Ffarquhar Quarry

The Ffarquhar Quarry Company (abbreviated as FQC) is a company based at Ffarquhar, which is responsible for the supply and transportation of rock on the Ffarquhar Branch Line, which is situated at the end of the branch line.

## History

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 on 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 to help 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in 1951, Thomas was booked by a young constable for not complying with a forgotten law, which was later found to be outdated, thus explaining why the old constable, who was a good friend of Thomas, had not stopped him beforehand.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 1956, to cope with increasing production, the Ffarquhar Quarry Company bought a Drewry diesel named Mavis, who not only shunts the quarry sidings but also from time to time ventures down to Ffarquhar Station.

Ffarquhar Quarry is reached by the Quarry Tramroad. The route was initially worked by Thomas, who was sent up to help on occasion after he got his branch line. On one of these trips, Thomas was booked by a young constable for not complying with a law that he should have cowcatchers and sideplates. Toby was then brought in to run the quarry traffic.

By that point, the law had become outdated, so engines that didn't have cowcatchers and sideplates could go to the quarry with no issue. Thomas and Percy were seen travelling there in some occasions. Toby was the main shunter at the time, but Percy had to shunt trucks himself on one occasion after he and Toby switched jobs.

In 1960, Bill and Ben were relocated here until the Clay Pits could be rebuilt. However in 1963, one of their pranks backfired so they had to be sent for repairs, and the Fat Controller asked Thomas to fill in for them.

## Trivia

* The name 'Anopha' for the quarry originates from a set of Peco wagon transfers for British Quarry Company (BQC) Granophast. These were modified by Wilbert Awdry, with the 'B' in 'BQC' being cut down to an 'F' to form 'FQC' (Ffarquhar Quarry Company) and the first and last two letters from 'Granophast' being removed to form 'Anopha'.
* Russell, a former Packard & Co. member, also works here.