What If James Died on his first day? Thomas & Friends What If Short

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[@TankEngineMedia]

It’s crazy to think James’s accident could’ve changed everything about the show and characters

[@theflyingkipper42]

Great video! But I have my own version: After James' death, Thomas remained the station's pilot, STH bought Donald. After the events of "The flying kipper", STH bought Douglas. Toby was later bought by STH. Thomas needs help in the yard, so STH buys Percy. Douglas heroically saves Oliver and STH gives him the Arlsburgh branch. Now Donald and Douglas work on the Arlsburgh branch, and Oliver is a pilot of the Tidmouth station. BR want to scrap Duck, but STH buys it at the last moment. Duck now helps with small freight trains. At this time, Toby and The Red Engine are working on the Ffarquhar branch, Ffarquhar quarry buys Mavis, she helps Toby at the quarry. I also like to think that Thomas did not leave the yard, but he wanted to see the world so much that he crashed into the water tower and he was sent for repairs, after which he received his flat runningboard.

[@theflyingkipper42]

Then the order of the NWR engines will be as follows: NWR1 Thomas. (Vicarstown station pilot). NWR2 Edward. (Brendam branch). NWR3 Henry. (mix-traffic engine). NWR4 Gordon. (express-engine, later mix-traffic). NWR5 Donald. (mix-traffic engine, later Arlsburgh branch). NWR6 Douglas. (mix-traffic engine, later Arlsburgh branch). NWR7 Toby. (Ffarquhar branch). NWR8 Red Engine. (Ffarquhar branch). NWR9 Percy. (Vicarstown station pilot). NWR10 Oliver. (Tidmouth station pilot). NWR11 Montegue. (goods engine).

[@champ2stay920]

Wow, that's a lot more than I would have thought would happen. (BTW, could the next one of these be "What if Paxton arrived in Diesel's place" or "What if the Constable never gave Thomas that ticket"?)

[@comicfan1324]

Well, these videos are pre-recorded. This was the last one about Thomas, the next two are about Sonic. However I like the one about Paxton and if you’re interested I have made a what if about if Toby didn’t come to the Northwestern. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnuVqWeojZiggJo

[@DonaldTheScottishTwin57646]

@@comicfan1324 I have to carry the regret of using the word "died" in that comment until this video falls to time.

[@steamzilla95]

In my take, since James died: his Brother Rudyard (the red engine that tried to push Henry out) became the No.5 instead. Any appearance of James will be replaced with Rudyard.

[@steamzilla95]

What if Henry died from the Flying Kipper? With Henry gone: Merlin replaces Henry instead because: 1. They have the same wheel arrangement (4-6-0 2. Rebecca’s class didn’t existed until 1945 3. His design fits right in the Railway Series 4. Potential stories with Thomas, Rebecca and Stepney who are also Southern Railway Engines.

[@EndYouTubeShorts_]

So Donald and Douglas also wouldn't seen the Mainland nearly at it's worst, as they wouldn't have been there as long. Since Duck isn't there either, the I think the Steamies vs. Diesels Modernization thing wouldn't have been so intense and layered as it is on Sodor (when you think about it). Duck, Donald, Douglas, and James were all important to that.

[@TheSpleefist]

to think james, a character who started out as a mere plot device, would change the entire course of the lore if he hadn't survived his crash in the field. he is the whole reason we know this series the way we do now. crazy to think about, isn't it?

[@PCMan8922]

With James Gone, Things Didn't Go So Well For Thomas and Duck.

[@steamzilla95]

Looking at this: I do wish there was a Thomas version of It’s a Wonderful Life with James as the lead role.

[@darkknight5541]

I doubt Thomas would become nothing more than a station pilot. I'm sure at some point he'd prove to be a hard worker and be rewarded, same as when Duck got his branchline.

[@horsepowermultimedia]

There's a possibility that Thomas would help Henry when he crashed while pulling the Flying Kipper.

[@Lwi-pc9um]

Ok, hear me out: What if Märklin was an actual engine, and arrived on the NWR during it's construction and stayed for the rest of the show?

[@comicfan1324]

Sadly, we don’t know what his personality is like. So, I don’t know how he/she would act and change the story.

