)
 * Lionel (G scale (discontinued) and O gauge)
 * Tomix
 * My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
 * Bandai (several versions; discontinued)
 * Take-n-Play (normal, talking, and pull back)
 * De Agostini (discontinued)
 * Trading Cards
 * Tomica
 * Wind-up (normal, metallic, Buzz Buzz, bee livery, and football team colours)
 * Brio (discontinued)
 * Pez
 * LEGO (discontinued)
 * Mega Bloks
 * Around Town with Thomas
 * Discover Junction
 * Diablock
 * Collectible Railway
 * Motorized Railway
 * Push Along
 * Aquadraw
 * Pullback Racers
 * Micro Rubber Engines
 * Pico Pico