Multiple Unit Train Control


Replaces bidirectional trains with ones twice as powerful, to simulate real locomotives driving backwards.

Tweaks
3 days ago
0.17 - 2.0
4.20K
Trains
Owner:
robot256
Source:
https://github.com/robot256/MultipleU...
Homepage:
https://forums.factorio.com/viewtopic...
License:
MIT
Created:
5 years ago
Latest Version:
1.0.2 (3 days ago)
Factorio version:
0.17 - 2.0
Downloaded by:
4.20K users

Have you ever wished that bidirectional trains were as fast as single-direction trains? You're not alone. With the power of Multiple Unit Train Control (MU Control) technology, a coupled pair of locomotives can drive in either direction using the power of both!

Summary

Simply take two locomotives of the same type and couple them together facing opposite directions. Now you have a "multiple-unit consist" of two locomotives that can drive in either direction with the force of two locomotives. It will also consume fuel at the rate of two locomotives. Research Wireless MU Control and you can put wagons in between the two locomotives and still get the power boost.

Recommended Mods

Features

  • Currently supports nearly every type of locomotive, modded, electric or otherwise.
  • Only replaces locomotives when train is stopped.
  • Balances fuel between front and back locomotives, since only one of them can consume fuel at a time.
  • Startup setting to disable MU capability in Yuoki's steam era locomotives.

Details

This mod is meant to be an alternative to Noxy's Multidirectional Trains. I created it specifically to work with the Automatic Coupling System mod, because constantly uncoupling, reversing, and recoupling the trains interferes with the train alignment required to do realistic yard switching. MU Control only modifies the train when the locomotives are first linked, so it doesn't change anything while coupling and uncoupling wagons automatically.

Since the game still thinks only one locomotive is driving, but with twice the power, the front locomotive will use twice as much fuel and the back won't use any. MU Control automatically balances fuel between them periodically, so the single-direction range of the two together is the same as if they were both facing forward. You can set the frequency of balancing or disable it in the mod settings. If you let it drain to empty, it won't balance the last unit of fuel.

Four modes can be selected in the mod settings:

  • Basic: Locomotives that are adjacent or separated by other locomotives can form MU consists. Examples: <L-L>, <L-<L-L>-L>
  • Advanced (Wireless) mode: Locomotives can form MU consists anywhere in the train. Examples: <L-W-W-W-W-L>, <L-<L-W-W-L>-W-W-L>
  • Tech Unlock: MU upgrades remain disabled until you complete research MU Control technology. Unlock Wireless mode with a second research technology.
  • Disabled: Reverts all MU locomotives to normal. Select this setting and wait for all trains to be replaced with non-MU locomotives before uninstalling the mod.

Known incompatibilities:

  • Laser Tank when Electric Vehicles Lib: Reborn is not installed.
  • RailPowerSystem (will try to work on this when that mod works again)

Known Issues

  • If a locomotive is stopped on a junction when it is replaced, the train may not be reassembled correctly and will still be set to automatic, possibly causing collisions.
  • The MU version of each locomotive has a separate item-type circuit signal, and LTN stops distinguish between MU and non-MU locomotives when outputting train rolling stock descriptions. Not a bug, but don't click the wrong one by accident.

Credits:

  • Noxy - Multidirectional Trains, which gave me the idea and some examples of train manipulation.
  • Optera - Train & Fuel Overhaul, which taught me how to make altered entities, and for releasing their copyPrototype library function to public domain.
  • Train30 - Created the icon graphics for MU Control technologies.
  • kryshnar - Provided French locale.