#one example is i tend to headcanon fc1 grew *chummy* with edward in the later years to an extent that fc2 wouldn't just because...

[mean-scarlet-deceiver]

Out of all three of the Fat Controllers we see in the Railway Series, who would you say is the coldest/most cruel in terms of personality and actions?

Only one of them ever blocked off his entire main line and threw a dependent into solitary isolation for months in order to teach a lesson to a literal Toddler Engine.

So I think Fat Controller #1, Original Flavor Sir Topham Himself, wins this one pretty handily.

#chatter #i also know people LOVE to make it Not His Fault that the coffee pots were scrapped #i get it #but... look #we seem *in general* to have a remarkable shortage of the railway's early rolling stock on this island #i'm just sayin #i don't even condemn FC1 *too* harshly for that because i think it was the hatts themselves #that would up really introducing/pushing this standard for a large company to Keep Everything in service #anything fc1 did i think was probably the norm or ethically better than his contemporary counterparts #but yeah compared to charles hatt? compared to stephen the sweetheart? #easily the coldest #little question #i do think charles was better at keeping on a more overall more professional and even keel #and sometimes *to some engines* this might look colder or more detached #but yeah overall i suspect he's way more of a soft touch than his old man #one example is i tend to headcanon fc1 grew *chummy* with edward in the later years to an extent that fc2 wouldn't just because... #that's weird. and unprofessional. #it's Twin Engines that gives me this vibe #edward is all casually eager to give his unsolicited opinion (bizarre quality that no one ever encouraged in a late victorian worker tbh) #and fc2 shuts it down pretty coldly lol #which! to be frank! is probably better management than leaving himself open to the appearance of favoritism #and ofc i've many a time sung my tune about fc1 being soft on thomas and fc2 rapping his knuckles much more sharply at the first opportunit #but i think this shows better sense and makes the whole fleet more comfortable #standards are consistent #rws discussion #the fat controller