Anyone have any solid intel on how to build an effective ramped rail line? I'm stumped.

[Wryson Rose]

Greetings everyone.

I'm working on my first train line ever, and I'm officially lost here with ramps.

I know that trains can only handle the 2m grade ramps going up. That's not a problem. The problem is that the lines end up either going INTO the foundations or ramps, or are floating off them entirely and not 'sticking' to the ramp platforms/foundations.I end up essentially defying gravity and physics with every inch I build.

While I know that in general the game pretty much ignores physics as a rule, it's not a good look to me, and I try to make things at least somewhat realistic. However, in order to build the train routes, I've so far been unable to find a route that DOESN'T require me to go up a decent incline. No matter what I do though, the train track literally just thumbs its nose at the ramps and does whatever it wants, no matter what I try to do.

Can someone out there with some veteran experience in building the train systems shed some light on this? Thanks.

[lpnlizard27]

Build a trestle system insted of laying down a road of foundations if you want the supported look. This can keep very long runs of the track at the same altitude and neat.

Postat inițial de Wryson Rose:

No matter what I do though, the train track literally just thumbs its nose at the ramps and does whatever it wants, no matter what I try to do.

What exactly do you mean by this. Track sections should "stick" to foundations better for making specific angles. If you are trying to make a long section i suggest finding the max length you want, then lay down a small track section where you want the new section to end, then connect the two points and delete the small section, and repeat. This helps keep the specific angles you want.

And for very large vertical changes use a train spiral. I have made a spiral with 2m ramp over 100m tall and the train that uses it has 5 cars and 2 engines. I tried the train with only 1 engine and it stalled out, but a second and it made it up with ease.

https://youtu.be/r5LgAboR_as

[kimba-rip]

u have to leave a small space at the top of or bottom of ramp so when tracks connect they don't merge with the foundations( 1metre ramps are easier-2 metre ramps takes a little practice)...i leave a space and it makes a big difference for not have'in tracks merge with foundations...(practice makes almost perfect tracks)

[Man's Best Friend]

Train tracks can't make sharp turns at all. Neither vertically nor horizontally. So if you were hoping to have the tracks follow the ramps exactly, it's not happening. It's always going to make a smooth transition whether you like it or not. The best you're going to get for consistency is going to be just having support pylons at the connecting points. It won't be perfectly straight, but it will at least look consistent with the rails being suspended between pylons.

[Wryson Rose]

I can get straight runs without a problem. I can do that all day. That's not my issue.

My issue is that when I'm trying to bring the elevation up to say...fifty meters.

Main terminal is at 20m. It has a nice flat train line that goes to the bottom of the ramp system. Each ramp is only 2m tall, so they produce a long, light but steady incline up to 50m.

Once I reach the bottom of the ramp, the line will either go *INTO* the foundations themselves, 'float' above the line (it doesn't mesh up with the incline) or it ends up being sketchy when I reach the 50m level and try to level it again after reaching the highest ramp.

[Wryson Rose]

Here is a current shot of the situation.

The train station is on a large ridge on the other side of a pass, with foundations support. Using those same foundations at the same height, I run the track to the edge of the drop. Once there, I stop the track there and climb up the other side using foundations. Once at the same height, I run the track across the gap creating a bridge. Once on the other side, I then try to elevate the track up the 2m ramps so that the track is now at an incline. However, as you can see, it not only 'floats' over the lowest ramp area, but it also burrows into the foundations as well.

That's my current issue. I can't seem to get the track to stay flat when I want it to be flat, and to angle upwards when I need it to for the incline to get up and over the hills.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2819474193

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2819475672

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2819475699

Edit: Added a couple more shots.

[lpnlizard27]

This is a problem with how you are attaching to the foundation. Dont be afraid to use smaller rail sections to establish angles.
Bring the rail to the exact center of the foundation first.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2819479548

Then your attachment point rail that changes angle should be small. this sets up the angle for the rest to follow.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2819479974

Then it will not float.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2819480179

[kimba-rip]

in situations like that it's best to lay shorter tracks and some angles and corners can only be achieved with shorter tracks but some clipping/merge'in may still happen...

[Wryson Rose]

Haven't had a chance to get online recently, but I did read your messages. Thanks for the tips! Hopefully they'll help. Much appreciated!

[The Big Brzezinski]

My solution was to not build everything on foundations.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2654473566
For producing slopes. I used the shallowest wedge on top of the roof sections.

I also found that building the line backward from two segments out seemed to produce a straighter track. So you have the track, skip one segment, build the following segment unconnected, then fill in the gap.

[lpnlizard27]

Postat inițial de The Big Brzezinski:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2654473566

So much clipping though, why not just make a roundabout, it would require far less track and there would be no clipping.

[PhailRaptor]

Postat inițial de lpnlizard27:

Postat inițial de The Big Brzezinski:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2654473566

So much clipping though, why not just make a roundabout, it would require far less track and there would be no clipping.

I would assume it's a spacing concern. A roundabout would require more space than is present in the screenshot. Depending on where your lines are coming from, there may not be room to reposition them to fit a roundabout.

[The Big Brzezinski]

A roundabout would take even more room. Might've been necessary if traffic became an issue, but these worked well enough. I didn't mind the clipping. Makes neat little shapes, I think.

[kLuns]

I would look at Openttd track junction lay-outs depending on how busy the track gets.

[The Big Brzezinski]

Speaking of;
https://www.transporttycoon.net/junctions

[kimba-rip]

Postat inițial de The Big Brzezinski:

My solution was to not build everything on foundations.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2654473566
For producing slopes. I used the shallowest wedge on top of the roof sections

nice junction layout..i have 1 like that (not fully operational yet) but they can be a pain for traffic jams, i have had to re-lay 5 major junctions in my game due to traffic jams and my new lay track layouts seem to working much better............p.s i have no idea how to post some pic's of track lay outs or my builds......