- “You have caused delay and confusion!”
- ― Mr. Percival's catchphrase
Mr. Peregrine Percival[1], also known as The Thin Controller and The Narrow Gauge Controller, is the current controller of the Skarloey Railway and the Culdee Fell Railway. In the magazines, he also manages the Cable Railway.
Biography
Mr. Percival was introduced ninth series as the controller of the Skarloey Railway in favour of Sir Topham Hatt. He is married to Mrs. Polly Percival and has two children, twins Patrick and Pansy. He and his family live in a cottage opposite the Depot. He was one of the important visitors who attended Dowager Hatt's special tour of Sodor and then a party at Knapford.
He later charged Peter Sam with the running of the Skarloey Railway whilst he attended a meeting with Sir Topham Hatt and welcomed Luke to his railway.
During one Christmas time, he scolded Duncan for his grumpy disposition. He told Duncan that he had to be cheerful all day, but later realised that demand was too hard for the grumpy engine.
He once attended a meeting with Sir Topham Hatt at Knapford, where he sparked a debate between Thomas, Spencer and Bertie over how many wheels are best, after declaring the two wheels of his bicycle were best. On the way back from the meeting, he called for help when the Duke and Duchess of Boxford needed to get to Callan Castle when Bertie was unable to take them because of a flat tyre. He later attended Sir Robert Norramby's Christmas Luncheon at Ulfstead Castle.
Mr. Percival appears to be acquainted with the Thin Clergyman, as he was seen boarding Thomas' train with him at Kellsthorpe Road, speaking to him at Vicarstown and watching the events of the Great Railway Show with him. He was one of a group of very important passengers who went on a demonstration run of Hugo. While Sir Topham Hatt travelled the world looking for Thomas, he left Mr. Percival in charge of the North Western Railway.
Personality
Much like Sir Topham Hatt, Mr. Percival is a firm but fatherly figure to the Skarloey engines and his stern, compact attitude and work ethic is only what is best for the railway.
Attire
Mr. Percival is a tall, thin gentleman. He is usually dressed in a black suit jacket with grey trousers, a yellow waistcoat, a white shirt, a black tie and a black bowler hat. He wears a pair of brown glasses.
Appearances
Books
Magazine Stories
Video Games |
Official Description
From Official Media:[1]
| “ | Mr. Percival - The Thin Controller: Mr. Peregrine Percival manages the Skarloey Railway and overseas the Narrow Gauge Engines. He prefers to travel by bicycle, but is know to travel with his friend Sir Topham Hatt in Winston, the track inspector car. Mr. Percival will have one of Sir Topham Hatt's engines to help out at the Blue Mountain Quarry, the Transfer Yards and the Wharf. Mr. Percival and Mrs. Percival have five children, including twins, Patrick and Pansy. | ” |
Trivia
- Mr. Percival is primarily based on Mr. Peter Sam, the first Thin Controller in The Railway Series. His name was most likely changed in the Thomas & Friends television series to avoid confusion with the engine of the same name.
- Mr. Peter Sam's attire and physical appearance in the 1979 annual may have been the inspiration for Mr. Percival, as they both have the same hairstyle and wear the same clothing and bowler hat.
- In the US dub of Mr. Perkins Storytime, Mr. Peter Sam is erroneously referred to as Mr. Percival.
- Unlike Sir Topham Hatt, whose voice actor changed from Kerry Shale to Keith Wickham for both future UK and US dubs of the series until its end in 2020, Kerry Shale was consistently casted as Mr. Percival in the entire US dub, making Mr. Percival to be the only controller to retain separate English voice actors throughout the CGI era.
- Mr. Percival's Take-Along and Take-n-Play toys both feature him inside of a red car. However, in the episodes he has only ever been seen with a bicycle, which he prefers over cars.
- He is the only character introduced in the ninth series to appear in the CGI Series.
- From the ninth to the eleventh series, the top of Mr. Percival's head was bald. However, since the crossover to CGI in the twelfth series, he has a full head of hair.
- Mr. Percival wears similar attire, with corresponding colours, to the Thomas & Friends Fat Controller's clothes.
- In the Model Series, Mr. Percival was often accompanied by a workman holding his bicycle.
- Mr. Percival's CGI Series model was reused for the Dockyard Manager in the twelfth series episode, Henry Gets it Wrong.
- In the French Dub, Mr. Percival has two nicknames.
- The first one, used in the ninth series, is "Le Contrôleur tout mince" which means "The Very Thin Controller".
- The second one, the most used, "Le Contrôleur à lunettes", which means "The Spectacles Controller".
Merchandise
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take Along (in red car; discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (in red car; discontinued)
- Bachmann (coming soon)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 2013.07.02 - THO Character Bios
- ↑ T&F - The Big Book of Engines - The Thin Controller's page