Instructions for building staging yards with underground loading

by WernerK


The simulation of all product chains and industries within a map is not always desirable. Perhaps you would like to limit yourself to a few companies and industries and instead build a 'parade route', at the ends of which trains are loaded with goods and unloaded again as if by magic. Of course, mines, overseas ports, etc. would also be possible. At this point it should be noted that further mods are required in addition to 'Mini Industry'.


Procedure:

1. Find a mountain for the shadow station or create it with the game's terrain tools.

2. In the mod 'Freestyle Train Station' by Lollus there is - somewhat hidden at the track constructions - the 'Look Underground' tool (hand symbol) with which you can make terrain transparent. If there are trees above the tunnel, they should be temporarily removed with the eraser.

3. Now you can build tunnel tracks relatively easily and without 'blind flight' with the mods 'Track Builder' and 'Switch Kit'. If necessary, lower them with the [,] key. Then connect a cargo stop track from the 'Gleisbauer' (current version, in the 'Rail' menu at 'Buildings'). Use the setting [ONLY CONNECT]! You can also use the platform functions, but then the cargo will be placed visibly next to the platform. Don't forget the 'Tunnel' setting, otherwise you'd just end up with a cut in the terrain!

4. Select 'Mini Industry' in the Industry menu. Determine product, shipping mode and production level. The options 'Completely invisible' are important - but you can also work with the marking object first - and either 'Consume' (individual goods type), 'Export' (for goods groups), 'Produce' (individual goods type) or 'Import' (for groups of goods). For 'Produce', 'Hogwarts Mode' must also be selected and means that no starting products are required. It has no effect on other shipping modes. 'Product requires workers' must be turned off. Then place it next to or above the cargo stop track and lower it with the [,] key and move it back and forth at the same time until a blue connection lane appears somewhere. This should be in the shape of a small square if possible. Then finally place 'Mini Industry'.

5. Delete the 'Look Underground' markers of the 'Freestyle Train Station'. A hole with a shaft remains visible in the mountain above the tunnel. Camouflage the hole with forest - you'll have to plant trees again anyway - and if you think it's not enough or you don't like it, close it with terrain tiles, or build an asset building over it, preferably with generated terrain property.


Important notes:

- If the loading plant is placed in a tunnel, the marking object is also placed underground. It can be subsequently deleted by selecting 'Completely invisible'.

- To subsequently configure or delete a loading in the tunnel, click on the product chain arrow displayed at a greater distance above the mountain.

- The loading plant allows only one type of goods and some sensible combinations. Multiple loading plants for different goods can be added at the same point for complete freedom in configuring the goods.

- Only regular vanilla cargo types can be selected.

- Produce/Import works only if there is a consumer, and Consume/Export only if there is a producer.

- It is also possible to first build a staging yard without a tunnel, then convert the tracks into tunnel tracks with the 'Track/Street Modifier' mod or via the configuration, then place the loading plant and finally the mountain with the terrain tools of the game. But even this does not prevent the formation of the hole mentioned.

- In order to create underground PASSENGER traffic, a passenger stop must be used for the tunnel station, which can also be created with the 'Track Builder'. In this case, a 'person magnet' (e.g. from VacuumTube) is required instead of 'Mini Industry'.