James the Red Engine: Difference between revisions
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{{Pp-pc}}{{short description|Fictional steam locomotive}} | {{Pp-pc}}{{short description|Fictional steam locomotive}} | ||
{{Multiple issues| | {{Multiple issues| | ||
{{More citations needed|date=December 2022}} | {{More citations needed|date=December 2022}} | ||
{{Original research|date=October 2024}} | {{Original research|date=October 2024}} | ||
{{unreliable sources|date=August 2025}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{Infobox character | {{Infobox character | ||
| name = James the Red Engine | | name = James the Red Engine | ||
| franchise = ''[[The Railway Series]]'' and ''[[Thomas & Friends (franchise)|Thomas & Friends]]'' | | franchise = ''[[The Railway Series]]'' and ''[[Thomas & Friends (franchise)|Thomas & Friends]]'' | ||
| image = Thomas and Friends James.jpg | | image = Thomas and Friends James.jpg | ||
| alt = | | alt = A red standard-gauge mixed-traffic steam locomotive with a grey face on his smokebox door. A yellow number 5 is painted on the coal tender. | ||
| caption = | | caption = Model used in series 8-11 of the television series | ||
| first = ''[[List of Railway Series books#Thomas the Tank Engine|Thomas the Tank Engine]]'' (1946) | | first = ''[[List of Railway Series books#Thomas the Tank Engine|Thomas the Tank Engine]]'' (1946) | ||
| creator = [[Wilbert Awdry]] | | creator = [[Wilbert Awdry]] | ||
| designer = [[George Hughes (engineer)|George Hughes]] (in universe)<br />Reginald Payne | | designer = [[George Hughes (engineer)|George Hughes]] (in-universe)<br />Reginald Payne | ||
| voice = {{collapsible list|title=[[British English|British]]|[[Keith Wickham]] (2009–2017)|[[Rob Rackstraw]] (2017–2021)|Luke Marty (2021–2022)|Tom Dussek (2022–2025)}} | | voice = {{collapsible list|title=[[British English|British]]|[[Keith Wickham]] (2009–2017)|[[Rob Rackstraw]] (2017–2021)|Luke Marty (2021–2022)|Tom Dussek (2022–2025)}} | ||
{{collapsible list|title=[[American English|American]]|[[Kerry Shale]] (2009–2015)|Rob Rackstraw (2015–2021)|Luke Marty (2021–2025)}} | {{collapsible list|title=[[American English|American]]|[[Kerry Shale]] (2009–2015)|Rob Rackstraw (2015–2021)|Luke Marty (2021–2025)}} | ||
{{collapsible list|title=Other|[[Susan Roman]] (''[[Thomas and the Magic Railroad]]'')|[[Michael Angelis]] (original [[workprint]])}} | {{collapsible list|title=Other|[[Susan Roman]] (''[[Thomas and the Magic Railroad]]'')|[[Michael Angelis]]|Adrian Egan|[[Edward Glen]]|Phil Fehrle|[[Neil Crone]] (original [[workprint|workprints]])}} | ||
| species = [[Steam locomotive]] | | species = [[Steam locomotive]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''James the Red Engine''' is a [[fiction]]al character from ''[[ | '''James the Red Engine''' is a [[fiction]]al character from the British children's books, ''[[The Railway Series]]'', created by [[Wilbert Awdry]]. He is an [[anthropomorphic]] [[tender locomotive]], and is the number 5 engine on the [[North Western Railway (fictional)|North Western Railway]], [[the Fat Controller]]'s railway on the [[Sodor (fictional island)|Island of Sodor]], along with [[Thomas the Tank Engine]]. He also appears in the television adaptation ''[[Thomas & Friends]]'', and other media in the [[Thomas & Friends (franchise)|franchise]]. | ||
James debuted in the 1946 book ''Thomas the Tank Engine''. Two books in the series, ''James the Red Engine'' and ''James and the Diesel Engines'', are dedicated to James. | James debuted in the 1946 book ''Thomas the Tank Engine''. Two books in the series, ''James the Red Engine'' and ''James and the Diesel Engines'', are dedicated to James. | ||
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==Prototype and background== | ==Prototype and background== | ||
[[Image:Thornhill geograph-2804211-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|left|150px|James' basis, an L&YR Class 28 in 1953]] | [[Image:Thornhill geograph-2804211-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg|thumb|left|150px|James' basis, an L&YR Class 28 in 1953]] | ||
