From the Author:
"Dear friends of Edward, Gordon, Henry, and Thomas,
Thank you for your kind letters. Here is the new book for which you asked. James, who crashed in the story of Thomas the Tank Engine, settles down and becomes a Useful Engine. We are nationalized now, but the same engines still work the Region. I am glad, too, to tell you that the Fat Director, who understands our friends' ways, is still in charge, but is now the Fat Controller."

Stories: James and the Top Hat, James and the Bootlace, Troublesome Trucks, James and the Express