Ffarquhar Branch Line

The Ffarquhar Branch Line, previously the Elsbridge Branch Line and commonly known as Thomas' Branch Line, runs between Knapford and Ffarquhar and was awarded to Thomas after recovering James from an accident.

## History

A harbour line from Elsbridge to Knapford was opened in 1885 and used horse-pulled wagons. Later, after (or before) the Tidmouth, Wellsworth and Brendam Railway and the Sodor and Mainland Railway were joined into the North Western Railway, horses were replaced by Coffeepot Engines, one of which was named Glynn. In 1915, a bay platform was opened at Knapford and was connected via a branch. Sometime after 1924, Thomas was sent to run the line. The rundown of the lead mines at Toryreck began in 1925, but opportunities of stone traffic from Ffarquhar opened and the line to Elsbridge was extended. Due to the extension, most of the Coffeepot Engines were retired and scrapped, Glynn however, was left in a siding at Ffarquhar station. The lead mines at Toryreck closed in 1930.

The line was first seen in the first season. It was given to Thomas, the station pilot at Knapford at the time, after rescuing James from an accident. He was alone at first, until one day he got into trouble with a policeman since he was not allowed to travel to Ffarquhar Quarry without cowcatchers and sideplates. The Fat Director acquired Toby to work the road side extension to the quarry.

In the second season, the Fat Director decided to rebuild the old harbour, located somewhere north of Knapford, to relieve congestion at the newer southern Harbour. Thomas, Toby and Trevor helped in rebuilding it. Percy was also transferred from the big station at Knapford to help with the construction. A line was used to connect the harbour with the main branch line south of Toryreck, and it mostly carries freight, together with occasional excursions for Thomas' passenger trains. Sometime later, Daisy, a diesel rail-car, was built and brought specially to work on the branch line, assisting Thomas with the passenger traffic.

Sometime during the third season, Thomas' branch line was closed temporarily after the hot temperature buckled the rails one day, causing Thomas to come off the tracks. Bertie took charge of Thomas' passengers, while he piloted at Knapford and Percy worked with Duck at the Docks in the meantime. Toby stayed with Mavis at Ffarquhar Quarry and Daisy pulled local trains along the Main Line.

Some days later, however, the line was repaired. Latterly, to cope with increasing production of stone from the quarry, the Ffarquhar Quarry Co. bought a diesel named Mavis, who not only shunts the quarry sidings, but also from time to time ventures down to the branch line delivering stone to the harbour.

## Route

Thomas' branch line begins at Knapford, where it splits off from the Main Line near the bus yard. Leaving Knapford, the line goes over the Valley Bridge and comes to Dryaw, where the airfield and football field are located.

Next, the branch line passes the Sports Field before reaching Toryreck, the junction to the Harbour Line. Then it continues north past the Sodor Dairy. The line then reaches Elsbridge, where there is a junction for the Main Line Loop. Continuing along Thomas' branch line, trains cross the Elsbridge Viaduct and pass the nearby Watermill which precede the station of Maithwaite.

From Maithwaite, trains pass McColl’s Farm, then the halt for Mrs. Kindley’s Cottage, next through the Hackenbeck Tunnel, past Terence’s Field before reaching the station of Hackenbeck and finally terminating at Ffarquhar, where there are some engine sheds and a turntable is present to allow engines to turn around for the return journey. There is a small branch north of Ffarquhar that leads to the mountain village of Ulfstead. The quarry tramroad carries the line north of Ffarquhar, over a river via a bridge, winding around the hills to the quarry where Mavis works.

Going south from Toryreck, there is a goods-only line to Knapford Harbour, which passes by the lead mines where Thomas fell into a mineshaft, through Crowe’s Farm Crossing, under the Valley Bridge and under the Main Line via another bridge.

## Map

First half of the line (Knapford -Elsbridge)Second half of the line (Elsbridge - Ffarquhar Quarry)
## Operations

The branch carries passengers, quarry stone, farm produce, dairy products, general goods and lead from the mines. Some passenger trains work into Knapford to pick up a through coach from the Express. Thomas and sometimes Daisy run passenger duties with Annie and Clarabel. Toby, with Henrietta, run trains to Ffarquhar Quarry.

The branch also has a goods-line from south of Hackenbeck Tunnel to the Old Harbour, worked by Percy, who is in charge of goods duties, although when Thomas is absent, he takes over passenger duties. He and Toby also appear to share the workload of stone trains to the Old Harbour. Thomas is also seen a few times with Annie and Clarabel taking passengers along this line, probably for trains that connect Knapford directly to Hackenbeck and Ffarquhar.

Stepney, Duck, James and Emily have also worked on the branch at various points. Thomas once made a trip to the quarry before the policeman stopped him for being "unsafe". The branch line has been temporarily taken away from Thomas as punishment twice; once after his accident at the lead mines, and again after he derailed Gordon’s express coaches in a failed attempt to play a trick on him. In the latter case, the line was temporarily given to Ryan.

This line also has a connection to the Lead Mines east of Knapford, used for mining lead. The Quarry Tramroad extends five miles from Hackenbeck and Ffarquhar, into the hills to the private sidings of Ffarquhar Quarry. This tramway is property of the North Western Railway and is worked by Toby, but more recent arrangements have allowed for Mavis to operate trains on it. During 1971, Daisy was permanently relocated to Harwick to work with Ryan, and also helps out on the Little Western from time to time.

The section between Knapford and Elsbridge is also shared with Main Line traffic. Edward, Henry, Gordon, James and Emily were seen quite a few times taking passenger trains from Knapford, through Dryaw and into Elsbridge, to connect with Thomas' own passenger trains that go to Ffarquhar. This allows them to pass the branch line engines without having to wait at a passing loop.

## Trivia

* The word 'Ffarquhar' means Far Away Quarry.

## Gallery

Tidmouth ShedsTidmouth Shunting YardsTidmouthLower TidmouthKnapford Harbour BridgeKnapford HarbourKnapfordFfarquhar JunctionKnapford Bus DepotThe Valley BridgeCrowe's Farm CrossingThe Lead MinesDryawDryaw FCSports Field HaultToryreckRail Bridge over Road and Canal RunbyElsbridge DiaryElsbridgeElsbridge ShedsElsbridge ViaductElsbridge Road ViaductMaithwaiteMcColl FarmThe Buffer StopMrs. Kyndley's CottageHackenbeck TunnelTerence's FieldHackenbeckFfarquharFfarquhar ShedsStonecutting ShedsUlfsteadTightrope BridgeFfarquhar Quarry TramroadFfarquhar Quarry