How to Build and Run a Steam Train with Little Logistics

Lay the Track and Place the Train

Place a Steam Locomotive on a rail line. Attach cargo behind it by placing a Train Car, Chest Train Car, Barrel Train Car, or Fluid Tank Train Car on the same rail, then link them with a Vehicle Chain. Use a Locomotive Docking Rail where the locomotive should stop, and a Train Car Docking Rail under any car you want to load or unload at a station.

Route and Automate

Craft a Locomotive Route and use it on the locomotive to record waypoints along the rails. Place Switch Rail and T-Junction Rail blocks where tracks split; upgrade them to Automatic Switch Rail and Automatic T-Junction Rail so the locomotive can choose branches on its route. Add a Vehicle Detector beside the track to emit a signal when the train passes, and a Vehicle Charger if you run an Energy Locomotive instead of steam.

Move Goods

Load a Chest Train Car with a hopper or by hand, send the locomotive along its route, and unload at the docking rail. For fluids, fill a Fluid Tank Train Car and pump out with a Fluid Hopper. Use the Conductor's Wrench to rotate and configure rail blocks and docking rails in place.