[@ironphilly2366]

@@comicfan1324 I got some ideas

[@TheChamp820]

honestly I can see Edward finna go John Wick on everybody. Also Thomas would probably be depressed since he would fail to save James.

[@Combes_]

Unstoppable moment

[@clone151]

Here’s some more ideas: What if Gordon got his tender scrapped in Tenders and Turntables after going too fast backwards? What if Peter Sam never got a new funnel in Special Funnel, not even the drainpipe?

[@izzaqil-yn3cq]

James has ALOT Of accidents in the series

[@louisholmes6961]

What if Thomas was killed by Sailor John during Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure, meaning that Gordon and the Fat Controller never got to make it up to him?

[@comicfan1324]

To be fair, Thomas was kind of in the wrong as well so I don’t think “make it up to him“ is the right assertion.

[@louisholmes6961]

@@comicfan1324 well, maybe Thomas’s death could be a heroic sacrifice. Redemption equals death, tv tropes. And Gordon and Topham will also be struck with another trope, Parting words regret.

[@therailwaymen2203]

The splendid engine never got to be splendid..

[@thedonutkie]

What if Duck never played his trick on Diesel?

[@user-yg4pq4et6w]

Y think that Jameses crashes are somethimes funny and scary and his face looks like Crusher s face of Blaze and the Monster Machines

[@jaydengrindson082]

for this timeline: Donald is 5 Douglas is 6 Percy is 8 and James is dead

[@jeremiahgamingyt2003]

Here is an thought that I might have, What if Lady the magical engine stayed on sodor after the events of TATMR?

[@comicfan1324]

Well I don’t think Magic Railroad is canon to the show, The events of the film are never referenced again and magic isn’t really a thing in the show, so I’ve seen it as a continuation of Shining Time Station.

[@BKRproductions6468]

In my AU, Lady isn't magic at all and runs the Kirk Ronan Branch Line.

[@jeremiahgamingyt2003]

@@comicfan1324 I see, thanks for telling me. I'll keep that in mind

[@theflyingkipper42]

@@BKRproductions6468 lol same

[@BKRproductions6468]

Ironically, I think the Magic Railroad buffers would be located on the Norramby Branch, essentially making Lady's placement pointless.

[@therailwaymen2203]

What if: Gordon never arrived

[@FictionalADDON]

Something tells me that Thomas and Percy are going work at the arelsdale branch much to the big engine’s surprise.

[@champ2stay920]

this question might sound weird, but would it be alright if I used this video as sort of a template for an "It's A Wonderful Life" style episode with James? also, do you think all the engines would be painted blue? the way I see it, Sir Topham Hatt saw how happy James was in red instead of blue so he might have allowed his other engines to be painted in what colors they wanted, but since James died in the crash, Sir Topham wouldn't see that and paint all his engines blue.

[@comicfan1324]

Interesting. There’s no way I’d be able to make that on short notice before Christmas but it is a good idea

[@champ2stay920]

@@comicfan1324 so that's a yes?

[@deadchannel733]

Here’s an idea: What if the bigger engines never went on strike?

[@percy6814]

"Why Donald? Cause why not?"

[@thedonutkie]

Without Duck on the railway to play his trick, I think Diesel would stay on the railway after his trial

[@whoknowsbothersomeoneelse]

Yeah, but if Diesel were to act out of line as per usual, things would still work in the same way.

[@thedonutkie]

@@whoknowsbothersomeoneelse He would need to be prowoked first

[@whoknowsbothersomeoneelse]

@@thedonutkie Sure, maybe he might behaved well and get along with the others, although he is sure to boast sometime.

[@dereksminicollections]

What if Thomas never came to Sodor?

[@JTRungarsamy77709]

Then he would be scraped with all his brothers

[@SparklingJam]

@@JTRungarsamy77709what a tragic end to a really useful engine Also I feel like Percy or duck would just be the station pilot

[@ytchannel1207]

Audrey had some models that were never in the show, like Elsie and most of the Mid Sodor engines One if these was Bloomer, but was almost always Bloomer was scene on the Ffarquar lay out So i guess Bloomer runs it

[@Splodge-productions_2010.]

