Sir Topham Hatt

**Sir Topham Hatt**, nicknamed "**The Fat Controller**", "**The Stout Gentleman**" (previously known as "**The Fat Director**"), is the manager of the North Western Railway and is a father figure to his engines.

## The Fat Controller

So far, there have been three controllers in charge of the North Western Railway.

### Sir Topham Hatt I (1880-1956)

**Topham Hatt** was apprenticed at Swindon Works at age fourteen and seems to have struck a friendship with W. A. Stanier during his time there. He came to Sodor in 1901 and joined A. W. Dry & Co. at Tidmouth. On their recommendation, he became engineer to the Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway in 1909, the Tidmouth, Wellsworth & Suddery in 1912 and the North Western Railway upon its formation in 1914. On the North Western Railway, he rose to be general manager in 1923, managing director in 1936 and upon Nationalisation in 1948, he was created a baronet on his appointment as chairman of the Regional Executive.

He married Jane, sister of Mr. Handel Brown in 1910 and they had two children, Barbara Jane (born 1911), who married Henry Regaby in 1938, and Charles Topham. He retired in 1954 in favour of his son Charles, whom the board had no hesitation in electing as his successor. He died at Wellsworth in 1956.

In The Three Railway Engines and Thomas the Tank Engine, he was nicknamed "The Fat Director" before his nickname changed to "The Fat Controller" in James the Red Engine.

### Sir Charles Topham Hatt II (1914-1997)

**Sir Charles Topham Hatt** was the second Fat Controller from 1954 to 1984, when he retired in favour of his own son.

Charles Topham Hatt was educated at Abbey School, Cronk and from there went to Crewe Works as an engineering pupil under Sir William Stanier in 1932. He was present during Henry's rebuilding in 1935. In 1937, he was recommended for railway service overseas by Mr. Stanier, but he returned in 1939 to enlist in the Royal Engineers, serving with them throughout the Second World War. He was demobilised in 1945 with the rank of Colonel.

He spent a further period oversea, before returning to Sodor in 1952 to become Chief Mechanical Engineer at Crovan's GateWorks and general assistant to his ageing father.

During his period of office, he began improvements to the harbour at Knapford, planned by his father and reopened the Arlesburgh branch in 1965/6, being responsible for the construction of the Arlesdale Railway and for establishing the ballast consortium which uses it.

His cousin, Sir Handel Lloyd Brown II, was born in 1924. He married Amanda Croarie in 1940 and they had two children, Stephen Topham, born in 1941 and Bridget, born in 1943. Charles inherited his father's baronetcy in 1956.

### Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III (1941-)

**Sir Stephen Topham Hatt** (who first appeared in Toby the Tram Engine while on a family holiday in East Anglia with his sister and grandparents) became the third Fat Controller in 1984, succeeding to his father's baronetcy in 1997. In 1970, he married Helen Margaret, a distant cousin and granddaughter of the Reverend Nicholas Dreswick, the much-respected historian of Sodor. They had three children: Richard Topham, born in 1972 and no doubt destined to be Sir Topham Hatt IV (his father was seventy-four in 2015, though he has, as yet, given no hint of retiring), Charles Nicholas (1974-) and Emily Helen (1977-).

With great skill, he masterminded the arrangements for the royal visit in 1995, when he welcomed the Prince of Wales on his visit to Sodor.

## Sir Topham Hatt in the Television Series

In the television series, there is only one Sir Topham Hatt. He can be described as a combination of the three controllers from the Railway Series.

In his youth, he was a Boy Scout. Prior to him becoming Controller of the North Western Railway, **Sir Topham Hatt** owned a Sentinel steam lorry named Elizabeth, who notes that he was not the best driver. When he was a young man, Edward always took him aboard an old coach on his birthday. He also built the Coffee Pots some time prior to Thomas arriving on Sodor. Sir Topham later received his knighthood for his service to the railway industry. He was also the controller of the Skarloey Railway, until Mr. Percival was hired to help him manage the ever-increasing size of his railway industry. Prior to Blue Mountain Mystery, he bought a track inspection car named Winston, who is often used as a private transportation vehicle on the railway.

