View source for The Fat Controller

{{short description|Fictional character}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=August 2018}}
{{Original research|date=March 2025}}
{{In-universe|date=October 2025}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| franchise = ''[[The Railway Series]]'' and ''[[Thomas & Friends (franchise)|Thomas & Friends]]''
| image = Sir Topham Hatt 1986.jpg
| caption = Figurine prop as seen in the [[Thomas & Friends series 2|series 2]] episode "Duck Takes Charge" (1986)
| first = ''[[List of books in The Railway Series#The Three Railway Engines|The Three Railway Engines]]'' (1945)
| last = 
| creator = [[Wilbert Awdry|Rev. W. Awdry]]
| designer = William Middleton
| voice = {{collapsible list|title=[[British English|British]]|
 [[Keith Wickham]] (2009–2021)
 |[[Bruce Dow]] (2021–2022)
 |Tom Dussek (2022–2025)
 }}
{{collapsible list|title=[[American English|American]]|
 |[[Kerry Shale]] (2009–2015)
 |Keith Wickham (2015–2020)
 |Bruce Dow (2021–2025)
 }}
| lbl1 = 
| full_name = Sir Topham Hatt
| gender = Male
| family = Dowager Hatt (mother)<br>Sir Lowham Hatt (brother)
| spouse = Lady Hatt
| children = 2
| occupation = Controller of the [[North Western Railway (fictional)|North Western Railway]]
| nationality = English
}}
'''The Fat Controller''' is a fictional character from the British children's books, ''[[The Railway Series]]'', written by the [[Wilbert Awdry|Reverend W. Awdry]] and his son, [[Christopher Awdry]]. He is the controller of the North Western Railway on the [[Island of Sodor]], which includes [[Thomas the Tank Engine]] among its engines.

In the first two books in the series (''[[List of books in The Railway Series#The Three Railway Engines|The Three Railway Engines]]'' and ''[[List of books in The Railway Series#Thomas the Tank Engine|Thomas the Tank Engine]]'') he is known as '''The Fat Director''', and as of the third book (''[[List of books in The Railway Series#James the Red Engine|James the Red Engine]]''), The Fat Controller. In the introduction to the 1951 book ''[[List of books in The Railway Series#Henry the Green Engine|Henry the Green Engine]]'', his real name is revealed to be '''Sir Topham Hatt'''.

The Fat Controller also appears in the television series ''[[Thomas & Friends]]'', adapted from the books.{{efn|There are three controllers, but he is portrayed as one character in the television series.}} In Series 4-7, he controls the narrow gauge Skarloey Railway as well as the standard gauge North Western Railway. From Series 9 onwards, he only controls the North Western Railway while [[List of people and animals from Thomas & Friends|The Thin Controller]], Mr. Peregrine Percival, controls the Skarloey Railway. The Fat Controller was usually portrayed in the form of several different static figures made with either [[wood]] or [[lead]] during series one, and [[resin]] from series two onwards,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sodor-island.com/jeremy-king|website=Sodor Island Fansite|title=Jeremy King}}</ref> but has been portrayed using [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] from the [[Thomas & Friends series 12|twelfth series]] until the [[Thomas & Friends series 24|twenty-fourth]].

The term "fat controller" has since been adopted in various contexts in the [[English language]], beyond the sphere of the original stories, usually in reference to someone who runs a railway.

== ''The Railway Series'' ==
In the original books, there are three Sir Topham Hatts, all of whom are direct descendants of one another.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Awdry |first=Wilbert |title=The Island of Sodor, Its People, History, and Railways. |publisher=Kaye and Ward |year=1987 |isbn=9780434927623 |publication-date=1987-09-02 |pages=105–107 |language=English}}</ref>

=== Sir Topham Hatt I (1880–1956) ===
Aged 14, Sir Topham Hatt acquired an apprentice job at [[Swindon Works]]. While there, he became friends with [[William Stanier|W. A. Stanier]]. He came to Sodor in 1901, joining A. W. Dry & Co at Tidmouth. On their recommendation, he became an engineer successively for 3 railways on the Island of Sodor.<ref name=":0" />

# The Tidmouth, Knapford, and Elsbridge Railway in 1909 
# The newly merged Tidmouth, Wellsworth, & Suddery in 1912 
# The North Western Railway on its formation in 1914

Hatt became general manager of the NWR in 1923, was promoted to director in 1936, and was made controller when the railway was nationalised in 1948.

