Port Balaine State Railways
This article or section is a work in progress. The information below may be incomplete, outdated, or subject to change. |
Stylized map of the PBSRY system | |
Overview | |
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Area(s) served | Port Balaine, Floria |
Stations operated | 32 |
Founded | 1707 AN |
Predecessors | Port Balaine National Railway Service |
Parent company | Autonomous State of Port Balaine |
Technical | |
Track length | 787 km (passenger) |
Gauge | Narrow gauge, 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) (primary) |
Electrification | Partial |
The Port Balaine State Railways (PBSRY; Batavian: Staatsspoorwegen van Walhavenplaats) is the uniformed, paramilitary organization responsible for railway engineering, logistics, and security in the Commonwealth of Port Balaine. In its civil functions, the service operates the national passenger rail system, CommonRail, as well as tourist lines and industrial freight. In its military functions, the PBNRS operates raillift for the armed forces, as the backbone of Port Balaine's transportation infrastructure. The core of the railway service is staffed by railway troops, as train crews, engineers and constructionmen.
Commonwealth (CommonRail)
Commonwealth Railway (passenger) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Native name | Spoar fan Mienebêst | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini |
Bearum, Wellingdon Eyot, The Promenade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stations | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Services |
Channel Corridor Arcadian Mountains Jimland River | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | common.rail.pb | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line length | 612.0 km (380.3 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 90-130 km/h (56-80 mph) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The PBNRS operates the Commonwealth Railway (CommonRail; reporting mark CWRY), the primary passenger and freight rail system in Port Balaine. CommonRail provides passenger connections to all but one city throughout the commonwealth, with a primary terminal in Wellingdon. Additional freight-only routes provide direct routes, access to coastal regions and military installations on the Isle of Wells. Two out-of-service lines access remote corners of the Isles of St. Peter and Wells in emergencies. CommonRail operates entirely on overhead-electrified locomotion, though additional diesel-electric locomotives sit in storage as wartime redundancies. CommonRail spans 885.7 km of rail throughout Port Balaine.
CommonRail passenger routes
CommonRail operates three passenger routes, all terminating at Wellingdon Grand Central Terminal. The Channel Corridor (train nos. 100 series) operates south, over the Isle of St. Peter, to the capital, The Promenade. The Arcadian Mountains (train nos. 200 series) operates across the western shores of the Isle of Wells, to the north coast at Bearum. The Jimland River (train nos. 300 series) operates to Eyot, servicing the final cities along the eastern shores of Wells.
Passenger routes service "stations" in towns and "stops" in villages. Express trains (e.g. the Jimland River Express) service only stations. In particular, the Channel Corridor Zephyr stops only in Wellingdon, St. Peter and The Promenade.
Wellingdon Terminal
The Wellingdon Terminal Railway (reporting mark WTRY) is a short-line switching and terminal railroad, and the sole subsidiary of CommonRail. The railway provides freight transit in the Port of Wellingdon, transiting cargo between the port and CommonRail. WTRY operates 9.1 km of rail on entirely diesel-electric locomotion, to simplify infrastructure in the port.
Tourist railway system
As a benefit to Port Balaine tourism, the PBNRS also manages four tourist railways, all on the Isle of Wells. Two are heritage railways and two were intended as tourist attractions.
Pretannia Coastal Scenic
Pretannia Coastal Scenic Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Placid class PCSR No. 78 near Rockaway Beach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Native name | Kustnaturskjonne Spoarweg fan Pretanyä | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | Bearum, Garibaldi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stations | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Services |
Scenic Express Galloping Guppy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | pretannia.rail.pb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line length | 82.7 km (51.4 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 60-100 km/h (37-62 mph) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Pretannia Coastal Scenic Railway (reporting mark PCSR) is a heritage railway operating on the northeast coast of Wells. The railway operates historic mainline heavy-oil-fired steam locomotion for excursion trains, with diesel-electric power for switching operations. A small fleet of petrol-powered railcars provide semiregular passenger services for hikers and campers. It previously serviced the coast of Wells as a regional passenger line.
