Thanalan - train tracks... what are they for?

[Seif]

What I find depressing is that if you follow them to the tunnel there are PERMANENT blockades on tracks.

I really hope they give these a purpose someday. It would be awesome to see a train pass by every now and then.

[Blindheart]

Need to turn them into a roller coaster ride for the gold saucer.

[DracotheDragon]

i love how everyone is saying doom train or phantom train, all the tracks are are simple minecart rails, the area of thanalan has a lot of mines coal mines copper mines and even gold mines so the tracks (which if you look go to the Athercite in central thanalan (i forgot its name)) there is the coal deposit, the tracks go though this area and to another mine :3

no doomtrain
no phantom train
just mines

[Enkidoh]

i love how everyone is saying doom train or phantom train, all the tracks are are simple minecart rails, the area of thanalan has a lot of mines coal mines copper mines and even gold mines so the tracks (which if you look go to the Athercite in central thanalan (i forgot its name)) there is the coal deposit, the tracks go though this area and to another mine :3

no doomtrain
no phantom train
just mines

Actually, that's not quite correct - the line that runs between Castrum Meridanium in Northern Thanalan and Castrum Centri in Mor Dhona is completely separate from Ul'dah's mining line - they're not even the same 'gauge' (term for the distance between the rails - I told you I like trains! ), it was built and is owned by the Garlean Empire, and is used by the Garleans for moving weapons and personnel between the two Castrum - it this that is frequently referred to in the story as 'the Phantom Train', presumably because of it's secretive military nature. This line has no connection to the Ul'dahn line that runs from under Ul'dah through Black Brush to the Nanawa Mines which is indeed used for hauling ore, which is the line most players are wanting to see opened up for gameplay purposes.

As for Doomtrain, given how it's stated Primals are formed, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to find that maybe one day some overworked trackganger at Black Brush Station in his cups blames his lack of sobriety on a 'doomtrain' that chased him through the night (garbling vague mentions overheard about the secret Garlean line from returned Twin Adder soldiers after Operation Archon), and the idea spreads by word of mouth, until finally, someone who happened to come into possession of a quantity of crystals is whispered in his ear by a black clad figure and makes the mistake of turning what was an urban legend whispered in taverns into a terrifying reality.

[Kotemon]

I'm almost certain Doom train = Phantom train. However considering some things I heard about in 1.0. I'm in agreement with the mine carts. Actually there, may have been a train of sorts running loads to and from the quarry/mines >Black Brush Station> The Royal Plantations. There's Nanawa Mines by the zone to north thanalan (yet there's no mining points there). A train tunnel going to an unknown area by the Rats Nest. Though most likely into the Copper Bell mines. The tracks to the north Might be into Cutters cry, Nanawa, or an area that was removed or never built (that waterway). Ul'dah was basically financed from all the mines, which drove commerce, and created the aristocracy and synicate. Currently they are financially strapped from Garliand 1.0, the mafia(syndicate) and refuges. Suggesting that the mines are no longer as productive thus no need for all the trains. Although it would be nice if we could take a train to and from sections in other areas, or into a dungeon.

[Sove92]

There's Nanawa Mines by the zone to north thanalan (yet there's no mining points there).

That would be because Nanawa Mines is actually after the zoneline, you go through the mines to enter North Thanalan, but the mines are skipped in gameplay (much like Coerthas Eastern Lowlands and Coerthas Central Lowlands), it was a playable open world dungeon in 1.0.

[Hiruke]

That would be because Nanawa Mines is actually after the zoneline, you go through the mines to enter North Thanalan, but the mines are skipped in gameplay (much like Coerthas Eastern Lowlands and Coerthas Central Lowlands), it was a playable open world dungeon in 1.0.

Are you sure it's not a case of the map being labeled oddly? Where it says Nanawa Mines isn't right on the zone line. It seems to refer to that entire area outside of the mines as "Nanawa Mines" (which isn't nearly as ridiculous as Silvertear Lake being labeled as "Silvertear Falls"). It could mean:

1) Nanawa Mines is actually where the train/cart/whatever tracks lead into.
2) Nanawa Mines proper is completely caved in, and they only bothered to dig out enough to make a pass between Central Thanalan and Northern Thanalan.

Also, you don't skip past Coerthas Eastern Highlands. The new zone connection from North Shroud goes west AROUND Coerthas Eastern Highlands (does not pass through it) and into Coerthas Central Highlands. You'll note the zone line into Highlands is quite a bit west of Griffin Crossing (down for repairs), which is how you would zone into Coerthas Eastern Highlands in 1.0.

[aerialrave]

I disagree that they are for minecarts. It's plausible that the tracks far out are for minecarts because there are some mines nearby, and they are talked about in the Amajina & Sons sidequests.

But that doesn't explain the one right next to town. There is like a train station outside of Ul'dah (think about the place where that guy gets assassinated). I don't believe there are any mines near there at all. To me they seem like Train Tracks but there is little to no indication of where they go or what they're there for.

The Garlean Empire has train tracks in Castrum Centri and they are talked about in the storyline. We have never seen their trains, but we do know that they exist. I would guess that Eorzea has train technology as well.

For some reason I remember them talking about trains around the Ceruleum Processing Plant as well. There are a bunch of areas inaccessible on that map but are quite visible if you look down.

I have a feeling they were gonna add trains and stuff to the storyline but they never finished it or they decided to cut it out. Perhaps they are relics from before the Calamity? I'm not sure because I didn't play during 1.0. Does anyone remember trains during the 1.0 era?

[Enkidoh]

The railway in Thanalan is definitely recent technology and did not exist prior to the Calamity (hence, it didn't exist in 1.0 Thanalan, although there were mine cart tracks in Nanawa Mines if I remember right) - the Lodestone formerly mentioned this fact, stating that it "would not be long before Garlean magitek innovation would be fused with the mine carts of Ul'dah to form a web of iron causeways across the desert wastes!" (paraphrased), but sadly it seems to have disappeared.

From what I understand also the Ul'dah storyline does go into more detail about the railway's use for transporting ore from the mines (it's under the control of Amaijina and Sons Mineral Concern), and that the Sultana actually wants to open up for passenger use, but due to the Syndicate (specifically, Lord Lorolito and the East Aldernard Trading Company losing their monopoly on transport through Thanalan if people started travelling by train instead of merchant chocobo carriage) that hasn't occurred. Additionally certain npcs at both the Ul'dah Dispatch Yard and Black Brush Station mention how hard it is to maintain the railway and that monsters (specifically spriggans) often damage the track and thus cause train derailments (this would also explain the wrecked ore carriages under the bridge near Black Brush Station where a group of qi'qirn have turned into an encampment).

I'm not sure of the specifics though, as being Gridanian naturally I was never privy to this plotline and thus this information was gained from others, meaning I can't guarantee how accurate it is.

[Dhex]

So basically we've established -> everyone loves trains and wants to see someone suplex a train.

Please look forward to it.