Ffarquhar Branch Line

The **Ffarquhar Branch Line** is a branch line that runs from Knapford up to Ffarquhar. Thomas is in charge of the branch line, which was rewarded to him in 1924 after he helped James after he had a nasty accident while pulling a goods train. Thomas is very proud of his branch line and considers it the pride of the entire railway. Percy, Toby, and Daisy work on the branch. Thomas and Toby also have their own coaches which work on the line too: Annie and Clarabel, Thomas' coaches; and Henrietta and Victoria, Toby's coaches. In addition, Toby has a luggage van named Elsie, who runs along Henrietta and Victoria to form Toby's "Vintage Train". All the engines on the line handle both passengers and goods. Even so, Daisy prefers to take passengers and Percy and Toby take the larger part of the goods, taking trains to Knapford Harbour and from Anopa Quarry; respectively. Mavis works at Anopa Quarry, which is on the branch; but is not owned by the North Western Railway and is owned privately.

There is a small tramroad on the branch line that runs from Ffarquhar to Anopa Quarry, which Mavis and Toby run on; since Thomas was fined in 1951 for going up to the quarry regularly without cowcatchers or sideplates by a policeman. Even so, the law was found to be outdated, and Percy travels down to the quarry occasionally.

## History

The Ffarquhar branch line was originally ran by the "coffee pots" of the Tidmouth, Knapford and Elsbridge Railway, later known as the Tidmouth, Wellsworth and Suddery Railway. When the Tidmouth, Wellsworth and Suddery Railway and the Sodor and Mainland Railway joined to form the North Western Railway in 1914; the coffee pots fell out of use, last used for a brief time at the quarry in the early 1950s when Thomas couldn't work at Anopa Quarry, prior to Toby's arrival. What became of the coffee pots is unknown, but it is generally assumed that they were all scrapped, as none has been heard of them since 1951.

In 1956, Knapford Harbour, which the Main Line and the Ffarquhar branch line (though more often the branch) both operate at, was constructed to serve the railway. Thomas, Percy, and Toby helped build the harbor, though Percy is the engine from the branch that operates at the harbor most of the time.

## Route

The route starts at Knapford, where it meets with the Main Mine and the Arlesburgh Branch Line. Percy brings and takes goods from the harbor here, and Thomas' passenger trains start here. After Knapford, the line calls at Tidmouth; where sheds for Thomas, Percy, and Toby are located. The branch's coaches sometimes stay here in sidings when they aren't being used. The line then calls through Elsbridge, where Thomas waits to pick up passengers from Henry in the morning. Up to Tidmouth, the Ffarquhar branch, Arlesburgh branch, and Main Line both use the stations. Up to Elsbridge, the Ffarquhar branch and Main Line use the stations. After passing Elsbridge, the line junctions, one line going to Dryaw (on the Ffarquhar branch and the other going to Crosby (on the Main Line). At Dryaw is located an airfield, where Harold and Tiger Moth live. Dryaw has two stations, one for passengers and one for goods, the latter of which was built first. After Dryaw, the line calls at Maithwaite, and then at Toryreck. A shed for Daisy is located at Toryreck. After, the line calls at Hackenbeck and terminates at Ffarquhar. After Ffarquhar is a tramroad leading up to Anopa Quarry, where Mavis is situated. The tramroad is small, only five miles long. Toby and Percy help shunt and pick up trains here on occasions. Steam engines without cowcatchers and sideplates on the NWR were once forbidden to pass through this line in the 1950s by the constable at Ffarquhar, but the law was found to be outdated. Even so, Toby still runs the tramroad; and Percy sometimes travels to the quarry.

Knapford, Tidmouth, Elsbridge, and Ffarquhar contain yards for goods trains to be pulled, but Dryaw, Maithwaite, Toryreck, and Hackenbeck are only passenger stations. Maithwaite has a small siding, while Dryaw, Toryreck have none at all.

## Engine Duties

Thomas, Percy, Toby, and Daisy all take passenger trains, though Thomas and Daisy do so more often. Percy runs a goods line on the branch from Toryreck to Knapford and Toby usually takes trains from Anopa Quarry, through the tramroad, also to Knapford, and sometimes to Elsbridge Harbour. Daisy takes goods trains on certain occasions, but much prefers passengers.

## Gallery

KnapfordTidmouthElsbridgeDryawMaithwaiteHackenbeckFfarquhar