Multi Track Laying issue - need some clarity

[Skipper]

As some of you may or may not have noticed, when you lay a track down, especially if you've cut through a mountain , if you lay another set of tracks next too it, it does make that second cheaper.

I expect this is intended as it demonstrates that the way through that area is pioneered. This way if you paid about a mill to go through a mountain it might cost you 200k on the track next too it, fair enough I like it.

Problem is more often than not, the game refused to allow this, the terrain mapping doesn't give you a clear indication but suffice to say, some times you can set two tracks through a mountain and then you can't .

There doesn't seem to be a plausible answer and when you are playing against the clock to finish an objective, your crunching every little bit of cash you have and cannot afford to keep paying these massive costs.

Does any one know of a mod that makes this a lot easier? I got one year to get Passengers down to Atlanta in Chapter 4. I only just discovered OH YES, YOU CAN build a second Large station in your capital. Problem is the costs for laying new track.

[introaether]

Earthworks height limit reached = red section. Plan so any extra tracks do not create cliff faces too steep etc

[Doc Savage]

Should have been a double track laying tool from the get go for just this scenario.

Most times it's not an issue, but there more than enough instances where the 2nd track is impossible to lay due to some environmental issue that you won't find out about until it's too late.

It's also the one time and place you could really use an undo button. The game map being fidgety happens, be nice to not have to pay for it being so because reasons. It's not like you're trying to cheat.

Either one would alleviate a lot of frustration and tedium from the game, but alas we must "suffer"...

Cheers..!

[Skipper]

One of the bigger issues I've had is in scenarios where you want to lay 4 tracks down, to shuttle passengers etc quickly due to the Mission requirement. To save costs you send two tracks in the same direction. On flat terrain you can set all 4 tracks from a Large station from point to point along the same path but through terrain, you can only double up at most.

For example on the last campaign, going from San Fransisco to Promentary Point, you need to spend at leat 1.3 million just laying A track through the mountains, the second track can be done for substantially less, this is without the added costs of crossing the rest of the divide too Promentary, just going from San Fran too the near.. Carson City or so.

Due too the time limitations and the costs to do this you literally need to spend all your early game on infrastructure, buying industry in order to get good trade lanes instead of what is given for free (Cheese Factories without any milk any where near by for example).

THEN in order to ensure success you need to double down on the tracks to Promentary.. so now you got 4 Tracks. Since you only seem to take 1 passenger load per train (unless I think if the population of San Fran is hire).

Direct line to Promentary cost 2 million all the way, this is with adjustments so the track would go north then west for flatter terrain. Second line on that track was about $750k then about 2 mill to lay another double line (connecting too the first set where it gets flat again crossing the great divide) .

All in all, heck I got it done. at Jan 1 1868 I had 200k and managed to lay and transport the above......

Also let this be a lesson. This Campaign was where I truelly learnt the value of Trains that aren't nessecarily faster but have better track grip (the lightning bolt symbol in th train management). I went from a a couple of trains moving slowly over inclines at little to no speed on a 37% Grip with a max speed of 41 KPH (changed to metric) too a train with slightly less speed but 116% grip and it blasted through the rough terrain.

[chaney]

From my guide here:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1293183195

The last paragraph of the Laying Track section:
If you build near existing track, you can build parallel track. It looks nice, and you often want double track to run trains both ways efficiently. When placing a control point near existing track, you may see an icon of two pieces of track and the green under construction track segment will snap to the existing track. This indicates formal parallel track construction. Apart from looking nice, parallel track MAY save you money. Up to two parallel tracks can be constructed over Bridges and through Tunnels. You still pay for the track, but the added construction costs of Bridges and Tunnels are reduced (by 87.5% in my tests.) You can build as many parallel Tracks as you like, but only two for each Bridge or Tunnel.

There is a lot of undocumented information in the guide, so I humbly recommend reading it. I have tried to keep it accurate and up to date.