James: you hate me *Cries*

[@comicfan1324]

I don’t hate James

[@Splodge-productions_2010.]

James: oh, okay

[@Splodge-productions_2010.]

@@comicfan1324 do you like the movie cars and I’m talking about Pixar?

[@wyattm6782]

I've been thinking of this what if Thomas Had the flying kipper incident The kipper would have like 10 vans instead of like 25 or 5 vans

[@Splodge-productions_2010.]

That is simply a Creepypasta

[@comicfan1324]

This isn’t a creepypasta, it’s a thought experiment video. Pretty much I ponder what would’ve happened if James was essentially erased from the railway series and was simply destroyed in his first accident. No, I don’t like that idea, I’m just saying what I think might’ve happened

[@Splodge-productions_2010.]

Oh okay, sorry about that

[@oliverthegreatwesternengin6685]

What about this idea what if Thomas and Edward left sodor

[@TheSudrianTerrier653]

I feel like topham would buy an engine like a Jinty or J50 to run the branchline

[@SaiyanDoll4731]

This Cool so Dark 👍🏼😱

[@BKRproductions6468]

Ok but hear me out: what if, James didn't crash, and Thomas managed to Save James from crashing in the field? I know it wouldn't make that much of a difference, but it would make way more sense as to why Thomas got his own branch line, and Thomas would have a big ego boost only made bigger by the RWS in 1945, and the TVS in 1984, only to be brought down to earth when season 8 occured. As for *THIS* Au, I would imagine Thomas would come on at SOME POINT, possibly when Percy went to the Ffarquhar Branch in the main timeline, and Percy would definitely be brought at a later date, possibly around the great depression because almost half the railway's engines were sold off, they HAD to be, either that or STH actually buys Percy EARLIER to run the branch, but for some reason, Eagle/Ted/Winston/Max running the Ffarquhar Branch just seems...right. As for what would happen, in Ted's case (that's what I'm calling the red engine) things wouldn't be too interesting except maybe the guard and fish incidents. However when Toby comes to party...yeah. That's when things get going, and when Thomas joins...it becomes chaos. As for the Percy timeline, the original stories would be ramped up to ten. No questions asked. Also, I feel like Thomas would be sent to the Ffarquhar Branch, mainly because it just feels wrong for him to go anywhere else. I still stand by Percy arriving in what would be Percy Takes Charge, and Duck would probably be preserved, possibly stowing away with Oliver Oil. Eventually, I could imagine Percy, Duck, and Oliver bunking on the little western, as Donald and Douglas still work the main line. So we have: Thomas #1 Edward #2 Henry #3 Gordon #4 Donald #5 Ted #6 Douglas #7 Percy #8 Duck #9 Oliver #10 Or, y'know, maybe the NWR went into a civil war, practically forcing STH to buy Percy so his railway doesn't become the world's largest golf course. I saw an AU where there were numerous engines that were OK with shunting, and James straight up yeeted an engine into some buffers, before saying something that would get me demonitized, despite not being monitized in the first place.

[@comicfan1324]

Who is STH?

[@theflyingkipper42]

@@comicfan1324 its Sir Topham Hatt

[@BKRproductions6468]

@@comicfan1324 Sir Topham Hatt

[@BKRproductions6468]

Also, for every James role I imagine a Red LBSCR K class named "Regaby" would take his role. He would first appear in season 2, and he would be an utter b***h.

[@ciarangleeson2880]

I’ve got one! What if 98462 and 87546 never got sent away from Sodor?

[@steamzilla95]

What if Mavis came to Sodor instead of Diesel? Mavis’ class were built in 1952 and I was thinking about Salty but he was build in 1962 and the book: Duck and the Diesel engine takes place in 1957.

[@Reimu__Hakurei]

James crashed threw a fence wheel pushed aside the dirt and landed on his side then his tender and some trucks came behind him his tender bumped into him tipped over and some trucks and vans he was pulling was smashed on impact of the sudden stop. You see James wouldn’t have died as the tender as shown in this image took the blow from the trucks thus was damaged more than James. Thus leading why James was saved without his tender. The broken trucks were cleaned up put in the unhurt trucks and token away the impact wasn’t strong enough to kill James thanks to his tender. But since you asked what would had happened if it did. The fat director would either buy a tender engine similar to his size or get another loan engine if he doesn’t have the money but if he does have enough money.. who knows maybe he might’ve gotten that Atlantic he originally wanted.

