#ttte the thin controller

[pepperher]

Some only slightly unhinged art I made of Peter Sam the person aka the thin controller

PP Sam

[traintrainingmontage]

Felt like following up with previous thoughts about the relationships between the Hatts and the engines of the NWR, and the relationships between the Sams, Hughs, and Handel Browns and the SR engines.

The relationship between the many Sir Topham Hatts and the NWR engines is quite good, but it's a strictly employee/employer relationship. There is a carefully maintained professional distance between the Hatts and their engines, and this is by design--there are many engines on the NWR, at least 80 according to official RWS canon, and the Hatts can't show any favoritism toward any one group, or else it breeds resentment and everything falls apart. Trains, for better or worse, have excellent memories and will remember slights. If it's interpersonal between peers, that's one thing, but if it's from the controller himself, that's another. Engines will either be tripping over themselves trying to please him and causing more problems, or they'll be catty with each other, more than they already are. Plus, the NWR has a lot of businesses relying on it, to the point that the island's economic stability depends on his line. There's a lot of pressure for things to go right, and Sir Topham can't be seen as incapable of keeping his employees in line and on task given just how many people's livelihoods depend on him, including said employees (engine or human). No, it's better for everyone on the railway, human or otherwise, if Sir Topham Hatt is always neutral and gives the impression of being the caring yet firm employer so nobody gets Ideas.

(Are there favorites, though? Of course there are; it's Thomas, Edward, Percy, and Toby. But of those four, only Toby has gotten the privilege of seeing the side of the Fat Controller that's just Bertram or just Stephen.)

Meanwhile, for the Skarloey engines, their line is a) much smaller, and b) not nearly as concerned with being a huge, booming business spanning multiple industries and interests. They're a tourist line that does mineral shipment on the side, and their goal is mainly to stay afloat and serve their community, as echoed by the philosophy of Sir Handel Brown I. As such, the Owner, Thin Controller, and Foreman can all afford to be somewhat closer with the engines. I imagine that they also draw a distinct line between professionalism and family--there is a distinct difference between the Thin Controller and Mr. Peter Sam--but all of the Skarloey engines have seen when the professional mask comes off and their friend and family member wishes them good night with a genuine and caring smile. And the engines respect that line very much, because not every engine is as lucky as they are to be treated and loved so well. There is no fear of being scrapped or sent away; the only expectation is that they will do their best. Duncan especially feels this, being the only SR engine to have worked anywhere else before coming to Sodor.

(Sometimes I think that Sir Topham Hatt envies the SR management because they CAN have those close relationships with their engines and he really can't.)

But the distinction is important; the NWR and SR feel very different for a multitude of reasons, and the engines are only part of that.

[traintrainingmontage]

The Skarloey Railway: While You're Here, You're Family*

*Family in this specific case referring to the Foreman and the Thin Controller taking Skarloey to pieces after WWII ends and seeing to their horror just how much damage he had accumulated from all of his effort during the war. When he wakes, they ask him for a report, including how much pain he's in, and he answers that he's fine, Sir, please don't worry.

Both men know full well that he is NOT fine, so they ask him again. This time, though, they ask not as Foreman and Controller, but as Ivo and Peter. Ivo and Peter, who had known Skarloey and Rheneas from their earliest days on this green earth, who had loved it every time the two engines took time to talk to them or show them their favorite spots on the line, who couldn't have been happier to take up the mantle of watching over the engines just as the engines had watched over them as boys. And Skarloey, who'd known these two since they were very young, who'd answered all of their questions about trains and consoled them when they needed a non-parent figure to talk to, starts to reply, but then hesitates, and after taking a shaky breath, simply says, "...It's bad, Peter."

And that's all Peter Sam, the Thin Controller of the Skarloey Railway, needs to know. He begins thinking of other arrangements, if he can keep any of the visiting engines on loan, everything necessary to keep Skarloey from deteriorating further. And Skarloey just looks at him with pain in his eyes as Ivo comes closer. "I'm sorry, Ivo," the engine murmurs, tears starting to fall. "I'm sorry I'm... like this."

"No!" snaps Ivo Hugh, startling Skarloey, who is not used to the mild-mannered foreman taking such a tone. "It is not your fault, Skarloey. Don't ever think that. Peter and I will do what we can; you gave it your very best. And so will we."

"...Alright," their engine replies with a shuddering breath, and Ivo's heart clenches as his resolve flares. "Just... please let me know how I can help."

"We will, Skarloey. We promise."

(Fortunately for Skarloey, he did.)

[littlewestern]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Everyone is teasing Duncan, telling him he's The Thin Controller's favourite. But surely that can't be true.