James the Red Engine is the No. 5 engine on the Island of Sodor. He is a medium-sized engine with wheels bigger than Thomas' but smaller than Gordon's. He has a fine scarlet coat of paint and a shiny brass dome, and likes to stay clean. James likes to think of himself as a Really Splendid Engine. Since he thinks himself superior to other engines, James can be shallow, boastful and arrogant. Sometimes he gets into trouble for his vanity, and also for being naughty. Some of the naughty things he has done include breaking a coach brake pipe, crashing into tar wagons, and spinning on the turntable. As a versatile, mixed traffic engine, James can pull both passenger coaches and freight cars. However, he hates to pull trucks and only likes pulling coaches. James is one of the more powerful engines on the Island of Sodor, and only him and Henry are allowed to pull the express when Gordon is busy.
James is based on the Hughes Class 28 superheated 2-6-0 tender engine.