# The Fat Controller > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Fat_Controller > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Fat_Controller.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fat_Controller > Source revision: 1341910067 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Fictional character This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "The Fat Controller" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (March 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. Please help rewrite it to explain the fiction more clearly and provide non-fictional perspective. (October 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Fictional character The Fat Controller The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends character Figurine prop as seen in the series 2 episode "Duck Takes Charge" (1986) First appearance The Three Railway Engines (1945) Created by Rev. W. Awdry Designed by William Middleton Voiced by British Keith Wickham (2009–2021) Bruce Dow (2021–2022) Tom Dussek (2022–2025) American Kerry Shale (2009–2015) Keith Wickham (2015–2020) Bruce Dow (2021–2025) In-universe information Full name Sir Topham Hatt Gender Male Occupation Controller of the North Western Railway Spouse Lady Hatt Nationality English **The Fat Controller** is a fictional character from the British children's books, *[The Railway Series](/source/The_Railway_Series)*, written by the [Reverend W. Awdry](/source/Wilbert_Awdry) and his son, [Christopher Awdry](/source/Christopher_Awdry). He is the controller of the North Western Railway on the [Island of Sodor](/source/Island_of_Sodor), which includes [Thomas the Tank Engine](/source/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine) among its engines. In the first two books in the series (*[The Three Railway Engines](/source/List_of_books_in_The_Railway_Series#The_Three_Railway_Engines)* and *[Thomas the Tank Engine](/source/List_of_books_in_The_Railway_Series#Thomas_the_Tank_Engine)*) he is known as **The Fat Director**, and as of the third book (*[James the Red Engine](/source/List_of_books_in_The_Railway_Series#James_the_Red_Engine)*), The Fat Controller. In the introduction to the 1951 book *[Henry the Green Engine](/source/List_of_books_in_The_Railway_Series#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](/source/Thomas_%26_Friends)*, adapted from the books.[a] 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 [The Thin Controller](/source/List_of_people_and_animals_from_Thomas_%26_Friends), 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](/source/Wood) or [lead](/source/Lead) during series one, and [resin](/source/Resin) from series two onwards,[1] but has been portrayed using [CGI](/source/Computer-generated_imagery) from the [twelfth series](/source/Thomas_%26_Friends_series_12) until the [twenty-fourth](/source/Thomas_%26_Friends_series_24). The term "fat controller" has since been adopted in various contexts in the [English language](/source/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.[2] A fourth Topham Hatt is introduced as the railway director in the 2025 edition of *Sodor: Reading Between the Lines* but has made no appearances in the series proper.[3] ### Sir Topham Hatt I (1880–1956) Aged 14, Sir Topham Hatt acquired an apprentice job at [Swindon Works](/source/Swindon_Works). While there, he became friends with [W. A. Stanier](/source/William_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.[2] 1. The Tidmouth, Knapford, and Elsbridge Railway in 1909 1. The newly merged Tidmouth, Wellsworth, & Suddery in 1912 1. 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 [baronetcy](/source/Baronet) by the [British parliament](/source/British_parliament) for his achievements in railway management. Notably, Hatt was involved in the design and construction of four [vertical boiler](/source/Vertical_boiler) "Coffee Pot" locomotives between 1905 and 1908, and a drawbridge linking Vicarstown to Great Britain in 1915.[4] In 1953, he welcomed [Queen Elizabeth II](/source/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](/source/Crewe), but joined the [Royal Engineers](/source/Royal_Engineers) upon the outbreak of [World War II](/source/World_War_II). He then was promoted to a [Colonel](/source/Colonel), and completed his military service upon the war's conclusion.[2] 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.[2] 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.[4] ### Sir Topham Hatt III (1941–2023) 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, the Prince of Wales](/source/Charles_III) to the Island of Sodor.[4] In the 2025 edition of *Sodor: Reading Between the Lines* it was revealed Sir Topham Hatt III had retired in 2023, but remains busy as Chairman of the Crovan's Gate Preservation Society, Sodor's first railway museum.[3] ### Richard Topham Hatt (2023-present) Richard, became the fourth director in 2023 following his father Stephen's retirement.[4][3] As of 2025 his father was still alive, and Richard had not inherited his baronetcy. At his father's retirement ceremony Richard presented him with Neil, a surviving [Neilson and Company](/source/Neilson_and_Company) locomotive and Sodor's oldest surviving engine; which became the first addition to the new Crovan's Gate museum.