Do we like them?

Do we like The Fat Controller (Sir Topham Hatt)?

A character from The Railway Series / Thomas & Friends (1945–present)

Our score: 8 out of 10. A firm but fair boss who wants his engines to be Really Useful. He's pompous and strict, but he forgives mistakes and rewards honest effort, so yes, we'd back him.

The Fat Controller is the boss of the railway on the Island of Sodor. He first appeared in the Rev. W. Awdry's books, where he was called the Fat Director. In the UK he's known as the Fat Controller. In the US version he's always called Sir Topham Hatt. He wears a top hat and a waistcoat and expects punctuality.

Most stories follow one pattern. An engine gets too boastful or lazy, or makes a muddle, and causes delays or accidents. The Controller arrives to sort it out. He is stern, and he's often cross, but he is rarely cruel, and he explains why the engine got it wrong.

We score him a 7. He's a bit pompous and quick to lecture, and now and then he blames an engine too fast. But he cares about the railway, his workers and his engines. He trusts them to learn from mistakes and praises them when they do well. In the stories, that makes him a dependable and fair leader.