Thomas and Friends Storytime.

The story of James the Funny Engine, starring James, Thomas the Tank Engine and Gordon the Big Engine.

Based on the railway series by the Reverend W. Audrey.

Created by Britt Holcroft, read by Mark Morrahan.

Welcome to the Island of Sodor, a small magical island, surrounded by sparkling bright blue sea.

It has fields of green and sandy yellow beaches, castles to explore and bustling docks where giant cranes lift and load cargo

from large ships. There are also lots and lots of railway lines where engines work hard to deliver

goods and passengers to their destinations. Today's story is about James, the number five engine,

and how he learnt that whatever kind of job you do,

you can always be really useful.

James is a bright red steam engine,

who can pull both passenger coaches and freight cars.

James can be a bit of a show off and sometimes jokes around too much.

But James is responsible, reliable and hard working.

When James first came to Sodor, he wasn't shiny red, he was painted black and he had old wooden brakes.

One of James's first jobs was to take the troublesome trucks to the docks.

But troublesome trucks can be tricky and James didn't know how to treat them.

James was steaming down a hill when the troublesome trucks began pushing him.

James went faster and faster.

They're pushing me, they're pushing me, he cried.

Soon James was out of control and racing along the tracks.

James tried to stop, but his old wooden brakes didn't work properly, and they caught fire.

...