Locomotive
The Diesel locomotive is the engine for movement of trains over track. Trains are useful for moving large amounts of items over large distances.
Locomotives are also good vehicles for the player to reach fixed destinations, as they are considerably faster than the Car or Tank. Naturally they do not have the same freedom of movement, however, as they are confined to the track.
Locomotives are burner devices and require fuel to run. Despite the name, they can take any fuel, not just oil-derived types.
While Locomotives can be assembled by hand, the Engine units for it require automated construction to build, so it cannot be built from raw materials by hand.
Driving Controls
These are the default bindings. They can be changed in the Options menu.
| Enter/Exit | Enter |
| Accelerate | W |
| Decelerate/Reverse | S |
| Pick which fork to take at junction | A,D |
Note that while you can enter a train at any point, you must enter a Locomotive to drive the train manually (and automatic mode must be off).
Connecting/Disconnecting a Locomotive
To connect Locomotives or Cargo wagons to each other, either place the cars next to each other on the track (there will be an outlined green connection), or, to connect an already existing disconnected car, drive the Locomotive near the car and press G by default. To disconnect the last car in a train, press V by default.
Defense
Locomotives are a priority target of Enemies, so places where trains can stop should be defended. Locomotives in transit can usually crash through everything in the way (including Biters, Tanks, and the Player) so defense in transit is less important. However, enemies can attack and destroy rails, potentially stopping the train.
Construction robots are a good way to automatically repair damage at train stations.
See also
- Railway
- Cargo wagon
- Vehicle/Train/Refueling for more details on fueling a train.
- Vehicle/Train/Reverse driving for more details on driving.
- Railway/Automated transport for directions on setting up automated trains.