[OLD] EARN Train Stations v3.1

TL;DR

• Modular station design that allows building all kinds of outpost and side platforms with loading and unloading stations.

Features

• Compatible with other EARN 3 book.

• There are three types of station layouts

  • Outpost stations are more robust and can easily be extendable with stackers or depots based on your needs.

  • Side Platforms are for setting up small stations like mining ores.

  • Block Stations are customized versions of Side Platforms that are used for Rail Blocks

• Smart and customizable loading and unloading bays.

  • Self-balancing chests and fluid tanks

  • Customizable number of trains that can arrive at the station at the same time. (Default 1)

  • Color-coded lights can be added to stations for visual assist.

    • Teal: Ready and waiting for a train to be assigned

    • Yellow: Train on-route

    • Red: Train on station

    • Green: Train is ready to leave

• Provides all kinds of compact loading and unloading bays. (I had to prioritize space usage over number of chests. So some stations doesn't have 6 chests per wagon. They can still fully saturate or consume belts. I'm open to suggestions on better designs. Ping me on my Discord)

  • 4/8 lane red & blue belt loading and unloading

  • Requester/Provider chests for robot loading and unloading

  • "Fast-enough" fluid stations for loading and unloading

• Provides Cargo Stations for most of the commonly used items. It's easy to add new ones. There is also matching Trains on my Cargo Trains book.

Service Stations

• These stations are compatible with my Service Hub blueprint.

• They allow trains to carry building materials for setting up or expanding an outpost.

• They can be placed on Outposts, Side Platforms or Blocks.

• They need to be the first station for them to receive/send network signals properly.

Depot Stations (Optional)

• Using the depot is not required for the system to work but recommended as they allow trains to move out of unloading stations.

• Train routes are designed like this: Depot -> Loading Station -> Unloading Station. If there is no available depot station, trains will go to the closest available Loading Station they are assigned to.

• Depot Base is required for Fuel train to deliver fuel. After that you can increase the lane count with Depot Extension blueprint.

• Trains are refueled on depot stations. If you don't use depot stations, you need to provide fuel on loading or unloading outposts. Outpost bays have 3 empty tiles near the locomotive. Those tiles are reserved for refueling via a red belt or a requester chest.

You can check EARN v3 Documentation to get more info about how train stations work.

Changelog

v3.1.2 ( June 25, 2024 )

• Removed extra belts from Block Station Belt Loaders

v3.1.1 ( June 14, 2024 )

• Updated 1-4 Fluid loader & unloader: Now it fits on 1 lane side platform and block stations.

• Updated Red Belt Single Front Loader to make belt arrangement identical to double version.

v3.1.0 ( June 9, 2024 )

• Upgraded Service Stations to to utilize EARN 3.1 changes.

• Moved Block Stations from Rail Blocks book to Train Stations book.

• Moved Depot Block to Depot book.

• Outposts, Side Platforms and Block Stations have separate books again.