Despite being only two hundred miles long, it was a significant construction achievement for the Duchy because of the many hills and rivers it had to cross, not to mention the near-freezing conditions constantly endured by the workmen. Although the Baron of Lesser Zjandaria offered a convenient supply of slave labor, the Duke of Elwynn refused, saying that the future of Elwynn should be forged by free men, though his principled decision may have been influenced by his fears that Zjandaria was becoming too powerful and would make a bid for control of the railway.
During the days when thanes loyal to Stormark controlled most of North Elwynn, the Kaiser took direct control of the railroad for strategic reasons. If Stormark made a bid for power in the North, his ability to transport troops quickly to Iseirdia would be vital in reasserting Shirerithian control of the region. The railroad is still nominally under the joint control of the royal and the ducal governments, but since Stormarker influence declined in the north the Crown has not seen fit to intervene in its management.
I drew this picture of the Eliria-Glenfiddich Railroad in Bryce 3D, with the text and the flower logo added on later in PaintShop. It's my first time using the program and once I get better at it I'd like to draw all sorts of other Shirerithian landmarks.
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