Train Aggregate Unloading

[Dramoth]

Hi there experts,

Although with 200+ hours played now, I should be an expert. But I ran into the following issue. I have a train aggregate unloading setup as follows. The large aggregate storage area to the right is setup to hold just coal, while the one on the left is for quarried stone.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1815550942

However, the trucks I have running from the aggregate stores to the gravel crusher to the left in the image will load with the contents from the train stationed at the aggregate unloader. By the I understand how the mechanics of how the process of train -> aggregate unloader -> aggregate store -> crusher, there is no way possible for the trucks to actually unload directly from the train.

Any takers? Or should I report this as a bug?

[TheAmishStig]

Either one of two things are happening:

1) The Aggregate Storage is full, and the train is refilling it as quickly as the truck can unload it. If you notice the train unloading only in half-ton 'chunks', that's likely what's going on.

2) The Aggregate Unloader counts as a valid 'Secondary Target' for the truck's load action at the aggregate storage. It's directly connected, can pass materials in that direction [conveyors and pipes are one-way]. The question on my mind is whether the train counts as 'part of' the station while it's parked and unloading in order to also meet the 'has materials available' condition, I have to test that when I get home.

And don't feel bad...the cargo transfer system is complicated enough, and has enough eccentricities, that I've been working on a guide for a few weeks now.

To answer your other question though: Yes, the truck can load directly from the train; tell it to stop at the station instead of the storage area; it'll park in the marked space and load from the train...very slowly. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're in a pinch though; the setup you have is much better, because it allows you to buffer materials for when the train runs off for a refill. If you want to bump the efficiency even further, a 'Truck Aggregate Loading' coming off the storage area will fill the trucks way faster than the parking space will.

[Dramoth]

Originally posted by TheAmishStig:

Either one of two things are happening:

1) The Aggregate Storage is full, and the train is refilling it as quickly as the truck can unload it. If you notice the train unloading only in half-ton 'chunks', that's likely what's going on.

2) The Aggregate Unloader counts as a valid 'Secondary Target' for the truck's load action at the aggregate storage. It's directly connected, can pass materials in that direction [conveyors and pipes are one-way]. The question on my mind is whether the train counts as 'part of' the station while it's parked and unloading in order to also meet the 'has materials available' condition, I have to test that when I get home.

And don't feel bad...the cargo transfer system is complicated enough, and has enough eccentricities, that I've been working on a guide for a few weeks now.

To answer your other question though: Yes, the truck can load directly from the train; tell it to stop at the station instead of the storage area; it'll park in the marked space and load from the train...very slowly. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're in a pinch though; the setup you have is much better, because it allows you to buffer materials for when the train runs off for a refill. If you want to bump the efficiency even further, a 'Truck Aggregate Loading' coming off the storage area will fill the trucks way faster than the parking space will.

Forgot to mention, the trucks were working from the quarried stone aggregate store, and picking up coal from that store... directly from the train.

I'm going to give the truck loader a try though... anything to bump efficiency :D

[TheAmishStig]

Originally posted by Dramoth:

Forgot to mention, the trucks were working from the quarried stone aggregate store, and picking up coal from that store... directly from the train.

I'm going to give the truck loader a try though... anything to bump efficiency :D

A quick fix is to set the trucks to load stone specifically; though the loading station should also create enough 'distance' to the train (putting the station 3 steps away from the truck, instead of 2 steps) to negate the problem.

Loading coal shouldn't be happening, though; In all the testing I've done (and it sounds like I need to do more!), "cannot mix" on a site storing Stone should shut down attempts to pass materials through that aren't Stone, not unlike the way "cannot hold" shuts down attempts to transfer, say, Cement through a Warehouse.

Unless...

Dude, thank you so much for having this problem, you might have just made my understanding of the game that much better.

[Dramoth]

Originally posted by TheAmishStig:

Originally posted by Dramoth:

Forgot to mention, the trucks were working from the quarried stone aggregate store, and picking up coal from that store... directly from the train.

I'm going to give the truck loader a try though... anything to bump efficiency :D

A quick fix is to set the trucks to load stone specifically; though the loading station should also create enough 'distance' to the train (putting the station 3 steps away from the truck, instead of 2 steps) to negate the problem.

Loading coal shouldn't be happening, though; In all the testing I've done (and it sounds like I need to do more!), "cannot mix" on a site storing Stone should shut down attempts to pass materials through that aren't Stone, not unlike the way "cannot hold" shuts down attempts to transfer, say, Cement through a Warehouse.

Unless...

Dude, thank you so much for having this problem, you might have just made my understanding of the game that much better.

The aggregate truck loading idea... absolute winner :D I've used it in previous playthrough's but I haven't used it in this one. I'm now going to head over to my other construction materials area (the one near the capital in the populated map... just near the coal area to the east) and make sure that it's setup that way :D

I'm in the process of setting up a refinery on the "Western" country border to get my dollars coming in. I've also got a PP up there selling power to the West.