[@comicfan1324]

Well as I said in the video, in this AU James was pulling explosive materials when he had his crash, meaning that the accident was far more fatal.

[@Reimu__Hakurei]

@@comicfan1324 Since he is facing the other way and his tender blocking the cars the explosion would reach up to his smoke box but not enough to kill him as half of the train didn’t derail

[@comicfan1324]

@@Reimu__Hakurei I still think it’s very possible the explosion could’ve damaged him beyond repair.

[@Reimu__Hakurei]

@@comicfan1324 Yes that’s why I’d like to think the fat direction would send James to crew but then they would be down an engine and this would force him to let Thomas run some trains out of the yard witch would make a intresting au

[@JacobCabral-yd3bm]

I don’t think the diesels would not come to the railway

[@Splodge-productions_2010.]

Is that right? Creepypasta? I think there’s a Creepypasta

[@SparklingJam]

What if Henry died during the flying kipper crash

[@alexandralortie339]

Uh The Background engine would have the same shit Thomas would get into

[@comicfan1324]

It all depends on what their personality would be like. If they are self-centered and hotheaded like Thomas was, then yeah, I feel like they would go through a lot of the same events. But if the engine is more sensible, I doubt they would try racing a bus or ditch their snow plow.

[@Stoked_magic]

I have thinking about this for awhile now. What if rheneas couldn't get the train home? Ik obviously the railway would shut down but what else?

[@comicfan1324]

Well, Stewart and falcon would never arrive on the Skarloey railway, so they would likely either be scrapped or they would go somewhere else

[@Stoked_magic]

​@@comicfan1324 oh yeah. And if they found duke he might have been sold to a heritage railway or go to a museum

[@j.d.wilkes7189]

Do the events of Off the Rails still play out in this scenario?

[@comicfan1324]

Yes

[@JaydenTheGreat019]

Request: What if James was painted blue instead of red after his crash?

[@SparklingJam]

I feel like most James centered stories wouldn’t happen as James wouldn’t be so prideful of his red paint

[@JaydenTheGreat019]

@@SparklingJam at least the old iron chase would still happen.

[@SparklingJam]

@@JaydenTheGreat019 blue and blue

[@ytchannel1207]

Hmm, what about “What If Paxton Arrived Instead Of Diesel?”

[@comicfan1324]

If that was the case, Sodor would likely be far more open to diesels earlier than normal.

[@ssanquinn8199]

I'm thinking that Duck would be purchased to work on The Little Western and i think that Diesel would still be on Sodor since Diesel was sent away for telling lies about Duck and it is plausible that Douglas will still save Oliver even though Douglas was purchased to help out while Henry was away for his overhaul and didn't have to be smuggled by Donald but it's plausible Donald and Douglas heard about how their brothers and sisters were scrapped and how 828 was the only one of their siblings still alive and Douglas wanted to avenge his siblings by saving Oliver from the fate his siblings had that being scrap so the order of the engines of the NWR would be N.O 1 Thomas N.O 2 Edward N.O 3 Henry N.O 4 Gordon N.O 5 Eagle N.O 6 Donald N.O 7 Douglas N.O 8 Toby N.O 9 Percy N.O 10 Duck/Montague N.O 11 Oliver

[@CaliburnEditz]

NO JAMES DIED 😭😭😭😭😭

[@DonaldTheScottishTwin57646]

The words James and Donald mean the same thing. Douglas is a completely different thing. Dr. Livesey

[@DonaldTheScottishTwin57646]

Okay, now Edward in James's position please.

[@ThatOneUsefulEngine_offical]

wouldn’t people just fix James ?

[@comicfan1324]

There was nothing to fix

[@ThatOneUsefulEngine_offical]

if James crashed with the fuel tankers

[@TheLocomotiveGuy45]

“What if James stayed black after his crash”

[@comicfan1324]

Maybe he’d be less vain?

