Predating the machines of the Aetherists, the Bakutu Railway was the main mode of transport between the Pulotu and the Oncillians. The Bakutu trains actually worked by harnessing two to eight arwhals at the head of the train,pulling the outriggers behind them. Outriggers were initially wooden hulled frames with smooth riggings that would glide over the smooth Oilwood rails. Control of the Bakutu Railway was the basis of the Rail Wars between the Pulotu and the Oncillians. Losing the Rail Wars is often considered one of the initial falterings of House Oncillia.

While the Bakutu family owned and controlled the Railway, the concept of the rails design is attributed to Bagoto Muweni. Muweni never saw any fiscal gain from his designs, and often decried his invention as the end of the Pulotu tribal culture. Although to give the Bakutus credit, they were the first Pulotian family to master the art of taming arwhals, giving them a consistent pool of arwhals to make more than the occasional trip.

As flight became possible, the rails diminished in use (and the hunting of the arwhals only accelerated the decline). However, with the invention of the Mechanical Arwhal after the Sandalphon Affair, the rails were put back into use, mainly for freight purpose.

—Frobbnotz Mippleplunk