Developer Log 5 - Development Process behind Steam Locomotive’s Exhaust
Hello everyone!
We are back with another developer deep-dive, we delve into the intriguing subject of "Steam locomotive exhaust." The color and intensity of locomotive exhaust can vary significantly, prompting us to explore the factors influencing these variations. Our aim is to portray the railroad environment in a realistic manner within the constraints of our capabilities.
Locomotive exhausts comprise two main components, namely smoke and steam, blended in varying proportions. Smoke originates from the combustion of wood, coal, or oil, the widely adopted fuels during the game's time period. Beyond impurities, the combustion products include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and carbon itself. Of these, carbon dioxide is deemed the most “useful” due to its superior thermal energy output during the transformation of carbon from the fuel.
Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, arises when there is insufficient oxygen in the combustion chamber. This not only results in a partial waste of thermal energy but also poses a health hazard, earning it the non-scientific term "choke gas". Pure carbon represents wasted fuel, unable to find its air particle and contributing to the black color of smoke.
A perfectly burnt fuel under ideal conditions should yield invisible smoke, while white smoke may indicate the presence of water in the burnt fuel. Now, turning our attention to steam, it serves as a medium for transporting the thermal energy generated by the combustion of fuel in the locomotive's firebox to the pistons.
The process involves burning fuel in the combustion chamber, heating water in the locomotive, and creating steam through boiling. This steam then powers the locomotive's pistons, turning its wheels. The color of steam is consistently white, and it is released from the smokestack when the locomotive is in motion.
Examining the interplay between smoke and steam, we observe that the exhaust's color can range from white to black. A lighter color indicates more steam release and/or better fuel combustion, while a darker color signifies less steam release and/or inferior fuel combustion. Additionally, the exhaust's transparency, not previously discussed, depends on external weather conditions, primarily air temperature and humidity.
To better illustrate these concepts, we have provided links to YouTube videos showcasing actual locomotive exhaust phenomena:
Analyzing provided examples, such as those in the given YouTube links, we not only witness changes in color but also variations in transparency. In brief, the transparency of exhaust is influenced by external factors, with dry summer days making it challenging to observe any exhaust, while wet and cold winter or autumn days facilitate clearer visibility due to steam condensation in the air.
And that’s all for our deep-dive into today’s blog! We hope you found this exploration of steam locomotive exhaust both informative and engaging. Stay tuned for more news and any announcements, and join our Discord if there are any specific topics you’d like us to cover!
Developer Log 4 - Designing Locomotives in Railroad Corporation 2
Hello everyone!
We’re back again with another dev log today, and we’ll be covering the core feature in the game: Locomotives in Railroad Corporation 2.
If you've been with us since Railroad Corporation 1, you're likely familiar with the concept: you’ll need to purchase locomotives, each consisting of a single engine, to transport goods and carriages from one city to the next. Initially, only a small handful of locomotive models are available, but as you progress and complete research, new and advanced models unlock for you to add to your arsenal.
Now, in Railroad Corporation 2, we propel ourselves ahead in time, embracing innovations that pave the way for the emergence of new locomotives. As highlighted on the store page, the game primarily unfolds in the early 20th century, an era marked by the advent of electrification, which influenced the locomotives during this time.
In Railroad Corporation 2, our aim is to bring realism closer towards Railroad Corporation 2, and the in-game design of locomotives is no exception. Each locomotive model is heavily inspired and crafted based on schematics and properties sourced from reliable online references. Thus, we'd like to provide a walkthrough from schematics to the in-game model, using a locomotive example that we showcased in our last dev log that’ll be featured in Railroad Corporation 2: the 4-8-0 Mastodon steam locomotive!
Firstly, all locomotives within the game are based on design schematics found in online sources or handbooks, which serve as the starting point for the locomotive's design, capturing its details and specifications. Taking the 4-8-0 Mastodon steam locomotive as an example, its design blueprint was drawn from The Norfolk & Western Handbook by Wallace and Wiley, as well as inspired from other online sources.
