Mavis

**Mavis** is a diesel engine who works at the Ffarquhar Quarry. Her main job is to shunt trucks around the quarry, but she also takes occasional goods trains to Knapford Harbour and Brendam Docks.

## Biography

When Mavis first came to Sodor, she was naïve, arrogant and did not take advice very well. She was mostly interested in her own ideas but was brought down to earth after her embarrassing incident at the Ffarquhar crossing. Still, she wanted to see more of the line and schemed to have the trucks push her past the level crossing beyond the quarry - this inadvertently resulted in a near accident for Toby. After rescuing him, Mavis resolved to change her ways for good. She is now more mature and capable of keeping the trucks in line and more willing to take advice.

Unlike many diesels, Mavis shows respect for the steam engines and unlike most engines, hauling trucks makes her feel important. She is a reliable, honest, and hard-working engine. Over the course of time, Mavis has matured and acts as a motherly figure to the other engines. As a result, she keeps a stern attitude with the troublesome trucks and holds zero patience towards troublesome antics like those from Diesel. Although Mavis means well, she can at times feel cooped up in the quarry, but always cheers up at the chance to stretch her wheels.

Mavis was supplied by the Drewry Car Company and sent to Sodor in 1956. Mavis was particularly fond of putting the trucks at Ffarquhar Quarry in different places, despite Toby's protests. Toby finally lost patience and left Mavis to her own devices. Mavis - urged by Daisy - started to ignore Toby's advice and ended up looking silly when she got stuck in the middle of a crossing outside Ffarquhar.

Mavis was then forbidden to leave the quarry, but when a thaw increased production at Ffarquhar Quarry, Mavis persuaded the manager to let her go up to the first crossing in order to shunt trucks quicker and formulated a plan to pass the level crossing with help from the trucks. However, the plan backfired when the trucks decided to bump Toby instead and he ended up being suspended by flimsy rails over a rushing stream and Mavis had to help. Mavis confessed, but the Fat Director and the Manager were pleased by Mavis' courage and honesty and allowed her occasional trips to Ffarquhar.

In 1959, Mavis was involved in a collision with a lorry and Toby had to do her work while she was absent. She returned to the quarry and still works there to this day.

She was able to keep Bill and Ben in order. When Salty came to work at the quarry, he was upset that he was not working by the sea, so Mavis did her best to comfort him while trying to stop Bill and Ben from complaining about Salty's talent with working with trucks. Mavis tried to stop Bill from being so jealous and grumpy when Ben went to get new buffers. Fergus was sent to help Mavis and the twins. Mavis got on well with Fergus and helped him out of a rock slide caused by Bill and Ben.

When Thomas was filling in for Bill and Ben after they were sent for repairs due to one of their pranks backfiring, Mavis was one of the diesels given bad fuel. This resulted in her and the other diesels breaking down, so Thomas collected new fuel and helped them.

## Basis

Mavis is based on a British Rail (BR) Class 04 0-6-0 diesel locomotive, more specifically, based on the ones that worked on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway, as they were fitted with additional cowcatchers and side plates so they could run near public roads.

## Livery

Mavis is painted black with yellow hazard stripes on her front and rear. Her name is painted on the sides of her cab in white and "THE FFARQUHAR QUARRY CO. LTD.", is painted on her side plates, also in white.

## Appearances

### Season 3

* Mavis
* Toby’s Tightrope

### Season 4

* Thomas and the Special Letter *(does not speak)*
* Mavis and the Lorry
* Toby Takes the Road *(does not speak)*

### Season 6

* Salty’s Secret
* A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter *(cameo)*

### Season 9

* Dream On
* The Great Discovery *(does not speak)*

### Season 10

* Hero of the Rails
* Blue Mountain Mystery

### Season 12

* Not So Slow Coaches
* Thomas the Quarry Engine

### Season 13

* Den and Dart
* No Help At All *(mentioned)*

### Season 15

* Springtime For Diesel
* Daisy’s Perfect Christmas

## Gallery

Mavis the Quarry Diesel (1956 - current)Mavis’ name painted on her cab sidesMavis’ Ffarquhar Quarry title painted on her sideplates
## Trivia

* Mavis was the last character Wilbert Awdry created before he retired from writing the Railway Series.