Iron Link Locomotives Mod FAQ
10 questions players actually ask, answered.
How do you link minecarts together to make a train?
Place your minecarts in a line on any standard rail track, then use standard vanilla chains on the carts to connect them. Put a furnace minecart at the front of the chain to act as the locomotive that pulls the rest of the train.
Why won't my furnace minecart move after I put coal in it?
Locomotives require both fuel and water to operate, so you need to open the locomotive screen and add water buckets alongside your fuel. If it still does not move, check the three levers on the locomotive to make sure the red brake lever is released and the black throttle lever is engaged.
What do the three colored levers on the locomotive do?
The Red Lever controls the brakes for slowing down or parking at stations. The Navy Lever switches the train's movement direction between forward and reverse. The Black Lever toggles your speed between one-third throttle for precise movement and full throttle for high-speed travel.
What fuel can I use in the locomotive?
The furnace locomotive accepts standard vanilla furnace fuels, including coal, charcoal, wood planks, and lava buckets. Keep in mind that you must also supply water through the locomotive screen for the engine to run.
Why is my train burning through fuel and water so fast?
Fuel and water consumption scales directly with the total length of your train. Pulling a long line of connected carts will drain your locomotive's reserves much faster than pulling just one or two wagons.
How do I automatically stop a train at a station?
Place a Signal Rail on your track, right-click it to set its mode to Brake, and power it with redstone. When any cart in your linked train rolls over the powered Signal Rail, it will automatically trigger the locomotive's brakes.
Does the furnace locomotive have to touch the Signal Rail for it to work?
No, any linked cart in your train will trigger the Signal Rail's effect when it rolls over the block. This means passenger seats and cargo wagons at the back or middle of the train can activate Throttle, Brake, or Reverse commands for the locomotive.
How do I see past the locomotive while riding in a minecart?
Press the A or D keys while riding in a cart to lean your character left or right. This lets you look around the locomotive, see around corners, and check your attached wagons and track clearance.
Do I need to craft special tracks for the trains to run on?
No, the linked trains run directly on standard vanilla rail tracks and do not alter normal minecart physics. The only new track block added is the Signal Rail, which is only needed where you want to automate throttle, braking, or reversing with redstone.
How do I make my train go in reverse?
Interact with the Navy Lever on the locomotive to switch the engine's gearing between forward and reverse. You can also automate this on the track by running your train over a redstone-powered Signal Rail that has been right-clicked into Reverse mode.