[@TheLocomotiveGuy45]

@@comicfan1324 yeah idk

[@JTRungarsamy77709]

So the events of dirty objects will not happen

[@sonboo3363]

Please also do "What If Metal Sonic Was In Sonic Movie 2?"

[@comicfan1324]

I’ve already done that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6PHYp94a5qaic0

[@sonboo3363]

I have a suggestion, What If Emerl The Gizzoid Lived?

[@comicfan1324]

Wait and see…

[@neat5374]

R.I.P red train

[@TracksideManiac]

jesus thats a bit morbid.....

[@MaxwellTheTrainFan]

Soo 1. Thomas 2. Edward 3. Henry 4. Gordon 5. Donald 6. Toby 7. Percy 8. Douglas Huh so toby is now no6 and Percy is no7 damm this is weird and Douglas is no8 and Donald is no5 this is cool

[@feeb4966]

Hi

[@comicfan1324]

Hello

[@ketelieappolon3617]

I'd like to think sir topham hatt 1 purchases Egale after years of being loaned to run the mainline with Henry and Gordon and became the number 5 and his brother and my oc Johnathan becomes the number 6 and still runs the noramby line till he dies during the barrow blitz 87546 who caused the accident is found out and is taken to railgate to be brutally jumped by all the engines and then scrapped with all the engines watching most are even laughing since Thomas tried to save James he still gets his branchline and Percy arrives a few years earlier then normal to shunt in the yards after a strike which included Gordon Henry and Johnathan Percy becomes the number 7. A freelance engine is built at the steam works to pull fast passenger trains his name is Joshua he is the number 8 And then when Thomas needs help on his branchline in 1959 sir topham hatt 2 orders an engine from Scotland but 2 arrive they go by the names Donald and Douglas they end up staying in the end tho and Pull goods on Thomas's line they keep their original numbers. Then Douglas Joshua saves 2 engines from scrap and they are Oliver and Barry they also save Isabell and Toad Barry is given the number 11 while Oliver is 12 Barry is painted red and works on the alusbrugh branchline and Oliver works as a station pilot and Duck arrives to help Barry on the alusbrugh line he becomes number 13

[@reecenewman8308]

What if Thomas had gynophobia?

[@horsepowermultimedia]

He would not have Annie and Clarabel. That's for sure.

[@reecenewman8308]

And he would be on branch line (and main line by extension) trains a lot more often. But, who would have Annie and Clarabel instead of Thomas?

[@sonboo3363]

Can you do something similar to What If Sonic Lost Control? Like...What If Dark Sonic Was In Sonic Movie 2? Or about...Oh! I know! A great what if story! "What If Tails Died In Sonic Forces?"

[@sonboo3363]

Please include Dark Sonic in "What If Tails Died In Sonic Forces?"🙏

[@Reimu__Hakurei]

@@sonboo3363 no

[@sonboo3363]

@@Reimu__Hakurei why not?😠

[@Reimu__Hakurei]

@@sonboo3363 no

[@YourArtisticBunStudios]

I got some: What if 98462, 87546, and The red engines got to stay on Sodor What if Smudger and the other kid Sodor engines joined the Skarloey fleet What if Ryan was evil What if Diesel 10 wasn’t a bad guy What if Lady was a NWR engine instead What if Percy got the ffarquhar branch line What if D199 stayed in Sodor What if Billy worked on the welsworth line What if Annie and Clarabel weren’t given to Thomas What do you think Comic Fan?

[@comicfan1324]

Interesting

[@JTRungarsamy77709]

I did the one where Ryan was evil but I replaced him with Stanley

[@crystalstarheart9157]

Oh boy…

[@janeteleazar4870]

The fat controller kill henry and james thats a sad story😢😢😢😢😢😢R.I.P james 1887 2022

[@comicfan1324]

That controller didn’t kill Henry nor did he kill James

[@Toysonicandfriends2]

Nope nope 👎

[@Woodenrailwayoliver20]

I got a very interesting what if for you, what if Edward and Gordon were written off in bwba instead of Edward and Henry?

[@comicfan1324]

I’ve considered doing something like that, but since big world, big adventures doesn’t have an ongoing plot during its three seasons, I’m not sure how much it would actually change. The best I could do would be replaced Gordon with Henry in each of Gordon’s stand out episodes.