Factorio Forums

Info

• Name: Train Coupler
• Description: Adds the coupler rail, which automatically couples/decouples wagons if it's aligned with a gap when the train stops at a station.
• Tested with Factorio version: 0.14.22
• Locale: English
• License: MIT License. I'd appreciate if you contribute via github instead of forking if I'm still maintaining it, though.
• Author: NiftyManiac
• Source: https://github.com/NiftyManiac/factorio-train-coupler
• Portal download : https://mods.factorio.com/mods/NiftyManiac/TrainCoupler

Description
Here's a video demonstration. Attached is a demo save with an example of setting up a railyard for material storage and delivery with this mod.

The coupler rail needs to be researched, and can then be crafted from a single rail. It's pretty simple. If a train stops at a station in its schedule, and it comes to rest with a coupler rail aligned with a gap between wagons, those wagons will be coupled or decoupled.

After a coupling/decoupling takes place, the train immediately goes to the next stop in its schedule; the wait condition is ignored.

If anyone wants to help me improve the graphics, that'd be awesome .

Mod Compatibility

• Stringy Train Stops- No issues, but commands cannot be sent to a train that just coupled/decoupled, making things a bit difficult

Known Issues

• When coupling two trains, the train with fewer locomotives must have empty space on the other side for coupling to happen properly.
• Trains will lose their internal energy during coupling/decoupling, so each such event will cost fuel. Can't fix until 0.15.
• Diagonal coupler rails don't work properly yet.
• Not tested with other train mods; it's likely to have compatibility issues at the moment.
• Only one coupling/decoupling action per train per station. I.e. you can't split a train into 3 pieces, or couple and decouple at once, at a single station.
• If you're in following the train in god-mode, you'll be ejected. Can't fix until 0.15.

i love this feature! twists all train concepts you already learned and give's a new all dimension of stations. GJ, i will give a shot oon!

You sir have started exactly what I wanted in Factorio, a more realistic way for a railway to operate.

I've got a long post coming in the mod ideas forum, but I also am trying to find a way to create a schedule like system much like the railroads use irl for knowing what cars to uncouple, leave at a requested spot or control point, and recouple cars then move on along!

If it isn't apparently obvious, Im a Railroader IRL. Which is why something like this really is awesome for me.

I wanna make railroading in Factorio more realistic. Which is why Im learning LUA and using this like your mod to teach me how this all works and operates.


Thanks man! Awesome mod!

Wow, this is great, I'm gonna try it immediately, thank you!

I don't get it.

Is the coupler a rail signal or why doesnt the parked wagons don't block the station?

Greetings steinio

I really like your YouTube video demonstration of your mod.

In your video demonstration, each train has two locomotives, one pointing in each direction. This is necessary for trains to be able to drive in both directions in automatic mode. Personally, I find this ugly and unrealistic. Also, this makes the train sluggish, because the second locomotive increases the total weight of the train without providing any additional propulsion power to the train.

In reality, most modern locomotives are symmetrical, i.e. they can drive forwards and backwards at the same speed. In Factorio, however, trains are only able to drive in one direction, unless the train consists of several locomotives facing different directions. Only in manual mode is it possible to drive a locomotive in the other direction, and only at reduced power.

Therefore, in this thread, I have suggested that, in Factorio, locomotives should generally be symmetrical and that trains should always be able to drive backwards, also in automatic mode and not just in manual mode. For example, it should be possible for a single symmetrical locomotive at the back of a train to push the entire train into a siding and decouple its cargo wagons there. If my suggestion were implemented, it would no longer be necessary to imitate a symmetrical locomotive by placing two locomotives facing different directions next to each other, as was necessary in the video demonstration of your mod.

steinio wrote:Is the coupler a rail signal or why doesnt the parked wagons don't block the station?

Watch the linked video, all your questions will be answered there.

Tekky wrote:Therefore, in this thread, I have suggested that, in Factorio, locomotives should generally be symmetrical and that trains should always be able to drive backwards, also in automatic mode and not just in manual mode.