James first appeared in ''[[The Railway Series]]'' in the 1946 book ''Thomas the Tank Engine''. He was named after James Furze, a friend of the publisher's son. He was originally painted black. At the request of the publishers, Awdry dedicated ''[[List of Railway Series books#James the Red Engine|James the Red Engine]]'' to the character. James was painted red in this and subsequent books. | James first appeared in ''[[The Railway Series]]'' in the 1946 book ''Thomas the Tank Engine''. He was named after James Furze, a friend of the publisher's son. He was originally painted black. At the request of the publishers, Awdry dedicated ''[[List of Railway Series books#James the Red Engine|James the Red Engine]]'' to the character. James was painted red in this and subsequent books.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}} | ||
<!--There's plenty more about James' own book in "The Thomas the Tank Engine Man"--> | <!--There's plenty more about James' own book in "The Thomas the Tank Engine Man"--> | ||
James is based on the [[L&YR Class 28]], an {{whyte|0-6-0}} mixed-traffic tender engine designed by [[George Hughes (engineer)|George Hughes]] and based on the earlier [[L&YR Class 27]] designed by [[John Aspinall (engineer)|John Aspinall]]. According to Awdry, the Class 28s were powerful engines but had a tendency to be nose-heavy, especially when used as relief engines on excursion trains and driven at speed.<ref name=IoSPHR>{{cite book | James is based on the [[L&YR Class 28]], an {{whyte|0-6-0}} mixed-traffic tender engine designed by [[George Hughes (engineer)|George Hughes]] and based on the earlier [[L&YR Class 27]] designed by [[John Aspinall (engineer)|John Aspinall]]. According to Awdry, the Class 28s were powerful engines but had a tendency to be nose-heavy, especially when used as relief engines on excursion trains and driven at speed.<ref name=IoSPHR>{{cite book | last = The Rev. W. Awdry | author-link = Wilbert Awdry | author2 = G. Awdry | title = ''[[List of Railway Series Books#The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways|The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways]]'' | publisher = Kaye & Ward | year = 1987 | pages = 129–30 | isbn = 0-434-92762-7 }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2025}} In the book ''[[List of Railway Series Books#The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways|The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways]]'', Awdry gave a fictional history of the engine. James was built by Hughes as an experiment to see if the nose-heaviness could be counteracted. The locomotive was fitted with larger {{convert|5|ft|6|in}} driving wheels and a [[pony truck]], making it into a {{whyte|2-6-0}}.<ref name=IoSPHR />{{better source needed|date=December 2025}} (The real Class 28 has {{convert|5|ft|1|in}} wheels.<ref>[http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=LYR28 "Steam Loco Class Information"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729130844/http://www.railuk.info/steam/getsteamclass.php?item=LYR28 |date=2012-07-29 }} Rail UK.</ref>){{better source needed|date=December 2025}} James is also missing the prominent front sandboxes fitted to the Class 28s.<ref name=RLTtTE>{{cite web|title=James|url=http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/james.htm|publisher="The Real Lives of Thomas the Tank Engine" (The real prototype locomotives that inspired the Rev. W. Awdry)|access-date=27 January 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121220020223/http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/james.htm|archive-date=20 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2025}} The improvement was not as great as hoped for and after the grouping, the LMS sold James to the Fat Controller's [[Sodor (fictional island)#Railways|North Western Railway]].<ref name=IoSPHR />{{better source needed|date=December 2025}} | ||
===Models=== | ===Models=== | ||
Awdry had two models of James on his [[OO gauge]] model railway. The first, from the 1950s, was based on a 2-6-0 [[Glasgow and South Western Railway]] locomotive, the [[Austrian Goods]], designed by [[Peter Drummond (engineer)|Peter Drummond]]; this is the design that Awdry had originally intended to use for James.<ref>{{cite | Awdry had two models of James on his [[OO gauge]] model railway. The first, from the 1950s, was based on a 2-6-0 [[Glasgow and South Western Railway]] locomotive, the [[Austrian Goods]], designed by [[Peter Drummond (engineer)|Peter Drummond]]; this is the design that Awdry had originally intended to use for James.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Gratton |first1=James |magazine=Model Maker Magazine|date=March 1953}}</ref> The model was red with yellow lining. Despite being professionally made and "a beautiful model", the motor was unreliable, so it could not be used regularly. Awdry later noted that it was sent away in the 1980s for a new motor and chassis and came back "completely transformed".<ref name=RLTtTE/>{{better source needed|date=December 2025}} | ||