[3] ## Naming The first two original stories were written before the [nationalisation](/source/Nationalisation) of [Britain](/source/United_Kingdom)'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, "[James the Red Engine](/source/List_of_books_in_The_Railway_Series)", was written and published, the four major private railways (and some minor ones) were nationalized under the 1947 [Transport Act](/source/Transport_Act_1947) into [British Rail](/source/British_Rail), so his title was changed to "The Fat Controller".[2] 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](/source/Derogatory).[5] In the spinoff *[Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go](/source/Thomas_%26_Friends%3A_All_Engines_Go),* he is always referred to by his real name in both American and British releases. ## In real life "[Day Out with Thomas](/source/Day_Out_with_Thomas)" events are a popular way of raising money for [heritage railways](/source/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.[6] The copyright holders are strict about how these volunteers should appear: the [South Devon Railway](/source/South_Devon_Railway_Trust)'s Fat Controller was forced to either quit or shave off his beard,[7] and it is absolutely forbidden for a Fat Controller to be too thin.[8] In the United States, on the other hand, he is instead portrayed as a [costumed character](/source/Costumed_character) (with the performer's face hidden). ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** There are four controllers, but he is portrayed as one character in the television series. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Jeremy King"](https://www.sodor-island.com/jeremy-king). *Sodor Island Fansite*. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_3-4) Awdry, Wilbert (1987). *The Island of Sodor, Its People, History, and Railways*. Kaye and Ward (published 2 September 1987). pp. 105–107. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780434927623](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780434927623). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sodor2025_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sodor2025_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sodor2025_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Sodor2025_4-3) Awdry, Christopher (2025). *Sodor: Reading Between the Lines* (2nd ed.). p. 24. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-9193093-1-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-9193093-1-6). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_5-3) Awdry, Christopher (2005). *Sodor: Reading Between The Lines*. Sodor Enterprises. pp. 20–21. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0954966511](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0954966511). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Interview: Rick Siggelkow"](https://www.sodor-island.com/sts-interview-rick-siggelkow). *Sodor Island Fansite*. Retrieved 18 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Fat Controller teaches rail safety"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1400515.stm). *BBC News*. 21 June 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Close shave for Fat Controller"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1966819.stm). *BBC News*. 4 May 2002. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Red flag for hairy Fat Controller"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1448984.stm). *BBC News*. 20 July 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2022. ## External links - [The Real Lives of Thomas page on the Fat Controller](http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/fatcontroller.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060215234425/http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/fatcontroller.htm) 15 February 2006 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) v t e The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends Characters Thomas the Tank Engine James the Red Engine The Fat Controller Miscellaneous Island of Sodor Merchandise The Railway Series books by Wilbert Awdry List of books in The Railway Series Authors Wilbert Awdry Christopher Awdry Illustrators C. Reginald Dalby John T. Kenney Peter and Gunvor Edwards Clive Spong Related The Railway Stories Category Thomas & Friends Television series 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Films Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) The Great Discovery (2008) Hero of the Rails (2009) Misty Island Rescue (2010) Day of the Diesels (2011) King of the Railway (2013) Tale of the Brave (2014) The Adventure Begins (2015) Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (2015) The Great Race (2016) Journey Beyond Sodor (2017) Big World! Big Adventures! (2018) Production Voice actors Experiences Day Out with Thomas Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Thomas Land at Fuji-Q Highland Video games The Great Festival Adventure Railway Adventures Wonders of Sodor Related Shining Time Station Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go An Unlikely Fandom Tugs books Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Fat Controller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fat_Controller) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fat_Controller?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.