Railsea: Manihiki and ampersands

On arriving at the metropolis of Manihiki:

The railsea: a vast & various train ecosystem. They passed under wires, for the few juice-up miles of coastal rails. Here a stubby vehicle of scrubbed steel, its few windows tinted, & turning its wheels were back-curved pistons jutting from its sides. What were these grim faces from Fremlo, from all Sham's crew? This controlled disgust Captain Naphi showed?

Oh. That was a galleytrain. In its hot bowels scores of slaves were strapped in rows, hauling o...