James
Red Tender Locomotive
The red tender locomotive and one of Thomas's friends. A vain engine who boasts about his red body and his work, but sometimes kind and reliable.
Quotes
- My red body is second to none!
- You really are a useful engine!
- Look at how splendid I am!
- Trucks have to be clean.
- Everyone makes mistakes.
Trivia
- Modeled after the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway's L&YR Class 28 steam locomotive.
- Initially appeared as a black locomotive but changed to red paint after the derailment accident.
- Uses 'boku' for I and 'kimi' for you, but in early Japanese versions sometimes called 'omae'.
- Characterized by being a neat freak who dislikes dirty trucks.
- On Oigawa Railway, a train with James's design on C56 44 operates.
- In 'Thomas the Tank Engine Musical', appeared as a large-scale model listed in Guinness World Records.
Alternate names
James
James
James the Tank Engine
Profile
- Species
- Tender steam locomotive
- Gender
- Male
- Birth year
- 1912
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Red-bodied tender-type steam locomotive with a 6-wheeled tender. Number 5.
- Hair color
- Red
- Distinguishing features
-
- Red body color
- 6-wheeled tender
- Body number 5
- Iconic items
-
- Blue trucks (dedicated trucks)
- Golden dome
- New paint with red and black lines
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Vain
- Detailed personality
- A neat freak who loves cleanliness. A show-off who boasts to friends and passengers about his red body and special jobs. A bit short-tempered and stubborn, but sometimes honest, kind, and helpful. Often teases smaller engines like Thomas.
- Keywords
-
- Vain
- Short-tempered
- Neat freak
- Show-off
- Kind
- Helpful
- Stubborn
- Talents
-
- Pulling trucks and coaches
- High-speed running ability
- Locomotive maintenance knowledge
- Skills
-
- Safe driving
- Trouble handling
- Passenger service
- Motivation
- To boast about his red body and special jobs and be recognized by his friends.
- Habits
- Dislikes dirty trucks. Overly concerned about his appearance.
- Favorite colors
- Red, Scarlet
- Favorite places
- Isle of Sodor
History
- Backstory
- Appears in the British picture book 'The Railway Series' and its animated adaptation 'Thomas the Tank Engine'. Modeled after the L&YR Class 28 steam locomotive built in 1912, assigned to the North Western Railway on the Isle of Sodor in 1924. Initially equipped with black wooden brakes upon debut, after an accident it received special red paint and took on its current appearance.
- Debut date
- 1946
- Work title
- The Railway Series 'Thomas the Tank Engine'
- Media type
- Manga
Derailment
- Significant event
- Derailment
- Description
- On debut, brakes caught fire and due to trucks' mischief, caused a derailment accident. Helped by Thomas's crane.
Awarded blue dedicated trucks
- Significant event
- Awarded blue dedicated trucks
- Description
- Presented with dedicated blue trucks by Sir Topham Hatt, and has used them ever since.
Many failures and teasing
- Significant event
- Many failures and teasing
- Description
- Repeated failures such as coach brake failure, collision with tar wagons, stung by bees, etc., and teased by friends many times.
Relationships
Thomas
Best friend
Friendship deepened after being helped by Thomas's crane in the derailment accident.
Gordon
Rival
Often a relationship of teasing small engines but also best friends.
Edward
Teammate
Similar in build and recognize each other as equally hardworking engines.
North Western Railway
North Western Railway: unknown
Media appearances
The Railway Series 'Thomas the Tank Engine'
Manga / Protagonist
First appeared in 1946
Thomas the Tank Engine
Anime / Supporting
Appears from TV series season 1
Thomas and the Lost Crown
Movie / Supporting
2020s
Thomas the Tank Engine (2021 anime)
Anime / Supporting
Aired in 2021
Voice cast and creators
森功至
- Voice actor
- 森功至
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- TV series seasons 1-8
- Notes
- First voice actor
江原正士
- Voice actor
- 江原正士
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Feature films 2-17
伊東健人
- Voice actor
- 伊東健人
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- 2D anime series
- Notes
- Current
Susan Roman
- Voice actor
- Susan Roman
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- Early (feature film 1)
- Notes
- English first voice actor
Keith Wickham
- Voice actor
- Keith Wickham
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- Feature films 4-12
Rob Rackstraw
- Voice actor
- Rob Rackstraw
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- Feature films 13-17, season 20 onward
Wilbert Awdry
- Creator name
- Wilbert Awdry
- Role
- Original author
Saburo Kuwahara
- Creator name
- Saburo Kuwahara
- Role
- Illustrator
Poplar Publishing
- Creator name
- Poplar Publishing
- Role
- Publisher
Related goods
James figure
- Item name
- James figure
- Category
- Figure
- Availability
- Regular
James plush
- Item name
- James plush
- Category
- Plush or doll
- Availability
- Regular