He was awarded a [[baronet|baronetcy]] by the [[British parliament]] for his achievements in railway management. Notably, Hatt was involved in the design and construction of four [[vertical boiler]] "Coffee Pot" locomotives between 1905 and 1908, and a drawbridge linking Vicarstown to Great Britain in 1915.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Awdry |first=Christopher |title=Sodor: Reading Between The Lines |publisher=Sodor Enterprises |year=2005 |isbn=0954966511 |pages=20–21}}</ref> In 1953, he welcomed [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] on a visit to Sodor. He retired the following year, and was succeeded by his son Charles Topham Hatt.

=== Sir Topham Hatt II (1914–1997) ===
After graduating from Cronk School, Charles worked at a factory in [[Crewe]], but joined the [[Royal Engineers]] upon the outbreak of [[World War II]]. He then was promoted to a [[Colonel]], and completed his military service upon the war's conclusion.<ref name=":0" />

In 1952, he returned to Sodor as an engineer at the Crovan's Gate Works. Upon the retirement of his father, Hatt became the second Director and inherited the title of Baronetcy.<ref name=":0" /> During his tenure, he presided over the refurbishment of Knapford Port, reopened the Arlesdale branch and building the Arlesdale Railway.

In 1940, he married Amanda Croarie and had two children, Stephen Topham and Bridget Hatt.　 He retired from his position as controller in 1984, and was replaced by his son, Stephen Topham Hatt.<ref name=":1" />

=== Sir Topham Hatt III (1941–present) ===
Stephen Topham Hatt became the third Director in 1984. He has had three children since marrying Helen Margaret in 1970, and in 1995 he welcomed [[Charles III|Charles, the Prince of Wales]] to the Island of Sodor.<ref name=":1" />

According to the book, he was aged 65 in 2005, and has no intentions of retiring.

His son, Richard, is set to be the fourth director when Stephen retires.<ref name=":1" />

== Naming ==
The first two original stories were written before the [[nationalisation]] of [[United Kingdom|Britain]]'s four major private railways, so he was called "The Fat Director", as his railway was privately owned. In 1948, the year that the third book in the series, "[[List of books in The Railway Series|James the Red Engine]]", was written and published, the four major private railways (and some minor ones) were nationalized under the 1947 [[Transport Act 1947|Transport Act]] into [[British Rail]], so his title was changed to "The Fat Controller".<ref name=":0" />

In the British release of ''Thomas & Friends'', he is referred to as "The Fat Controller", but his real name, Sir Topham Hatt, is sometimes used in formal situations. However, in the American release, Hatt is always referred to by his real name, as his title was considered [[derogatory]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview: Rick Siggelkow |url=https://www.sodor-island.com/sts-interview-rick-siggelkow |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Sodor Island Fansite |language=en}}</ref> In the spinoff ''[[Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go]],'' he is always referred to by his real name.

==In real life==
"[[Day Out with Thomas]]" events are a popular way of raising money for [[heritage railways]]. These events are an opportunity for children to meet characters from the books and television series (or at least, engines that have been "dressed up" to resemble them). These events are invariably presided over by a Fat Controller, played by a railway volunteer of appropriate age and build.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1400515.stm|title=Fat Controller teaches rail safety|work=BBC News|date=June 21, 2001|accessdate=June 1, 2022}}</ref> The copyright holders are strict about how these volunteers should appear: the [[South Devon Railway Trust|South Devon Railway]]'s Fat Controller was forced to either quit or shave off his beard,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1966819.stm|work=BBC News|title=Close shave for Fat Controller|date=May 4, 2002}}</ref> and it is absolutely forbidden for a Fat Controller to be too thin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1448984.stm|title=Red flag for hairy Fat Controller|date=July 20, 2001|work=BBC News|accessdate=June 1, 2022}}</ref> In the United States, on the other hand, he is instead portrayed as a [[costumed character]] (with the performer's face hidden).

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/fatcontroller.htm The Real Lives of Thomas page on the Fat Controller] {{Dead link|date=May 2025}}
{{Thomas & Friends}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fat Controller, The}}
[[Category:The Railway Series characters]]
[[Category:Thomas & Friends characters]]
[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1945]]
[[Category:Fictional baronets and baronetesses]]
[[Category:Fictional English people]]