We’re back again with another dev log today, and we’ll be covering the core feature in the game: Locomotives in Railroad Corporation 2.
If you've been with us since Railroad Corporation 1, you're likely familiar with the concept: you’ll need to purchase locomotives, each consisting of a single engine, to transport goods and carriages from one city to the next. Initially, only a small handful of locomotive models are available, but as you progress and complete research, new and advanced models unlock for you to add to your arsenal.
Now, in Railroad Corporation 2, we propel ourselves ahead in time, embracing innovations that pave the way for the emergence of new locomotives. As highlighted on the store page, the game primarily unfolds in the early 20th century, an era marked by the advent of electrification, which influenced the locomotives during this time.
In Railroad Corporation 2, our aim is to bring realism closer towards Railroad Corporation 2, and the in-game design of locomotives is no exception. Each locomotive model is heavily inspired and crafted based on schematics and properties sourced from reliable online references. Thus, we'd like to provide a walkthrough from schematics to the in-game model, using a locomotive example that we showcased in our last dev log that’ll be featured in Railroad Corporation 2: the 4-8-0 Mastodon steam locomotive!
Firstly, all locomotives within the game are based on design schematics found in online sources or handbooks, which serve as the starting point for the locomotive's design, capturing its details and specifications. Taking the 4-8-0 Mastodon steam locomotive as an example, its design blueprint was drawn from The Norfolk & Western Handbook by Wallace and Wiley, as well as inspired from other online sources.
Wikimedia Commons - A. Bucher: Das Eisenbahnwesen auf der Weltausstellung in Brüssel 1910. in Polytechnisches Journal, S. 344, Fig. 143
Wikimedia Commons - 1922 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice
Next, our development team translates the blueprints into a fully realized 3D model, ensuring the dimensions and the core elements are reflected in-game. With the 4-8-0 Mastodon, the visual design of this locomotive is based on the Norfolk and Western M Class, a steam-powered behemoth crafted between 1906 and 1907 by Baldwin Locomotive Works and ALCO-Richmond Works.
Lastly, the technicalities and characteristics are programmed onto each of the locomotives based on their real-life counterpart’s statistics, which reflects how each type of locomotive will behave in-game, which includes details such as train power, tractive effort, maximum speed, locomotive mass, as well as its behavior on road slopes or turn curves, etc.
These properties collectively constitute a wealth of information that you must consider when evaluating each locomotive, aiding them in making informed decisions about the most suitable choice for various in-game situations:
- Top speed
- Max pulling mass
- Acceleration
- Reliability rate
- Rated mileage
- Service life
- Fuel conversion efficiency
In addition, there are other technical properties showcased in-game in how locomotives would react to different environments, as well as how each type of carriage would affect the performance of the locomotive in the form of graphic charts comparison.
For example, the in-game graph below depicts how the nominal speed of a 4-8-0 Mastodon decreases based on both the slope of the terrain it traverses and the weight of its cargo.
Armed with this information, you can effectively assess which locomotives align with your current requirements. Considerations such as the cargo's weight are essential, as well as factors like the characteristics of the locomotive’s itinerary. Whether you're dealing with short, direct tracks within a local agglomeration or a long-distance route traversing mountains with numerous curves, bridges, and slopes, evaluating locomotives in light of these details becomes crucial for optimal decision-making.
By incorporating these details, we aim to provide you with an immersive experience that stays true to its realism as you navigate the challenges of Railroad Corporation 2.
And that wraps up today’s dev log. Thanks for your continued support, and stay tuned for more exciting developments as we continue to refine and enhance the world of Railroad Corporation 2!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1677970/Railroad_Corporation_2/
