In message , at 08:24:30 on
Tue, 9 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On Mon, 8 Mar 2021 11:45:41 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 09:44:35 on
Mon, 8 Mar 2021, Trolleybus remarked:
On 7 Mar 2021 11:02:37 GMT, Marland
wrote:

Sam Wilson wrote:


Sigh. Youngsters.

When I were a lad it wasn't The Fat Controller and it certainly wasn't
Sir Topham Hat (who sounds, not coincidently, like a character from
Bridgerton).

It was The Fat Comptroller.

Notwitstanding:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...AC_SL1184_.jpg

I have some first edition Thomas books (plus the one with Gordon in the
tunnel: The Three Railway Engines, the first in the series) and the
person in question then was "The Fat Director".

Book 2 "The Fat Director"


Wiki suggests the Fat Director was used for a couple of books. The web
is scattered with references to the Fat Comptroller but on Wiki Talk a
chap suggesting (in 2006) that the name Fat Comptroller was ever used
was basically told to go away.

Fat Comptroller clearly WAS used, as a search for the term will show.
I suspect the name was changed to controller many years ago as
comptroller was an unusual word and controller almost a homophone.

Controller seems an odd title and not in common (non-railway) use. But
railways do have control offices. Were those working in control styled
as Controllers?

I've posted evidence it went from Director to Controller in the early
50's.

When is your first sighting on Comptroller?
--
Roland Perry