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- "For a while you really were the fastest red engine on Sodor!"
- ― Rosie
The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor is a magazine story illustrated using images from the television series. It was republished in 2023 and then again in 2025 as part of the "Classic Thomas Story Collection" series with a couple of additional images.
Plot[]
One day, James speeds into Knapford Station and stops sharply at the platform. Emily warns him that stopping like that is bad for his brakes, but James says that as the fastest red engine on the island, he sometimes has to brake like that. Just then, Thomas arrives and informs him that Rosie has just been repainted bright red just like James.
James is very annoyed to discover there's another engine painted just like him and even more annoyed when his next job is to pull Troublesome Trucks. As he takes his trucks to their destination, James comes across Rosie and challenges her to a race. Rosie thinks it sounds like great fun, but James doesn't want to have fun; he just wants to win and he speeds away. As they approach a red signal, Rosie manages to stop in plenty of time. James, on the other hand, only just manages to stop in time and his brakes make a terrible noise. Rosie tells James to go to the Steamworks.
On his way to be checked over, James decides that it was all the Troublesome Trucks' fault and his brakes do not need fixing. But what he doesn't know is that he's leaking brake fluid. James soon forgets about his brakes and is speeding on his way again. Then, there is trouble; his brakes fail completely and James zooms through stations and only comes to a stop when he crashes through the back of Tidmouth Sheds.
The Fat Controller and Rosie soon arrive and the Fat Controller is furious. He tells James he should have had his brakes looked at when there was only a small problem with them. James says sorry and that he should have known another red engine would give sound advice. Rosie tells James that he really was the fastest red engine on Sodor that day.
Characters[]
- James
- Emily
- Rosie
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Thomas (mentioned)
- Troublesome Trucks (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- This story is based on the twenty-first series episode of the same name.
- Unlike the original episode, Thomas, Henry, Toby, Victor and Kevin do not appear, although the former is mentioned.
- When republished in 2023, all references to "the Fat Controller" are changed to "Sir Topham Hatt" in line with Mattel's latest guidelines.
Gallery[]
2020[]
2023[]
2025[]
