James

Premise
Before the events of the Sodor Files series, James was classed as one of the "big engines" on the Main Line, despite being small in comparison to the others. James could be narcissistic and arrogant, but was ultimately good-natured and often wanted to have a laugh. As a mixed traffic engine, he could pull both passengers and goods, although he often complained about the latter, though not to the extent that Gordon did.

When James first arrived on the railway, his brake blocks caught fire, making him crash in a nearby field. Thomas, by rescuing him, earned a branch line. James then proved his worth with the trucks after being in trouble with Sir Topham Hatt, and was also involved in a number of conflicts involving the big engines. He fell in with Gordon and Henry, which brought his more arrogant side to the fore. James also maintained a long prejudice against diesels, even though he was not fully aware of the reasons he had to hate them, however, this has somewhat subsided, if not entirely.

James is also very independent and does not like advice or guidance, often ignoring it. His joy is his bright red coat, which he takes great pride in - he can often be seen at the washdown. This, coupled with his opinionated views and love of practical jokes, can make him known as a troublemaker and egotist. However, he is hard-working and resilient, and is a spark of joy to any engine who is having a bad day (or some engines, at least).