| This article is about the magazine story. You may be looking for the episode. |
An Engine of Many Colours is a magazine story, illustrated using images from the television series. It was reprinted in 2024 as part of the "Classic Thomas Story Collection" series, with alterations to the images and text.
Plot[]
James is at the Steamworks waiting to be fixed, having crashed into Tidmouth Sheds. He now needs a complete repaint, but James worries because Sir Topham Hatt had told him that if he misbehaved again, he'd be painted blue. James doesn't want to be blue and imagines himself as a blue engine whom no-one thinks is splendid. Then, James falls asleep and dreams of pulling the express, just like blue Gordon. James is surprised by how easy it is to pull the express with his new blue coat and he goes faster and faster. He goes so fast that he crashes again and wakes up to discover it had all been a dream.
James soon falls back to sleep and, this time, he dreams of being painted green. Being green means pulling Henry's heavy trucks. James is surprised to find the green paint makes the trucks easy to pull. James is so pleased with his strength, he races up Gordon's Hill and past Rosie who warns him to stop showing off. James should have listened to her, because seconds later he crashes again!
James keeps on falling asleep and dreaming of being painted different colours. First he is silver like Spencer, then brown, orange, yellow and even purple. It is all too much for James and he wakes up with a shout.
Sir Topham Hatt comes to see him and, seeing how sorry James is, agrees he can be painted in any colour that suits him best. But James has learned that it doesn't matter what colour you're painted, it's what you do to be really useful that counts. Soon, James is puffing away with his new shiny red paint.
Characters[]
2019[]
- James
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Thomas (speaks in speech bubble only)
- Spencer (does not speak)
- Rosie (cameo)
- Victor (cameo)
- Henry (mentioned)
- Gordon (mentioned)
- Percy (mentioned)
2024[]
Trivia[]
- This story is based on the twenty-second series episode of the same name.
- A reference to the first series episode, James and the Coaches is made by James.
- Unlike the original episode:
- Henry, Gordon and Percy do not appear, though the former two are mentioned in both publications, while the latter is only mentioned in the 2019 publication.
- Rosie does not speak in the 2019 publication.
- Spencer and Victor do not speak. The latter also does not appear in the 2024 reprint.
- Emily, Stanley, Diesel, Philip, Kevin and the Duke and Duchess of Boxford do not appear, nor are they mentioned.
- When republished in 2024, all references to "The Fat Controller" are changed to "Sir Topham Hatt" in accordance with Mattel's latest guidelines.
Gallery[]
2019[]
2024[]