The Fat Controller is a fiction; the first two books preceded nationalisation and he was the Fat Director in those, redone and renamed (along with new artwork) with nationalisation.
The Fat Controller is a fiction; the first two books preceded nationalisation and he was the Fat Director in those, redone and renamed (along with new artwork) with nationalisation.
I'd always had the impression that Sodor was a quasi-Garden of Eden, where such troubles as did come about, were pretty small-time; and beastly things like nationalisation and line closures, were stuff that happened in other, less fortunate places. Had imagined that Sodor's railways had remained happily in private ownership, "since forever" and up to the present day: anything changing (as above) because of nationalisation, just not applying there. In the Series, was the Sodor system actually from 1948 on, an -- albeit unusual -- part of BR; and in recent decades, who-knows-what? Setting-right on these matters by knowledgeable fans, would be much appreciated.
This fiction was effectively "reverse engineered" by Awdry, and his brother, well into the production of the books, where they mapped out where the various incidents had happened. It is of course well-established for serial authors to do a fictional map of where their stories are happening, the likes of Thomas Hardy's map of Wessex with the supposed places mentioned in his novels being just one of many example. Particularly for children's books, many here will know that any inconsistency is immediately picked up and questioned, so just as well ...! Of course, there is then a dividing line between requiring signals to have the right number and shape of stripes, but then accepting the locomotives have faces and characters. Awdry seems to have been quite clever in walking that line.First of all, as you may know the railways on the Island of Sodor are connected to the mainland by a bridge at Barrow.
Of course, there is then a dividing line between requiring signals to have the right number and shape of stripes, but then accepting the locomotives have faces and characters.
First of all, as you may know the railways on the Island of Sodor are connected to the mainland by a bridge at Barrow.
A sort of grouping of the original railways on the island took place in 1914 to form the North Western Railway. The board of directors of this railway managed to resist being absorbed by the LMS in 1923 and it remained independent until 1948 when the island became the North Western Region of British Railways. Since then, according to the Reverend Awdry in his 1987 book 'The Island of Sodor: Its people, history and railways': "In spite of nationalisation we have, in large measure, retained our independence and profitability. This is unquestionably due to the continuity of good management we have enjoyed under the 'Hatt regime'".
Good management from the Fat Controller? I beg to differThis is unquestionably due to the continuity of good management we have enjoyed under the 'Hatt regime
Hm. I mean he had his faults, but he was quite good at differentiating between the use of the carrot and the stick.Good management from the Fat Controller? I beg to differ
They couldn't replace him, as it would have caused "confusion and delay" .Good management from the Fat Controller? I beg to differ
And who else would keep the Islands bakeries open?They couldn't replace him, as it would have caused "confusion and delay" .