Awdry's second model of James was based on a 1960s [[Tri-ang Railways|Tri-ang]] [[Midland Railway Johnson 0-6-0|Johnson 3F]] 0-6-0; a conversion which [[Hornby Railways|Hornby]] used for the production version of their model of James several decades later.<ref name=RLTtTE/> | Awdry's second model of James was based on a 1960s [[Tri-ang Railways|Tri-ang]] [[Midland Railway Johnson 0-6-0|Johnson 3F]] 0-6-0; a conversion which [[Hornby Railways|Hornby]] used for the production version of their model of James several decades later.<ref name=RLTtTE/>{{better source needed|date=December 2025}} | ||
==James in ''The Railway Series''== | ==James in ''The Railway Series''== | ||
{{unsourced|section|date=October 2024}} | {{unsourced|section|date=October 2024}} | ||
''James the Red Engine'' was the third book in the Railway Series by Reverend W. Awdry. It picked up where the previous book, ''Thomas The Tank Engine'', left off, as James was introduced in "Thomas & The Breakdown Train" where the Troublesome Trucks pushed him into a field after his wooden brake blocks caught fire. James was rescued by [[Thomas the Tank Engine|Thomas]] and the Breakdown Train and was repainted red. | ''James the Red Engine'' was the third book in the Railway Series by Reverend W. Awdry. It picked up where the previous book, ''Thomas The Tank Engine'', left off, as James was introduced in "Thomas & The Breakdown Train", the fourth and final story in ''Thomas the Tank Engine'', where the Troublesome Trucks pushed him into a field after his wooden brake blocks caught fire. James was rescued by [[Thomas the Tank Engine|Thomas]] and the Breakdown Train and was repainted red. | ||
==James in ''Thomas & Friends''== | ==James in ''Thomas & Friends''== | ||
{{user-generated|section|date=December 2025}} | |||
[[File:SadStoryJames.webp|thumb|326x326px|The model of James used in the [[Lost media|lost]] 1953 [[television pilot]] ]] | |||
Unlike the books, the TV episode "Thomas and the Breakdown Train" had James in his red colour from the beginning. For unknown reasons, James also appeared in all episodes before "Thomas and the Breakdown Train" even though this story established him as being a new engine. | Unlike the books, the TV episode "Thomas and the Breakdown Train" had James in his red colour from the beginning. For unknown reasons, James also appeared in all episodes before "Thomas and the Breakdown Train" even though this story established him as being a new engine. | ||
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James is one of only four characters that appears in every ''Thomas & Friends'' film, but only has major roles in four of them. | James is one of only four characters that appears in every ''Thomas & Friends'' film, but only has major roles in four of them. | ||
He is one of the leads of the 2013 film ''[[Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway]]'', in which he, Thomas, and Percy assist in the restoration of Ulfstead Castle and the construction of the Earl of | He is one of the leads of the 2013 film ''[[Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway]]'', in which he, Thomas, and Percy assist in the restoration of Ulfstead Castle and the construction of the Earl of Sodor's estate. | ||
James is the main antagonist of the 2014 film ''[[Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave]]''. He pulls a prank on Percy which leads the latter to think there is a monster on the island. | James is the main antagonist of the 2014 film ''[[Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave]]''. He pulls a prank on Percy which leads the latter to think there is a monster on the island. Feeling conflicted and guilty about his act, James initially taunts Percy before they make amends after Percy saves James from a rockslide. | ||
