Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Battery Powered James

by Learning Curve

Product Features

• Die-cast metal chassis and body
• Chunky rubber-lined tires grip track to prevent derailing
• Easy-to-operate start button
• Special magnet helps keep rolling stock on the track
• Recommended Age Range 3 to 5 Years

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.9 x 2.3 inches ; 2.7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0000630L4
• Item model number: LC99718
• Manufacturer recommended age: 36 months - 5 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,319 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #61 in Toys & Games > Play Vehicles > Play Trains & Railway Sets > Train Cars
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The James die-cast battery-powered engine features powerful four-wheel drive, easy start button, auto shutdown feature, light, and realistic detail. Includes tender. Requires one AA battery (not included).

Product Description

James the Tender Engine Number 5 comes to life as a die cast 4 wheel drive train! This bright red engine is compatible with all Thomas Wooden Railway train track, sets, destinations and accessories. This engine features a light, easy start button and auto shut down feature. This engine includes a bright #5 tender. This train requires 1 AA battery that is not included.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compatible with wood Thomas sets; More durable than plastic, September 29, 2003

By 

H. David Peirce "Zossima" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Battery Powered James (Toy)

This metal battery operated James engine and his metal battery operated companions (Thomas, Lady, etc.) are for use with the wooden track. There are larger plastic battery operated engines that fit both the wooden track and the blue plastic track by Tomy.

This is a great product. Very well-constructed. Very durable. It can be switched on, go forward or backward, and it can be pushed manually--another reviewer complained that it could not be pushed, but it can be pushed.

Purchasing recommendation:
* Wait until appropriate age: Our son started with Thomas when he was 18 months old, but we did not buy any battery engines until he was 3. We wanted for him to use his imagination in pushing and pulling for a while. Now he sometimes sits back and just watches the battery engines, while at other times he pushes them.

* The metal engines are more durable: The metal engines cost more than the larger plastic battery-operated engines, but they are far more durable. They feel solid in the hand. They go both forward and backwards, while the plastic engines only go forward. They pull the wooden cars that your child may already have. They're just a better fit!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars James is amazing, May 22, 2005

By 

Timothy Marks (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Battery Powered James (Toy)

James is amazing... he chugs around corners and up and down hills without a hitch (although he sometimes gets confused with y-splits and de-rails).

Adds an amazing element to your Thomas train set. My 3 year old loves him, and runs all around the track helping him out. Definitely a must buy.

James is the best battery operated train. The four wheeled trains (like Lady) have problem with the tight radiused corners (3" curves), and constantly derail on a track that James with his 6 wheels has no problems with. If Lady had been the first battery operated train I bought, I would not have bought anymore based upon the difficulty she has with the track. Fortunately, I bought James first.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great concept, poor execution, February 10, 2006

By 

Jeffrey Jotz "You'll know him when you find him" (Rahway, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Battery Powered James (Toy)

The battery-power James is mostly metal rather than wood (his tender is still made of wood) and is perhaps more rugged than the wooden Thomas & Friends engines. He is heavy, well-detailed and durable and is a very fine-looking engine. Toddlers will have no problem starting and stopping him, as the on/off switch is a large button that blends into the top of the driver's cab. And the working headlight is really cool.

However, once James gets rolling, he frequently derails off of our wooden railway or gets stuck. His pulling power is also pretty weak. Quite often, the magnet is unable to hold more than 3 cars (especially when heading uphill), and poor James speeds off while his freight cars or coaches are left behind.