<P> James is very proud of his paintwork, but he hates pulling trucks and believes that he should only pull coaches, despite being a mixed traffic engine . He thinks himself superior to the others, and can be shallow, boastful, and vain, particularly to those who appear old - fashioned, weak, slow, or dirty . These traits have caused somewhat of a friendship / conflict relationship between him and Toby and also Edward . He also is known for his long desire to be like Gordon, who really doesn't care for him that much . </P> <P> In most adaptations, James has a bad reputation for his behavior; most notably crashing into a field on his first day at Sodor . The most humiliating scenario James ever entered in was when he broke a coach brake pipe and needed a passenger's bootlace to fix it . This particular incident made James an unpopular figure and a short - time target of insults from Toby, Gordon and Thomas . However, he later befriended Gordon after he struggled with a particular task, and today both engines get along with each other . </P> <P> James first appeared in The Railway Series in the book Thomas the Tank Engine in 1946 . He was named after a friend of the publishers son, James Furze . He was originally painted black at this point . At the request of the publishers, Awdry dedicated the next book to the character . It was, in this book, that James finally received his red paint and his personality . </P> <P> James is based on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway "Class 28", an 0 - 6 - 0 mixed - traffic tender engine of 1912 / 13, designed by George Hughes and based on the earlier Class 27 designed by John Aspinall . According to Awdry, the Class 28s were powerful goods engines but had a tendency to be nose - heavy, especially when used as relief engines on excursion trains, as they often were, and driven at speed . </P>

What number is james in thomas the tank engine