Sir Topham Hatt married Lady Hatt and is the grandfather of Stephen and Bridget Hatt. He has a twin brother, Sir Lowham Hatt and his mother is Dowager Hatt. According to the Official Website, "we have yet to meet his children".

As well as owning several engines, he owns a cat, two cars and lives in a mansion somewhere on the outskirts of Wellsworth.

## Personality

Sir Topham Hatt is firm but funny and fair. He can be strict, but with a good reason and he deeply cares about the engines and also shows a fatherly side to them. He is quite a strong character and will remind the engines that he is in charge if they start to rebel against his authority. He does not stand bullying and even though he is usually serious, he does enjoy a good jolly laugh.

Despite his kindness and fairness, however, there are times where Sir Topham Hatt berates the engines for situations beyond their control. Like any son, he does hold a slight bit of respect for his mother, Dowager Hatt. But like all parental relationships, there are some things he finds more personal than others.

At times, Sir Topham Hatt can be the comic relief character, having high levels of irony and occasional slapstick. He can also be overhasty and forgetful at times, and misplace priorities. He also has a slight sweet tooth, having a particular taste for creme buns, ice cream and milkshakes.

That being said, he also shows a distinctly more fatherly side to his engines. When one of them goes missing, he is staunchly determined to find them - even if it means travelling entire countries to do so!

## Trivia

* Sir Topham Hatt appear in *Twilight Sparkle's Adventures of Thomas & Friends* specials and episodes and *Thomas' Adventures of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic* Season 4-9 episodes.
* According to Elizabeth, Sir Topham Hatt was a bad driver in his younger days. When he is seen driving Winston, it seems his skills have not improved.
* Due to different societal norms, the Fat Controller is always referred to by his real name, "Sir Topham Hatt" in the US.
	+ Although, in certain US episodes following the CGI series, the engines' mouths are not reanimated properly, as their mouths say "The Fat Controller" when they verbally say "Sir Topham Hatt". In a few occasions, this is reversed.
	+ Also, several times in the UK script, Sir Topham Hatt is addressed by his nickname in public, when it would be inappropriate, possibly due to broadcasting concerns. This was fixed in Blue Mountain Mystery, when Victor called the Fat Controller by his real name "Sir Topham Hatt".
* As of 2016, Sir Topham Hatt plays a comedy role in the series.
* Sir Topham Hatt is also best friends with Princess Celestia.
* A running gag throughout the series is the constant loss of his hat.
* In Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Diesel 10 calls him "Fat Hatt", a combination of his nickname and his real name.
* His name is a pun on *top hat*, the constant loss of which is a running gag throughout the series.
* Although unconfirmed, his sweet tooth might be the showrunners poking fun at his weight.

## Gallery

Sir Topham Hatt ISir Charles Topham Hatt IISir Stephen Topham Hatt IIISir Charles Topham Hatt IISir Topham Hatt in his model versionSir Topham Hatt with his wife Lady Hatt, his brother, Sir Lowham Hatt and ThomasSir Topham Hatt in WinstonSir Topham Hatt as a young manSir Topham Hatt in The Adventure BeginsSir Topham Hatt in Season 19Sir Topham Hatt with Stephen and Bridget with chicken poxSir Topham Hatt as a refereeSir Topham Hatt with Mr. PercivalSir Topham Hatt trying to ride Mr. Percival's bikeSir Topham Hatt in Sodor's Legend of the Lost TreasureSir Topham Hatt in Season 20Sir Topham Hatt with Sir Robert Norramby at KnapfordSir Topham Hatt wearing a summer suitSir Topham Hatt with the Museum MangerSir Topham Hatt with Captain Joe and his grandchildrenSir Topham Hatt with Stephen and BridgetSir Topham Hatt onboard SkiffSir Topham Hatt strandedSir Topham Hatt reunited with his grandchildrenSir Topham Hatt onboard the Shooting StarSir Topham Hatt with Mr Bubbles in Thomas & Friends in 4-D: Bubbling BoilersSir Topham Hatt with the steam team in Share a Selfie for Children in NeedSir Topham Hatt with Mr Percival and Fergus DuncanSir Topham Hatt, Mr Percival, Fergus Duncan, Sir Robert and Wilbert Awdry