Fluid Trains Continued (2.0 + SE)

A framework that lets locomotives run on fluid fuel, pumped directly into the locomotive — no barrels, no items, just a pump next to a stopped train. This mod adds no locomotives itself; content mods register their locomotives and fluids through its remote API.

This is a Factorio 2.0 continuation of fluidTrains by ksmonkey123 (MIT, archived), which fifteen mods built on in 1.1. The remote interface is unchanged, so ports of those mods keep working with the same calls.

Part of the same "Continued" family as Realistic Electric Trains Continued (2.0 + SE) and Diesel Locomotive Continued (2.0 + SE).

How it works

Stop a registered locomotive next to a pump carrying a registered fuel fluid. A connector arm deploys from the pump onto the locomotive (new in this continuation — arms deploy, clamp, and retract like fluid wagon connections, and the train waits for the arms to stow before departing). Fluid pumped in becomes fuel; fuel value, acceleration and top speed come from the fluid the content mod registered.

The tender system (optional, per-mod) lets a locomotive draw fluid from an adjacent fluid wagon while driving — built for steam locomotives with water tenders.

For mod authors

Data stage — generate proxy tank prototypes for your tank size:

local tankApi = require("__Fluid_Trains_Continued__/api/data")
tankApi.generateTank(1500)

Control stage — register on init and configuration change:

remote.call("fluidTrains_hook", "addLocomotive", "my-locomotive", 1500)
remote.call("fluidTrains_hook", "addFluid", "my-fuel-category", "my-fluid",
    {{item = "my-hidden-fuel-item", temp = 15, multiplier = 1}})

The hidden fuel item carries the fuel stats; one item represents multiplier units of fluid at or above temp.

Commands

/fluidTrains-dump — print the registered locomotive/fluid configuration
/fluidTrains-probe — hover a locomotive: full pump-connectivity diagnostic
/fluidTrains-refresh — force a reconnection check for the hovered locomotive
/fluidTrains-cleanup — remove orphaned invisible proxy tanks

Compatibility

Verified working alongside Space Exploration, Combat Mechanics Overhaul, and Realistic Electric Trains Continued 2 — no compatibility patches required. Report anything odd in the Discussion tab.

A Note on How This Was Made

This port was assembled with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic AI, Sonnet and Opus models). The author (Ramasees) provided in-game testing, debugging feedback, and design direction throughout; Claude carried out the majority of the Lua porting and implementation work through iterative dialogue.

Credits

Continuation of fluidTrains by ksmonkey123 (MIT). Lineage: evildogbot100 (Diesel-Locomotive), FuryOfTheStars, archiehalliwell (0.18 fix). 2.0 port, connection visuals and departure holds by Ramasees. MIT licensed — continuations welcome, as this one was.

Looking for a locomotive to use with this? See Diesel Locomotive Continued (2.0 + SE).