Excursion trains leave daily from Bearum, passing two halts before stopping for lunch in the hamlet of Carbon Springs. The outing takes 3.5–4 hours. Tourists may only board in Bearum, but tickets on railcars may be purchased for any part of the route.
Eyot, Saratoga & Virginia City Narrow Gauge
Eyot, Saratoga & Virginia City Narrow Gauge Railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Whilamut class ESVC No. 12 in the Eyot yards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Native name | Smelspoarweg fan Ijot, Saratoga & Stêd Firginyä | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | Eyot, Virginia City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stations | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | es-vc.rail.pb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line length | 66.0 km (41.0 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 891 mm (2 ft 11 3⁄32 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 30-70 km/h (19-43 mph) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Eyot, Saratoga & Virginia City Narrow Gauge Railway (ES&VCNG; reporting mark ESVC) is a former mining and logging line operating as a heritage railway in the Arcadian Mountains of Wells. The railway operates historic geared coal-fired steam locomotion of the Whilamut class, with diesel-electric power for switching operations.
Excursion trains leave daily at 0830 and 1030 from Eyot, at the former freight interchange with CommonRail. Trains climb the Arcadians over Vista Pass, the highest pass in Port Balaine, before descending to the historic Virginia City, on the shores of Virgin Lake. After a few hours to enjoy the hamlet, the train returns to Eyot. The outing takes 8 hours.
Mt. Vadon Cog
Mt. Vadon Cog Railway | ||||||||||||||||||
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||
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Native name | Tandwielspoarweg fan Mt. Wadon | |||||||||||||||||
Termini | St. Albert, Mt. Vadon Halt | |||||||||||||||||
Stations | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Website | mtvadon.rail.pb | |||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||
Line length | 13.9 km (8.6 mi) | |||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) | |||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 10-20 km/h (6-12 mph) | |||||||||||||||||
Maximum incline | 27.8% (12.1% average) | |||||||||||||||||
Rack system | Rowles | |||||||||||||||||
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The Mt. Vadon Cog Railway (reporting mark MVCR) is a heritage tourist train operating in the Nome Basin of Wells. Multiple excursion trains operate daily; an outing takes 2.5 hours. The Mt. Vadon Cog began with steam locomotion, but was refurbished so both modern light-oil-fired steam locomotives and diesel-hydraulic multiple units are used. It brings visitors from the outskirts of St. Albert up 1,670 m to Lower Mt. Vadon Summit, a mountainside plateau.
National Railway Museum shortline
Port Balaine National Railway Museum | ||||||||||||||||||
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||
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Native name | Waalijneeske Nasjonale Spoardymuseum | |||||||||||||||||
Termini | Brigdaz Pad, Lake Valvert Halt | |||||||||||||||||
Stations | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
Website | museum.rail.pb | |||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||
Line length | 11.9 km (7.4 mi) | |||||||||||||||||
Track gauge |
Dual gauntlet gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) | |||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 10-50 km/h (6-31 mph) | |||||||||||||||||
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The Port Balaine National Railway Museum in Brigdaz Pad is the Commonwealth of Port Balaine's premier institution for railway history. The museum's exhibit spaces provide numerous educational exhibitions, and host many old carriages, wagons and locomotives used in historical Balainese rail operations. The museum also serves as a recruiting center for the railway troops. Notable equipment includes:
- CWRY No. 1897, a prototype steam-electric locomotive.
- Multiple examples of early fireless steam locomotives, used for military ordinance hauling.
- ESVC No. 1943, a prototype electric-fired steam locomotive.
- Multiple examples of early WTRY diesel-mechanical locomotives.
In addition, the museum also operates a shortline railway, where functional and refurbished antique trains are operated. Most train demonstrations occur within the main boundaries of the facilities. However, irregular excursion trains on the museum's unique equipment travel the entire shortline to a halt along Lake Valvert.