Wikimedia Commons - A. Bucher: Das Eisenbahnwesen auf der Weltausstellung in Brüssel 1910. in Polytechnisches Journal, S. 344, Fig. 143
Wikimedia Commons - 1922 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice
Next, our development team translates the blueprints into a fully realized 3D model, ensuring the dimensions and the core elements are reflected in-game. With the 4-8-0 Mastodon, the visual design of this locomotive is based on the Norfolk and Western M Class, a steam-powered behemoth crafted between 1906 and 1907 by Baldwin Locomotive Works and ALCO-Richmond Works.
Lastly, the technicalities and characteristics are programmed onto each of the locomotives based on their real-life counterpart’s statistics, which reflects how each type of locomotive will behave in-game, which includes details such as train power, tractive effort, maximum speed, locomotive mass, as well as its behavior on road slopes or turn curves, etc.
These properties collectively constitute a wealth of information that you must consider when evaluating each locomotive, aiding them in making informed decisions about the most suitable choice for various in-game situations:
Top speed
Max pulling mass
Acceleration
Reliability rate
Rated mileage
Service life
Fuel conversion efficiency
In addition, there are other technical properties showcased in-game in how locomotives would react to different environments, as well as how each type of carriage would affect the performance of the locomotive in the form of graphic charts comparison.
For example, the in-game graph below depicts how the nominal speed of a 4-8-0 Mastodon decreases based on both the slope of the terrain it traverses and the weight of its cargo.
Armed with this information, you can effectively assess which locomotives align with your current requirements. Considerations such as the cargo's weight are essential, as well as factors like the characteristics of the locomotive’s itinerary. Whether you're dealing with short, direct tracks within a local agglomeration or a long-distance route traversing mountains with numerous curves, bridges, and slopes, evaluating locomotives in light of these details becomes crucial for optimal decision-making.
By incorporating these details, we aim to provide you with an immersive experience that stays true to its realism as you navigate the challenges of Railroad Corporation 2.
And that wraps up today’s dev log. Thanks for your continued support, and stay tuned for more exciting developments as we continue to refine and enhance the world of Railroad Corporation 2!
Developer Log 3 - Where we've been, and what lies ahead
Hello everyone!
It’s been a while since our last dev log, and after a period of silence, we’re now at the stage in the development process with Railroad Corporation 2 where we can start to showcase some of the cool new features within and how it's coming along!
But first, we understand that many of you have been eagerly awaiting updates, and we appreciate your patience and support during this time. The lack of communication was primarily due to a few challenging circumstances we faced in the past years. Our team encountered difficulties because of the ongoing war in Ukraine. It forced us to abandon our previous office, set up a new workflow, and get back into restoring the processes of development.
Otherwise, our team has been hard at work on the development of Railroad Corporation 2. We’ve been focused on improving familiar features you all know and love from its predecessor, while also adding brand-new elements to bring fresh challenges to the gameplay experience. While we can’t get into specific details yet in today’s dev blog, here is a cool in-game scene that we’ll be talking about soon:
We’re excited to finally share our progress with you and will be providing regular updates from now on. The vision for Railroad Corporation 2 remains steadfast: introducing railroad electrification and paving the way for the new age of trains. You’ll be empowered to expand your railroad business across the region, evolving your track networks and locomotives to transport goods and passengers, all while outpacing the competition.
Thank you for your understanding and patience. We can't wait to embark on this exciting journey with you, and we truly appreciate your continued enthusiasm and support. Stay tuned for more updates, and if you haven’t already, join our Discord to connect with fellow rail enthusiasts, share your ideas, and stay updated on the latest developments. Let’s make Railroad Corporation 2 an unforgettable experience together!
And while you wait, we’re curious: which locomotives do you think are coming to Railroad Corporation 2?
