Taking Tier 3 Contracts on Day 2?

[Kamex]

I'm fairly new to the game and trying to understand how the contract system works. I've had one game / file so far where I followed the tutorial then took all available contracts on day 1. At the end of day 1 my reputation had increased due to the passenger service, and it said as a perk I could take new contracts at tier 3. However I couldn't upgrade my existing contracts to tier 2 until about day 5/6.

I was wondering if you were to start a new file and on day 1 only do passengers (don't take any contracts) when you move to day 2 and your reputation increases, would you then be able to take all the Whittier and Ela contacts at Tier 3 (starting delivery on Day 3)?

This would accelerate the early game a little because the tier 1 contacts are very easy and don't pay well (I play on real time).

Extra related question: Does the unload speed at the saw mill have something to do with the contract tier level? I noticed at tier one it would take much longer for the sawmill to unload and consume the logs compared to how fast L2 was producing them.

[avgwarhawk]

Let me say that taking a bunch of tier 3 will make you more busy than you want. Take it slow. Build one tier at a time then add new companies and tiers as you learn a good delivery routine. Yes, the wood mill will eat more logs the higher the tier. You will deliver more empties to the mill at higher tiers. You can get logs at L1 and L3. You can get logs a Walker by Bryson as well.

[ashes]

Yes that is what I did.
Day 1 just passengers. Day 2 delivered the parts to the Bridge (paid for on day 1), I bought the way to Silva as well, and took out tier 3 contracts on everything. On Day 3 I had my first freight jobs, and 30 cars turned up at 6am at the Silva interchange.
Very fun.

I have $35,000 in debt, but making a lot of money in contracts.

I like this. Otherwise the start of the game was too slow, and too much waiting around with nothing to do.

[Nikoli Voldkif]

The Bryson, Whittier, and Ela industries can for the most part be started at Tier 3 with little issue. The one exception is the sawmill which you should start at 1 till you get the extra log cars for it. In general look at the tracks at an industry. If the delivery locations can only fit a car or two then you are fine to start them at higher tiers as long as you can service them at least once a day. industries with larger load/unload tracks (see sawmill with space to unload 12 cars and load 6x2) then you should start slow on them. You can upgrade after 3 days if your service rating is good.

[Kamex]

Originally posted by Nikoli Voldkif:

The Bryson, Whittier, and Ela industries can for the most part be started at Tier 3 with little issue. The one exception is the sawmill which you should start at 1 till you get the extra log cars for it. In general look at the tracks at an industry. If the delivery locations can only fit a car or two then you are fine to start them at higher tiers as long as you can service them at least once a day. industries with larger load/unload tracks (see sawmill with space to unload 12 cars and load 6x2) then you should start slow on them. You can upgrade after 3 days if your service rating is good.

Can you definitely fit 12 in? I thought the cap was 11.

PS: I have tried starting sawmill on tier 3 and it was fine for me although I do play in real time.

[joe.diamond]

You can fit 12 in if you get the string right up to the bumping post.

[bfcmik]

You can do 12 even if you put a fusee in between the rails under the buffers at the end. You only need the coupler to be within the load area for it to become 'spotted'