| For other uses, see Sir Topham Hatt (disambiguation). |
- “Please tell everyone that whatever happens elsewhere, Steam will still be at work here. We shall be glad to welcome all who want to see and travel behind, real engines.”
- ― Sir Charles Topham Hatt II in Enterprising Engines
Sir Charles Topham Hatt II, also known as The Fat Controller, was the son of Sir Topham Hatt I. He took over his father's role as controller of the North Western Railway from 1954 to 1984. He was succeeded by his son, Stephen.
Biography[]
Charles Topham Hatt was educated at Abbey School, Cronk and from there went to Crewe Works as an engineering pupil under Mr. 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 overseas, before returning to Sodor in 1952 to become Chief Mechanical Engineer at Crovan's Gate Works and general assistant to his ageing father. Following his father's retirement, the Board did not hesitate to elect him as the new Controller.
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.
Charles acted as railway controller for the next thirty years before he finally retired in 1984, in which his son, Stephen Hatt, took over as controller of the North Western Railway. Thirteen years later, Charles passed away at age 83.
Family Tree[]
| Lord Frederick Regaby † | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lancelot Qualtrough | Lady Dorothy Lloyd | Sir Handel Brown I † | Jabez Croarie | Lady Jane Brown | Sir Topham Hatt I † | Albert Regaby † | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lady Rachel Qualtrough | Sir Handel Lloyd Brown II | Lady Amanda Croarie | Sir Charles Topham Hatt II † | Barabra Jane Hatt | Henry Regaby | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebecca Dorothy Brown | Handel Qualtrough Brown | Bridget Amanda Hatt | Sir Stephen Topham Hatt III | Lady Helen Margaret | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Topham Hatt | Charles Nicholas Hatt | Emily Helen Hatt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances[]
Official Description[]
From Official Media:[1]
| “ | Sir Topham Hatt II (Born 1914): Charles Topham Hatt was educated at the Abbey School, Cronk, and from there went to Crewe as an Engineering Pupil under Mr W. A. Stanier. He was therefore at Crewe when Henry was sent for rebuilding in 1932, after the accident at Killdane. In 1937 Mr Stanier recommended him for railway service overseas; but he returned in 1939 to enlist in the Royal Engineers, and served with them throughout World War II.
|
” |
From Official Media:[2]
| “ | Sir Topham Hatt (2) (1914-1997): Actually, of course, Sir Charles Topham Hatt. He was The Fat Controller from 1954 to 1984, when he retired in favour of his own son. During his period of office he began improvements to the harbour at Knapford, planned by his father, and re-opened the Arlesburgh branch in 1965/6, being responsible for the construction of the Arlesdale Railway and for establishing the ballast consortium which uses it. He married Amanda Croarie in 1940 and they had two children - Stephen Topham (the current Fat Controller) born in 1941 and Bridget, who was born in 1943. Charles inherited his father's baronetcy in 1956 and died thirteen years after his own retirement. | ” |
Trivia[]
- Out of the three Fat Controllers, Charles is the only one not to physically appear in Thomas & Friends, though his existence is mentioned in The Official Website, Annuals, Magazines and Trading Cards character descriptions of his parents.[3][4]
- Furthermore, in the magazine story, The Hallowe'en Special, it is said that his children (Stephen and Bridget) live on the Mainland with their parents, and only come to stay with their grandparents on Sodor every so often.
- In Sir John Gielgud's narration of The Fat Controller's Engines, he incorrectly stated that Charles' first name was Derek.
- His design having a moustache in Really Useful Engines might have inspired Sir Lowham Hatt's appearance in Thomas & Friends.
Gallery[]
The Railway Series[]
Main Series[]
Miscellaneous[]
3.jpg "ThomasandtheMissingChristmasTree(story)3.jpg (1.32 MB)")
9.jpg "ThomasandtheMissingChristmasTree(story)9.jpg (1.21 MB)")
19.jpg "ThomasandtheMissingChristmasTree(story)19.jpg (1.31 MB)")
Others[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 RWS "The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways" (1987)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 RWS "Sodor: Reading Between the Lines" (2005)
- ↑ T&F - Trading Cards (2002) - Lady Hatt
- ↑ T&F - The Official Website - Engine Depot
