Port Balaine State Railways
| Port Balaine State Railways | |
| Waalijneeske Nasjonale Spoardyktsjinst | |
| Country |
 Port Balaine |
|---|---|
| Type | Railway troops, raillift |
| Role | Passenger, freight rail logistics |
| Garrison/HQ | Wellingdon |
| Nickname(s) | CommonRail (metonym) |
| Website | railways.pb |
The Port Balaine National Railway Service (PBNRS; Balainese: Waalijneeske Nasjonale Spoardyktsjinst) 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)
The PBNRS operates the Commonwealth Railway (doing business as CommonRail; reporting mark CWRY) is the primary passenger and freight rail system in Port Balaine. CommonRail provides passenger connections to all but one city throughout the entire commonwealth, with a primary terminal in Wellingdon. Additional freight-only routes provide additional 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 on 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge throughout Port Balaine, 612.0 km of which are passenger services.
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 the Commonwealth Railway. 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 the Port Balaine tourism industry, 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
The Pretannia Coastal Scenic Railway (reporting mark PCSRY) is a heritage railway operating on the northeast coast of Wells. The railway operates historic mainline steam locomotion for excursion trains, with diesel-electric power for switching operations. A small fleet of petrol railcars provide semiregular passenger services for hikers and campers. It previously serviced the coast of Wells as a regional passenger line. The Pretannia Coastal spans 82.7 km of rail on 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge.
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 Narrow Gauge
The Eyot & Saratoga Narrow Gauge Railway (reporting mark E&SNGRY) is a former mining and logging line operating as a heritage railway in the Arcadian Mountains of Wells. The railway operates historic geared steam locomotion of the Ephraim class, with diesel-electric power for switching operations. The Eyot & Saratoga spans 66.0 km of rail on 891 mm (2 ft 11 3⁄32 in) gauge.
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
The Mt. Vadon Cog Railway (reporting mark MVCRY) is a heritage tourist train operating from St. Albert in the Nome Basin of Wells. The railway spans 13.9 km of rail on 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge, using the Rowles rack system for the average 12.1% incline. Multiple excursion trains operate daily; an outing takes 2.5 hours. The Mt. Vadon Cog began in the late 1500s AN with steam locomotion, but was refurbished so now both steam locomotive and diesel-hydraulic multiunits are used. The railway brings visitors
National Railway Museum
The Port Balaine National Railway Museum (reporting mark NRYM)
