Ffarquhar Quarry

Ffarquhar Quarry (also known as Anopha Quarry or Centre Island Quarry) is the quarry at the end of Thomas' Branch Line, owned by the Ffarquhar Quarry Company.

The Railway Series
Ffarquhar Quarry was founded in 1924 when Jabez Croarie, principal landowner in Ffarquhar who, feeling the pinch after the First World War, floated the Ffarquhar Quarry Company to mine the stone under his land on Anopha Fell and in furtherance of this, persuaded the North Western Railway to extend their branch line from Elsbridge to Ffarquhar. Money was short, and the railway would only extend if the Quarry would supply the stone for the required Viaduct free of charge. Jabez, wanting an attractive structure to show potential customers the quality of his stone, agreed.

The Elsbridge Viaduct was completed in 1925, and has since needed only minimal maintenance, thus giving excellent testimony to the qualities of Ffarquhar stone, which has since found a ready market both in Sodor and elsewhere. When first quarried it is easily worked, but after a curing period above ground it becomes very hard and impervious to weathering and air pollution. It is specified widely for municipal and other public buildings, as well as for bridge and harbour work.

The Quarry is 1½ miles from Ffarquhar, and some 250ft higher; it is reached by the Quarry Tramroad. The route was initially worked by the Coffee Pots, but they were found to be deficient in break power, so Thomas was sent up on occasion. On one of these trips in 1951, Thomas was booked by a young constable for not complying with a forgotten law, which was later found to be outdated, thus explaining why the old constable, who was a good friend of Thomas, not stopping him beforehand. Regardless Toby was brought in to run the quarry traffic. Shortly afterwards, the young constable was transferred away and non-tram engines occasionally use the tramway again.

In the 1960s, to cope with increasing production, the Quarry Co. bought a Drewry diesel named Mavis, who not only shunts the quarry sidings, but also from time to time ventures down to Ffarquhar Station. In 1987, the Quarry Co. employed some 400 people either underground or at the cutting and curing sheds. These sheds were originally located at the quarry itself, but were later moved to near Ffarquhar Station.

Toby, Henrietta and Bertie take the quarrymen to and from the quarry, but unfortunately Bertie can only go up to the quarry gates and the two had a hard time transporting the workmen. The problem was solved after Sir Topham Hatt renovated an old coach called Victoria and joined her with Henrietta and Toby. There are four passenger trains a day from Ffarquhar for workers at the quarry, while goods trains are run as required. There is only a platform and waiting shelter at the quarry.

Thomas & Friends
Mavis, Diesel, 'Arry and Bert work here most frequently. A magazine fact file also states that Jack and Alfie work here. Den once briefly worked here while Mavis was under repairs. Stepney also briefly worked here. As well as mining quarry rock, there is a section of the quarry which mines slate. In Calling All Engines!, Edward had to sleep here until Tidmouth Sheds was rebuilt.

In the CGI series, Mavis, 'Arry and Bert permanently work here and Toby helps as well when he is not taking the quarry workers to and from the Quarry in Henrietta. Ryan and Daisy once had to help out during the busy summer months.

Appearances
Railway Series= {{Scroll box|

The Railway Series

 * Troublesome Engines - Percy Runs Away
 * Toby the Tram Engine - Thomas in Trouble
 * Branch Line Engines - Percy's Predicament
 * Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine - Train Stops Play
 * Tramway Engines - Mavis and Toby's Tightrope
 * Toby, Trucks and Trouble - Mavis and the Lorry and Toby Takes the Road
 * Thomas Comes Home - Snow Problem and Toby's Megatrain
 * Thomas and Victoria - Overloaded and Toby's Vintage Train

Companion Volumes
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 * 1987 - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways
 * -|Television Series=

Thomas & Friends

 * Series 1 - Percy Runs Away (mentioned) and Thomas in Trouble (indirectly mentioned)
 * 'Series 2 - Percy and Harold, Percy's Predicament and Ghost Train
 * Series 3 - Donald's Duck, Trust Thomas, Mavis and Toby's Tightrope
 * Series 5Series 5 - Horrid Lorry, Put Upon Percy and Stepney Gets Lost
 * Series 6 - Salty's Secret, A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter and Buffer Bother
 * Series 7 - Bill, Ben and Fergus
 * Series 8 - Percy's New Whistle (mistakenly referred to as "The Smelter's Yard"), Thomas to the Rescue, Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough and Spic and Span
 * Series 9 - Toby Feels Left Out, Thomas' New Trucks, Saving Edward and Thomas and the Golden Eagle
 * Series 10 - Toby's Afternoon Off and Edward Strikes Out
 * Series 11 - Dream On, Dirty Work and Don't be Silly, Billy
 * Series 13 - The Early Bird, Percy's Parcel, A Blooming Mess and The Biggest Present of All
 * Series 14 - Charlie and Eddie and Thomas in Charge
 * Series 15 - Toby and Bash, Kevin the Steamie and Wonky Whistle (stock footage)
 * Series 16 - Race to the Rescue, Express Coming Through, Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor and Whiff's Wish
 * Series 17 - Henry's Hero and Away From the Sea
 * Series 18 - Not So Slow Coaches, Signals Crossed and Thomas the Quarry Engine
 * Series 19 - The Truth About Toby and Den and Dart
 * Series 20 - Toby's New Friend and Ryan and Daisy
 * Series 21 - Springtime for Diesel and P.A. Problems

Specials

 * Calling All Engines!
 * The Great Discovery
 * Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure
 * Journey Beyond Sodor
 * Big World! Big Adventures!

Magazine Stories
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 * 1996 - Proud Mavis!

Trivia

 * A magazine fact file says that the Sodor Slate Quarry is owned by the Ffarquhar Quarry Company.
 * In the eighteenth series episode, Thomas the Quarry Engine, a clock was added above the two-road engine shed.
 * In the fifth series, Ffarquhar Quarry shared the same set as the Sodor China Clay Company.
 * In the seventh and ninth series, Ffarquhar Quarry shared the same sets with the Sodor Cement Works.
 * The design and layout of the quarry changed every series until the CGI crossover in the thirteenth series.
 * In the television series, Sir Topham Hatt is in charge of the Ffarquhar Quarry.

Merchandise

 * Wooden Railway (discontinued)
 * Take-n-Play (spiral tracks with Diesel; discontinued)
 * Adventures (spiral tracks with Diesel)
 * Motorized Railway
 * Mega Bloks

Cantera de Anopha Anopha Quarry Каменоломня Анопха