''[[Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins]]'' retells the first seven episodes of the show, with some alterations; most notably, James appears in his original black livery from the second book. In this version, James arrived on Sodor before Thomas and is the engine Annie and Clarabel originally belonged to. Thomas chases after the runaway James but fails to stop him and James crashes into a field. Thomas then gets the breakdown train, has James put back on the tracks, and takes him to the Steamworks. James comes back some time later, now painted in his familiar red, but finds that his two coaches have been assigned to Thomas's newly acquired branch line. | ''[[Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins]]'' retells the first seven episodes of the show, with some alterations; most notably, James appears in his original black livery from the second book. In this version, James arrived on Sodor before Thomas and is the engine Annie and Clarabel originally belonged to. Thomas chases after the runaway James but fails to stop him and James crashes into a field. Thomas then gets the breakdown train, has James put back on the tracks, and takes him to the Steamworks. James comes back some time later, now painted in his familiar red, but finds that his two coaches have been assigned to Thomas's newly acquired branch line. | ||
In the 2017 film ''[[Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor|Journey Beyond Sodor]]'', Henry is prevented from taking a freight train to [[Great Britain|the mainland]], so James is assigned to take his place. James has been teasing Thomas for being stuck on his branch line, so Thomas takes the train to spite him. James volunteers to go find the missing Thomas in the hope of being praised as a hero. After some investigation, he uncovers and is imprisoned in a large steelworks that Thomas had escaped from earlier and is forced to work there. He is eventually rescued by Thomas and a group of misfit experimental engines. | In the 2017 film ''[[Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor|Journey Beyond Sodor]]'', Henry is prevented from taking a freight train to [[Great Britain|the mainland]], so James is assigned to take his place. James has been teasing Thomas for being stuck on his branch line, so Thomas takes the train to spite him. James volunteers to go find the missing Thomas in the hope of being praised as a hero. After some investigation, he uncovers and is imprisoned in a large steelworks that Thomas had escaped from earlier and is forced to work there. He is eventually rescued by Thomas and a group of misfit experimental engines. | ||
===James in ''All Engines Go''=== | ===James in ''All Engines Go''=== | ||
{{unsourced|section|date=October 2024}} | {{unsourced|section|date=October 2024}} | ||
In the [[Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go|2021 reboot]], James was brought back as a supporting character, rather than as part of the main cast as with the original series. Much like many of the other characters in the reboot, many of James' design elements and personality were altered to a more engaging dynamic towards the young engines. He does exhibit carelessness with his often-dropped cargo. | In the [[Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go|2021 reboot]], James was brought back as a supporting character, rather than as part of the main cast as with the original series. Much like many of the other characters in the reboot, many of James' design elements and personality were altered to a more engaging dynamic towards the young engines. He does exhibit carelessness with his often-dropped cargo.{{cn|date=December 2025}} | ||
= | |||
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{commonscat|James (Thomas | {{commonscat|James (Thomas and Friends)}} | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
{{Thomas & Friends}} | {{Thomas & Friends}} | ||
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[[Category:The Railway Series characters]] | [[Category:The Railway Series characters]] | ||
[[Category:Thomas & Friends characters]] | [[Category:Thomas & Friends characters]] | ||
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1953]] | |||
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 2000]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:28, 27 December 2025
Template:Pp-pcTemplate:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". James the Red Engine is a fictional character from the British children's books, The Railway Series, created by Wilbert Awdry. He is an anthropomorphic tender locomotive, and is the number 5 engine on the North Western Railway, the Fat Controller's railway on the Island of Sodor, along with Thomas the Tank Engine. He also appears in the television adaptation Thomas & Friends, and other media in the franchise.
James debuted in the 1946 book Thomas the Tank Engine. Two books in the series, James the Red Engine and James and the Diesel Engines, are dedicated to James.