I agree. This would definitely make this mod more practical and fun. The rail coupler is really a pain to use with monodirectional trains right now, but nobody wants bidirectional trains for their long routes for the reasons you brought up.

NiftyManiac wrote:

steinio wrote:Is the coupler a rail signal or why doesnt the parked wagons don't block the station?

Watch the linked video, all your questions will be answered there.

Tekky wrote:Therefore, in this thread, I have suggested that, in Factorio, locomotives should generally be symmetrical and that trains should always be able to drive backwards, also in automatic mode and not just in manual mode.

I agree. This would definitely make this mod more practical and fun. The rail coupler is really a pain to use with monodirectional trains right now, but nobody wants bidirectional trains for their long routes for the reasons you brought up.

No. That's why I ask.

Automated (de-)coupling was on my wishlist, great mod and good elaborated video. Shunting can get more complex than I thought initially if more than one train is involved, but you can still use it for more simple operations.
Here's a screenshot of a simple setup with two stations and two pairs of locomotives I made: A long distance train entering with two empty waggons, decouple and continue his intinerary with two full waggons loaded with iron ore without waiting. http://imgur.com/e3HgtkX

driver wrote:Automated (de-)coupling was on my wishlist

This has also been in my wishlist for over 10 years, when I was playing OpenTTD (Transport Tycoon Deluxe). However, it has never been on my wishlist for Factorio, because I assumed that it would be too much work to implement and impossible to be implemented in a mod. I'm glad NiftyManiac (the mod author) proved me wrong. You truly are a nifty maniac.

steinio wrote: No. That's why I ask.

Oh sorry, didn't understand the question. No, the coupler rail doesn't act as a rail signal. You can see in the video that I add signals next to some of the coupler rails but not others; sometimes you need it, sometimes you don't. A couple of the ones in the video are hard to see behind the stations.

There may be still some problems with merging trains. Materials can get changed in something else after coupling.
Here's an example: The plastic train couples and after coupling, copper in the last waggon gets changed into steal.
http://imgur.com/Vgou7jw

driver wrote:There may be still some problems with merging trains. Materials can get changed in something else after coupling.
Here's an example: The plastic train couples and after coupling, copper in the last waggon gets changed into steal.
http://imgur.com/Vgou7jw

Hmm. Does this always happen with that configuration? If not, can you post a save where it does? I'll take a look when I get some time.

I started playing this selfmade map (which I made with 12.21) with version 14.21 (32bit) and used the mod respawn in singleplayer in the beginning, but not in 14.22
I wish I would have used just a normally generated map in 14.22. This map was for intended for freeplay, by I changed it to sandbox play to play around.
There are 4 clean trains in manual mode waiting for different operations on the map. If you automate them, they quickly get a problem with filtered steel coming from nowhere.

Made a simple setup with single directional trains:
https://youtu.be/wpPNcK82XVQ

This is wonderful and I can't wait to start playing again and try it.

While it's fun to play around with this mod and get some ideas, I'm wondering if the concept of stations and trainstops (entities) could be more comfortable, not only for (de-)coupling but in generell, so that you need to build less trainstops.
This could be done by adding a modular plattform to a train stop, so that in the end you have a modular station consisting of several connecting plattforms which work like invisible trainstops (but in both directions), and only one main trainstop at the top.
The coupler could be one tile like an inserter which simply triggers the keys G or V.
http://imgur.com/a/Vza30

The current way allows for train stations across curves. Makes design a bit more compact.

so good!!

I think a looks good system will come out.

Have found a compatibility issue with the railtanker mod.

Manually connecting and disconnecting from a railtanker that contains fluid and pulling away works as intended.

Trains connecting and disconnecting using your mod can connect and disconnect while the railtankers are either full or empty.
The issue is when the train pulls away connected to the tanker when there is fluid in the tanker, the fluid gets left behind.
The tankers are empty and the entity of fluid that is left behind can only be removed with the 'selected.destroy' console command.

I like the concept of your mod, will make some interesting layouts.