Sir Topham Hatt (formally known as the Fat Controller) is the superintendent of the North Western Railway, and the secondary tetartagonist in Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. He is the one responsible for giving all the engines their jobs and tell them what they're to do. He is quite a strict, stern, and very firm character that will remind the engines that he is in charge and he gives orders when some try to rebel against his authority. But overall, he is a fair, forgiving, wise and kind-hearted gentleman who loves his engines and is very proud of all of them and can always rely on them to be Really Useful.