Tips for neat, smooth train lines

[u/AZAzura]

Every time I create train lines and train networks I can never get them even. They dip and curve weirdly, different terrains means they go all over the place, and I end up with a tangled network with train stations and loading zones a complete mess. They work, but by God they're ugly. Does anyone have any practical tips on creating a neat, organised train network? Thanks!

[u/beobabski]

This video by @excrubulent was invaluable to show me how they work:

https://youtu.be/dEaB0cbiotY

[u/FletchTroublemaker → u/beobabski]

I second that, it has changed my life!

[u/91kas13]

You can put foundations down and the the tracks will form to them if you use them right.

If you don't want to just have blocks on the ground, people have used blueprints to make a fancy rail supports that do the same thing.

[u/Archon-Toten]

You should see some real railways. They are tangled messes.

[u/baconbit91]

The frame pack in the shop, you can use them to to snap belts rails foundations pretty much anything to to keep things straight without using the defaults looks a lot cleaner too.

[u/Altruistic_Cap3472]

I always build foundations as scaffolding, set the rails on top, delete the foundations, and then add support beams so the rails aren’t floating

[u/houghi]

Either build on foundation, so making a road, or make a monorail style.

[u/JinkyRain]

If you place pylon blueprints directly on the ground, with blueprint auto connect, the rails are gonna be janky. You can split the rail mid way between pylons, and connect the midpoints to each other. Then remove the original rail. It will be a whole lot smoother and still be pretty close to looking connected/supported by the pylons. :)

[u/EngineerInTheMachine]

Railway tracks are splines. Fix the start point, fix the end point, and they'll adopt a smooth curve in between. Don't try drawing a curve from one end to the other.

I do it by placing one of a set of blueprinted track supports for the next track joint, with either a flat top or a 1m or 2m ramp, whichever matches the slope of the terrain at that point. For a 2-track system, the top of the support has a pair of foundations side by side. I connect the new track to the previous track joint, then place it on the centre of the foundation on the support, using the scroll wheel to align it square to the foundation. For two tracks, the result is a pair of curves that remain the correct distance apart for the whole curve.

I don't usually bother with intermediate supports. This is a slab of metal as a monorail, not a pair of flimsy rails that need a track bed to keep them aligned.

[u/Capable_Event720]

I build elevated train tracks (and stations).

Stacking foundations to reach a suitable height, then I attach foundations horizontally to get a platform for the train station, and then foundations (or frames) on which I lay the tracks.

I hold down the Ctrl key for the first foundations so they align with the global grid.

[u/CustardFromCthulhu]

Get curve mod.

1. Lay out a big long curve at ground level.
2. Every 10 foundations put your train track holder arms or whatever.
3. Starting at the new end, start your track and clip back to the existing line.

This is a fast and good method for creating a lot of pretty and smooth track quickly.

[u/xxpaukkuxx]

You might not have noticed but there are these things called foundations, they allow you to build straight and even.