After a certain pause we continue our Railroad Corporation 2 devlog, and today we would like to talk more about Corporation rather than Railroad. An essential part of any company is human resources. In Railroad Corporation 2 you will have to hire different specialists in different office departments, one of such departments is a geology department.
In Railroad Corporation 2, not all of the resources might be available for transportation right away, as some of them need to be discovered first. With help of the geology department you can plan your geology discoveries, hire necessary specialists and maintain studying of the terrain.
Different department levels provide players with a certain information e.g. the probability of this or that resource to be found in a certain spot. Higher department levels offer more precise information about the terrain available. Of course, higher department levels will also influence your upkeep costs, so you'll have to manage your spending carefully.
Additionally a certain level of the department might be a requirement for hiring this or that specialist especially if the abilities of character are better than average.
Geologists can be hired at a labor market. Each employee has a certain level as well, higher level means better impact on the geology department overall (passive skill) and on each particular discovery task (active skill). Specialists may affect different parameters, e.g. research speed, efficiency and cost of natural resources discovery.
Each scenario map is split by blocks. Some blocks are not available for research, e.g. high mountains or lakes; others are discovery spots where geologists can be sent to run the research.
Once a certain research is completed your specialists will require some rest.
During the research it is prohibited to perform any construction on site.
If a research is effective and natural resources are found it will be necessary to set up a city somewhere nearby the geology research site so you can set up a mine and railroad station to transport the resources. Of course, whoever found resources became the owner of those resources. This is an additional bonus from geological exploration.
That’s all for now, but more news is coming. Stay tuned!
There are a lot of questions about what will be in Railroad Corporation 2, and the differences between it and the first game. So we'd like to take this opportunity to tell you about what's new in the sequel!
Today we're tackling the most vital game aspect - railroad construction.
In Railroad Corporation 2 we will keep the same logic of track building - you can lay tracks only from the existing track, but based on the player’s feedback we're making a lot of changes.
Crossing
Yes, this time you will be able to make a track crossing! This was maybe the most frequent request about railroads and we couldn’t ignore it.
Diamond crossings are also an option!
Moreover, you will be able to do multiple crossings.
Parallel Tracks
Building of parallel tracks will be similar to Railroad Corporation 1 logic. You need to move the cursor to the existing track until a sign of the parallel track appears, click, and move along the existing track. We have improved snapping to the track, so building a parallel track will be easier.
Moreover, crossing other tracks doesn’t cancel parallel track building. You can build a pretty long parallel track just in one click.
Bridges And Tunnels
There will be 3 different bridges: wooden, steel and cement. They will have different speed limits and prices. And of course, it will be possible to build a bridge over existing tracks.
Junctions
Junction logic remains the same, but again with more freedom. In Railroad Corporation 2 it will be possible to make a double junction.
Even Scissor crossovers will be available in the game.
Thank you for reading! We're excited to share more news about Railroad Corporation 2 in the future, so stay tuned.
Race into the eras of diesel and electricity in Railroad Corporation’s sequel, Railroad Corporation 2!
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Full speed ahead! Upgrade your tracks over time to unlock diesel and electric locomotives and increase speed and efficiency. Control semaphores to keep junctions clear and trains running smoothly. Construct bridges, tunnels or same-level crossings to manage a vast network of tracks and locomotives.
Note: graphics are not final and subject to change.
Found cities and cultivate their growth over time. Build industry production facilities, hospitals and banks, among other structures, to reveal unique benefits that will help your empire thrive. Connect the region by rail to fuel trade and supply your organization.
Construct power plants to supply electric energy for cities, stations, and railroads. Upgrade these structures to push your corporation to its full potential.
Note: graphics are not final and subject to change.
Compete against your friends for prominence in online multiplayer. Make a partnership and work together in co-op mode. Or focus on your solo corporation in Sandbox mode. The choice is yours!
We're so excited to reveal Railroad Corporation 2 to the world. Railroad Corporation 2 is coming to you in 2022 -- hop on board by wishlisting the game on Steam!
