Port Balaine State Railways

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Port Balaine State Railways
Staatsspoorwegen van Walhavenplaats (bv)
Port Balaine rail map 2.png
Stylized map of the PBSRY system
Overview
Area(s) served Port Balaine Port Balaine, Floria 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
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)
Route map
Bearum
Lake Magedon
Chorna River
St. Albert
Mt. Vadon Tunnel
Arann
Mt. Vadon
Honey Springs
Tunley
Wellingdon Grand Cent.
Lower Jimland River
Chancery
Waderlo
Magden
Craper
Lake Salmatis
Brigdaz Pad
Eyot
Porcupine
Hameln
Sumorsat Channel
St. Peter
Plassi River
Gardaz Pad
Hrafen
Brystow Channel
Barekey
The Promenade

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 locomotive Port Balaine.jpg
Placid class PCSR No. 78 near Rockaway Beach
Overview
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)
Route map
Bearum
Rockaway Beach
Wheeler
Garibaldi

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 locomotive Port Balaine.jpg
Whilamut class ESVC No. 12 in the Eyot yards
Overview
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)
Route map
Virginia City
Vista Pass
Saratoga
Lower Jimland River
Lower Jimland River
Eyot

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
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
Route map
St. Albert
Mt. Valdon Halt

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
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)
Route map
Brigdaz Pad
Lake Valvert Halt

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.