The Flatland Washes Railway (FWR)

The "Cheese Line" of the FWR network is a light, narrow gauge, industrial line whose primary function is to transport cheese ore mined from the area around Bider Fens to the wharf at Redbridge - a small tidal port near the Wash, a large muddy expanse of mud to the north of East Flatlia. Other goods are transported occasionally and there is a little passenger traffic.

Dating from 1906 (i.e. the middle of June) the line has a curious gauge of 2ft, 9 and 3/4 inches. This gauge happened to fit the FWR company's one and only whole and functioning loco - picked up cheaply at a sale. This small diesel shunter loco, later refurbished and named "Edam" according to local custom, served the line until the company could afford more suitable motive power.

Cheese mining is a common industry in Flatlandic countries. Cheese ore is a soft yellow mineral usually mined by deep underground shafts, however some natural cave systems contain significant quantities of cheese (see: Cheddar Gorge). Early processing methods would leave tiny rocks in the finished product resulting in broken teeth if not eaten with care, and leading to the phrase 'hard cheese' to mean bad luck.