Sir Topham Hatt, also known by his nickname, The Fat Controller, and formerly The Fat Director, is the controller of the North Western Railway. He makes sure everything is running smoothly and right on time, with no confusion and delay.
Did you know? Due to different societal norms, the Fat Controller is always referred to by his real name, "Sir Topham Hatt" in the US. Some engines even refer to him as the "Fat Hatt" of the railway for short.

Appearances in Show[]
Season 2[]
Trivia[]
- Unlike The Railway Series, Sir Topham Hatt is not three controllers but one mono entity of them all.
- Due to different societal norms, the Fat Controller is always referred to by his real name, "Sir Topham Hatt" in the US.
- In Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Diesel 10 calls him "Fat Hatt", a combination of his nickname and his surname.
- The Fat Controller's television series model from The Grand Opening appeared in the 2009 "Children in Need" charity single and was animated using stop-motion.
- Throughout the series, it has been shown that he's not a very good driver to both Elizabeth and Winston.
- The Fat Controller's office set was part of an exhibit at the Hangaram Art Museum in South Korea in 2010.
- Large scale and miniature models of Sir Topham Hatt are currently in the safe hands of the Top Props preservation group, after they were sold by The Prop Gallery. A large scale walking model of Sir Topham Hatt was also sold by The Prop Gallery and is now owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch.
- Sir Topham Hatt is often accompanied by two men in standard blue railway uniforms. They are presumed to be his assistants. In the sixteenth series episode, Percy and the Calliope, the narrator refers to them as "helpers".
- In the book, Thomas-saurus Rex, it states that Sir Topham Hatt used to be called "Little Topham Hatt" in his youth. His grandfather also appears in the book.
- Sir Topham Hatt's Thomas & Friends model had eyebrows inconsistently. Between the sixth and eleventh series, the model mainly did not have them at all, excluding the seventh series episode, The Grand Opening. It would not be until the CGI series that he would permanently have eyebrows.
- The alternative rock band Catherine Wheel released a song named after the Fat Controller called "Here Comes The Fat Controller" on their 1997 album, Adam and Eve.
- From the thirteenth to fifteenth series, Sir Topham Hatt was referred to as "Bertram" by Dowager Hatt. Thus, his first name is not revealed until 25 years after the show began.
- In most episodes and specials, Sir Topham Hatt is seen writing with his right hand. But in the nineteenth series episode, No Help At All, he is seen writing left-handed. This could likely be a mistake, but may also mean he is ambidextrous.
- A photo of the Fat Controller from the first series episode, Trouble in the Shed was shown on a web-exclusive video of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
- Sir Topham Hatt is the only named human character to appear and speak in every series of the television series.
- Between the thirteenth and fifteenth series, Hero of the Rails to Tale of the Brave, Sir Topham Hatt was the only character from the model series to still be voiced by the narrator in the CGI Series in the Finnish dub.
- The Marvel Comics incarnation of Sir Topham Hatt, has a sister living in the town of Weymouth, Dorset, England. He sometimes visits her whilst on holiday.
- In The Polish dub Sir Topham Hatt pointed out that his full name is "Tobiasz Szyneczka", and not "Bertram".