Train travel guide

Trains in the Real World

In real life, a train is a form of rail transport consisting of a series of connected vehicles that generally run along a railway track, and transports passengers and cargo (or "freight") between locations. Trains can only run along railway track, so are limited in where they can travel (unlike cars which can travel anywhere there is a flat, firm road surface) but are able to transport more goods at a more consistent speed than most motor vehicles, resulting in a more efficient, cost effective method of transport. In the industry, trains are referred to as "rolling stock" whereas the track the train runs on is the "permanent way." Trains travel on track - which generally consists of wooden, concrete or metal sleepers laid out in a bed of gravel ballast, with metal rails (standard or head-hardened steel for modern railways, or cast iron for older railway lines) fixed across them with spikes or screws.

Someone who drives a train is called a train driver. In North American Railway lingo, this train driver is often called an engineer, but internationally a railway engineer is someone with a civil engineering degree (or equivalent) who designs railway infrastructure.

Maintenance of railway lines is a very labour intensive process, though many machines now exist that make railway maintenance easier, and a number of issues can affect the track (which in turn affects the speed and safety of the train running along it.) Generally, speaking, the poorer condition of the railway line, the slower a train must travel across it to prevent issues (such as misalignments, derailments, broken rails, etc.) Adverse weather can also affect the condition of the track, and also the speed of passing trains. In heavy rain, the track bed can wash away. Fires can destroy the wooden sleepers (or 'ties' in American rail lingo) and extreme heat can cause the metal rails to expand or contract unevenly, causing breaks and 'wiggles.'

For more information on how to roleplay aspects of railway maintenance, the RailCorp (NSW, Australia) handbook TMC 202 Track Fundamentals may be of value.

For more information on how to roleplay a train driver, honestly, go download and play any of the dozen various train simulator games out there.

Trains in Cantr

What are trains in Cantr?

How is train travel different to normal land vehicle travel?

Building and maintaining a railway.

Railway barricades, stations, etc.