4 ms·
> Better known as Sir Topham Hatt since the 1950s. Seemingly only in the US ("the Fat Controller is always referred to by his real name, "Sir Topham Hatt" in t
by stordoff 9y ago
> Better known as Sir Topham Hatt since the 1950s.
Seemingly only in the US ("the Fat Controller is always referred to by his real name, "Sir Topham Hatt" in the US"[0]). I was born in 1990 (UK), and as I recall he was almost always refered to as "The Fat Controller".
[0] http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Sir_Topham_Hatt#Trivia http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Sir_Topham_Hatt#Trivia
- toyg 9y agoCan confirm, "fat controlla" is alive and well in UK. I personally hate the character and agree with Ms. Tolentino, the whole setup is very regressive. What angers me most is that it exploits British pride in their early railway industry (which is basically dead now, ok, but is still venerated, especially outside of London) to peddle a worldview completely based around hierarchies and the duty of subordinates.
- Doctor_Fegg 9y agoMore passengers are carried on the British railways now than ever before, so I wouldn’t call it dead. (Posted from the comfort of an HST on the rural Cotswold Line, slated for part closure 40 years ago and now thriving.)
- arethuza 9y agoIndeed - reopening closed lines seems to be very popular here in Scotland - the Borders Line from Edinburgh being the most obvious example although there are others. I enjoy my commute by train into Edinburgh from Fife - not least because it means I get to go over the Forth Bridge.
- toyg 9y agoDead in the manufacturing sense, sorry it wasn't clear. There is basically one manufacturer left in the country, Bombardier, which is actually Canadian. The network is alright, although still shamefully behind most of Europe (very little electrification, still no high speed, etc etc).
- mst 9y agoSimilar. I grew up on the Thomas books and don't remember hearing "Sir Topham Hatt" til today - only ever "The Fat Controller".
- paulddraper 9y agoThat explains it, I suppose :) Lived in the US, seen Thomas shows + books (not originals) for decades, and only now hear anything but Sir Topham Hatt.
- jamiethompson 9y agoYeah, the US Thomas & Friends books you kinda have to translate on the fly as you're reading them. There are various differences.
- walshemj 9y agoyep I can remember reading the book sin th e60's in the UK and its always the fat controller - who incidentally was always portrayed as a blimpish establishment figure