Thomas the Tank Engine - Picture of a Fascist Paradise?

[Burma Jones]

Sodor is a place where everyons strives to be "Really Useful." It seems to be ruled by Sir Toppem Hatt. There is definitely a despised lower class, the freight cars. And there's an enemy, Diesels....

Discuss

[daveskilt]

1. use of ringo starr as narrator - subversion and containment nt

[Screaming Lord Byron]

2. More of a Corporatist Totalitarianism, I'd say.

[Oggy]

3. I thought

it was the Fat controller who ruled?

I certainly remember the red engine ( James? ) being blocked up in a tunnel ( without coal, water and in isolation ), that's torture in my book. Well not literally in my book........ trails off slightly embarrassingly.

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. Small island, small railroad, great service.

A warning against the dangers of conglomeration. Huge corporations equal lousy service.

I actually heard a Labour MP on the BBC w.r.t the privitization of British Rail's passenger service say that he would be content with the move, if, and only if, Sir Topham Hatt (Fat Controller's name) was placed in charge of passenger rail.