Prototype and background
James first appeared in The Railway Series in the 1946 book Thomas the Tank Engine. He was named after James Furze, a friend of the publisher's son. He was originally painted black. At the request of the publishers, Awdry dedicated James the Red Engine to the character. James was painted red in this and subsequent books.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
James is based on the L&YR Class 28, an 0-6-0Template:Whyte suffix mixed-traffic tender engine designed by George Hughes and based on the earlier L&YR Class 27 designed by John Aspinall. According to Awdry, the Class 28s were powerful engines but had a tendency to be nose-heavy, especially when used as relief engines on excursion trains and driven at speed.[1]Template:Better source needed In the book The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways, Awdry gave a fictional history of the engine. James was built by Hughes as an experiment to see if the nose-heaviness could be counteracted. The locomotive was fitted with larger Script error: No such module "convert". driving wheels and a pony truck, making it into a 2-6-0Template:Whyte suffix.[1]Template:Better source needed (The real Class 28 has Script error: No such module "convert". wheels.[2])Template:Better source needed James is also missing the prominent front sandboxes fitted to the Class 28s.[3]Template:Better source needed The improvement was not as great as hoped for and after the grouping, the LMS sold James to the Fat Controller's North Western Railway.[1]Template:Better source needed
Models
Awdry had two models of James on his OO gauge model railway. The first, from the 1950s, was based on a 2-6-0 Glasgow and South Western Railway locomotive, the Austrian Goods, designed by Peter Drummond; this is the design that Awdry had originally intended to use for James.[4] The model was red with yellow lining. Despite being professionally made and "a beautiful model", the motor was unreliable, so it could not be used regularly. Awdry later noted that it was sent away in the 1980s for a new motor and chassis and came back "completely transformed".[3]Template:Better source needed
Awdry's second model of James was based on a 1960s Tri-ang Johnson 3F 0-6-0; a conversion which Hornby used for the production version of their model of James several decades later.[3]Template:Better source needed
James in The Railway Series
Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Template other James the Red Engine was the third book in the Railway Series by Reverend W. Awdry. It picked up where the previous book, Thomas The Tank Engine, left off, as James was introduced in "Thomas & The Breakdown Train", the fourth and final story in Thomas the Tank Engine, where the Troublesome Trucks pushed him into a field after his wooden brake blocks caught fire. James was rescued by Thomas and the Breakdown Train and was repainted red.
James in Thomas & Friends
Unlike the books, the TV episode "Thomas and the Breakdown Train" had James in his red colour from the beginning. For unknown reasons, James also appeared in all episodes before "Thomas and the Breakdown Train" even though this story established him as being a new engine.
Like in the books, James is very proud of his red paintwork and hates getting dirty,[5] which often gets him into trouble.
James is one of only four characters that appears in every Thomas & Friends film, but only has major roles in four of them.
He is one of the leads of the 2013 film Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway, in which he, Thomas, and Percy assist in the restoration of Ulfstead Castle and the construction of the Earl of Sodor's estate.
James is the main antagonist of the 2014 film Thomas & Friends: Tale of the Brave. He pulls a prank on Percy which leads the latter to think there is a monster on the island. Feeling conflicted and guilty about his act, James initially taunts Percy before they make amends after Percy saves James from a rockslide.
Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins retells the first seven episodes of the show, with some alterations; most notably, James appears in his original black livery from the second book. In this version, James arrived on Sodor before Thomas and is the engine Annie and Clarabel originally belonged to. Thomas chases after the runaway James but fails to stop him and James crashes into a field. Thomas then gets the breakdown train, has James put back on the tracks, and takes him to the Steamworks. James comes back some time later, now painted in his familiar red, but finds that his two coaches have been assigned to Thomas's newly acquired branch line.
In the 2017 film Journey Beyond Sodor, Henry is prevented from taking a freight train to the mainland, so James is assigned to take his place. James has been teasing Thomas for being stuck on his branch line, so Thomas takes the train to spite him. James volunteers to go find the missing Thomas in the hope of being praised as a hero. After some investigation, he uncovers and is imprisoned in a large steelworks that Thomas had escaped from earlier and is forced to work there. He is eventually rescued by Thomas and a group of misfit experimental engines.
James in All Engines Go
Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Template other In the 2021 reboot, James was brought back as a supporting character, rather than as part of the main cast as with the original series. Much like many of the other characters in the reboot, many of James' design elements and personality were altered to a more engaging dynamic towards the young engines. He does exhibit carelessness with his often-dropped cargo.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Legacy
Awards
A large-scale working replica of James, along with Thomas, Percy, Gordon, Harold and Jack, was created by BBC Visual Effects for Thomas & Friends: The All Aboard Live Tour. This battery-powered locomotive is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the "largest model railway engine" ever built, at 2.64 x 1.5 x 6.52 metres.[6]
Real-life replicas
The Mid-Hants Railway repainted one of its engines – a Southern Railway N Class – 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. On the East Lancashire Railway, unrestored LMS Ivatt Class 2 Mogul No. 46428 has been painted as James the Red Engine.
The Japanese Ōigawa Railway's locomotives include five characters from the Thomas & Friends series: Thomas the Tank Engine, Hiro, Percy, James, and Rusty. The locomotives are based at Shin-Kanaya Station.[7]
References
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