- "The Fat Controller relies on me. My Branch Line is the most important part of the whole Railway!"
- — Thomas
The Ffarquhar Branch Line, commonly known as Thomas' Branch Line and originally named the Elsbridge Branch Line until 1925, is a predominantly rural route of the North Western Railway, famously run by Thomas.
Built as the Elsbridge & Knapford Tramway, it leaves the North Western Main Line at the harbour town of Knapford on Sodor's west coast and runs thorough the Elsdale valley to the village of Ffarquhar, where the Quarry Tramroad leads up to the Anopha Quarry. Its main traffic consists of stone and agricultural produce, with a healthy passenger service.
History
Early Years
Railway development in the Elsdale began in 1882, when the Ulfstead Mining Company partnered with a number of merchants in Elsbridge to finance the drainage of the Fens and the construction of a horse-drawn tramway in order to exploit mineral resources belived to be abundant in the valley, as well as open up land to agricultural expansion. With local expertise lacking, the Mining Company engaged the services of Mr A.W. Dry of Whittlesey, who had learned his trade in the drainage of the last great mere in East Anglia and had since built up a small but respectable firm of engineers.
