Anopha Quarry

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**Anopha Quarry** is a company based at Ffarquhar, which is responsible for the supply and transportation of rock on the Thomas' Branch Line.

## History and Operations

### *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 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in 1951, Thomas was booked by a young constable for not complying with a forgotten law, which was later found to be outdated, thus explaining why the old constable, who was a good friend of Thomas, had not stopped him beforehand.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 the 1960s, 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. In 1987, the company 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 Toby and Henrietta 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 for 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,

## Appearances

* Railway Series
* Television Series
* Other Media

### *The Railway Series*

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

#### Companion Volumes

* **1987** - The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways Template:Mentioned

### *Thomas & Friends*

* **Season 1** - Percy Runs Away Template:Mentioned and Thomas in Trouble Template:Mentioned
* **Season 2** - Percy and Harold, Percy's Predicament and Ghost Train
* **Season 3** - Donald's Duck, Trust Thomas, Mavis and Toby's Tightrope
* **Season 4** - Train Stops Play Template:Mentioned
* **Season 5** - Horrid Lorry, Put Upon Percy and Stepney Gets Lost

#### Music Videos

* **Season 3** - Thomas' Anthem
* **Season 4** - Toby and Really Useful Engine
* **Season 5** - It's Great to be an Engine and Donald's Duck
* **Season 6** - Little Engines and Boo! Boo! Choo-Choo
* **Season 7** - Troublesome Trucks, and The Whistle Song

### Magazine Stories

* **1989** - Clearing Up Template:Mentioned
* **1996** - Proud Mavis! and Really Useful Oliver! Template:Mentioned
* **2000** - A Special Story About Henrietta, Henrietta's Holiday, Toby's Treat!, and A Shock for Mavis
* **2003** - Seaside Salty and Special Delivery! Template:Mentioned
* **2004** - Fergus' Funnel, Engine Trouble and Rock Shock!
* **2005** - Pop Goes the Diesel and Salty and the Trucks
* **2012** - Bedtime Tale
* **2015** - Thomas Saves the Day
* **2017** - Den and Dart

### Annual Stories

* **1990** - Hosepipes and Shunters
* **1996** - Rings a Bell!

### Books

* **2003** - Mavis and Thomas and Toby
* **2004** - Salty and Stepney
* **2008** - Halloween in Anopha

## Trivia

* A magazine fact file says that the Sodor Slate Quarry is owned by the Anopha Quarry.
* In the fifth season, Anopha Quarry shared the same set as the Sodor China Clay Company.
* In the seventh and ninth sseason, Anopha Quarry shared the same sets with the Sodor Cement Works.
* In the television series, Sir Topham Hatt is in charge of the Anopha Quarry.