Dragonrail

Dragonrail is a titancraft technology that employs a draconomotive engine pulling cars over two parallel rails on a fixed route. Titancraft turbine engine provides drive for the draconomotive car which can then pull or tow a succession of one or more cars. This succession is sometimes called a 'train.' The metallic wheels of each car are lined up to the parallel rails and thus the dragonrail is obliged to move on a fixed route. The name dragonrail comes from the 'draconomotive' engine or little dragon that pulls the train. Many dragonrail engine carry the metallic likeness of a dragon on the face of the vehicle which has further recommended the term in popular use.

Dragonail is the fastest terrestrial transportation available for the use of the masses and is capable of significantly higher tonnage than the most advanced titancraft skyfreighters. The technology was first employed on a useful scale in the 24th century by the dwarves underground and spread to the surface for human use in the 27th century (2600's). Dragonrail has become essential to modern living, enabling speed transit of people and goods throughout Pytharnia and Vindalia.

Map of Dragonrail Routes of Southern Pytharnia, circa 2750

Early History

After 2350, dwarves in cooperation with gnomes in the Ithrads, then the Jaggudorns, and later in Bukalaa, constructed vast, underground networks of dragonrail transportation. Dragonrail makes possible swift transportation of heavy goods and passengers over land or under the earth and is particularly vital to communicate the great populous areas of the coast with the inland frontiers. Dragonrail routes have been historically chosen to work in cooperation with sea transportation.

The growth of dragonrail routes has not met the current demands. Corpora Mercia and governments generally reply that expanded routes will spoil the landscape. Progressive leaders among the masses are calling for reforms and have denounced the Dwarven Dragonrail Guild of Pytharnia as a monopolistic entity at odds with human interests.

An early dragonrail engine

Development of Dwarven Dragonrail in Pytharnia

In the 2600's, dwarven corpora mercia of the Jaggudorns in cooperation with humans of east Pytharnia built the first surface rails. Routes were constructed between dwarven states to accommodate human-owned lines in accordance with treaty. Dwarves do not regularly permit human-operated dragoncars in the subterranean routes beneath their domains and it is certain that the depths of the earth employ a different gauge than that used above.

The pace of the Sewdhaine War (2653 to 2671) accelerated the demand for Dragonrail transportation in Pytharnia.

Aurician Development of Dragonrail

Aurice enlisted the aid of independently-minded dwarven engineers and began Dragonrail in Lucacia and her Shadevan Colonies. Aurician interests also pursued the development and construction of dragonrail through the heartlands of the Aurician Empire. Aurician Corpora Mercia funded much of the development of dragonrail in Corundy.

Dragonrail Gauges

Main article: Dragonrail Gauges

There are several gauges: Jaggudornish (Jaggudorns/Ithrads/Pytharnian), Bukalaan, Barathornish (Barathorn, except Bukalaa, Orrhymby), Vindalian (Corundy, Lucacia, west Asdauria), and Sungotine (Tangshan, Sungo, east Asdauria). Jaggudornish Dragonrail Gauge is a subterranean gauge used in all the Dwarven States of the Jaggudorns, in Tauhad, and in southern Pytharnia. Bukalaan Dragonrail Gauge is used in Bukalaa underground. Vindalian Gauge is used in Corundy, Lucacia and other regions of the Aurician mainland. The dwarves of the Jaggudorns employ another gauge called Behemoth Gauge. These rails are about three or four times the width of the regular Jaggudornish Gauge and used to bear behemoth dragonrail engines and cars, used to haul earth from excavation and for mining. Behemoth gauge is not found outside of the dwarven mountains of the Ithrads and the Jaggudorns. The Gakhyami have also constructed some dragonrail lines which are not consistently sized to each other. Some are identical or nearly identical to the Jaggudornish gauge while others are considerably larger and smaller.

See Also

• Dwarven Dragonrail Guild of Pytharnia
• Titancraft
• Chronology of Dragonrail Routes
• Chronology of Titancraft