Train Stop Alignment - rain9441/factorio-tls GitHub Wiki

https://github.com/rain9441/factorio-tls/blob/master/screenshots/03-train-stop-alignment.png

Instead of using one long train with many cargo wagons, this system uses many short trains with exactly one cargo wagon. This gives us two things: simplicity with combinator logic based unloading and granularity of what is delivered to each station. We can leverage the same combinator logic that is used by the seed train because it is using the same inserters. In the screenshot above you can see the way different trains align to the Unloader. In all three cases, there exists a configuration where a cargo wagon could unload. This allows us to have three (or many more) different trains (each with different components) unload at the same location. No matter the size of the train, there is always some overlap with the stack inserters. Train stops are placed strategically so that in each case, a train will be able to have a cargo wagon unload to both of the bot unloaders as well as at least five filter stack inserters. This way we guarantee any train can unload any products.

This design gives us flexibility as we can configure different trains to suit different needs and those trains will drop resources off only at the Unloaders that have their station enabled. This solves one of the biggest problems that any outpost build train tends to have. There are never enough speed module 3s. Suppose we had one large build train with 8 cargo wagons and we were short on speed modules 3s. Many outposts may have their Build Train Unloader station enabled because the outpost is short on speed module 3s. In this case, the big train will have awkward loading orders and/or constantly revisit the same outpost delivering nothing. Having one train dedicated to delivering speed module 3s gives us the ability to have all of the other components delivered to all of the other outposts without any worry. This system also allows a military train, carrying ammo, to serve an outpost on the east side of the map while the build train delivers miners, beacons, electric furnaces, etc, to an outpost out to the west.

Using multiple train stops in a row like this makes the build very compact. It has the added benefit of being (nearly) infinitely extendable. You can have as many unique build trains as you'd like so long as you continue to extend the rail and train stops outward beyond the core of the Unloader. All you have to do is to build an appropriately sized train whose single cargo wagon aligns with the Unloader's stack inserters.

We do sacrifice some unloading speed, which means the trains will not be able to service many outposts very rapidly. It is not often the case that players create outposts so frequently that it will cause the trains to fall behind schedule.

https://github.com/rain9441/factorio-tls/blob/master/screenshots/04-train-alignment.png