Trains

Trains are the rail transport system in Captain of Industry, built from locomotives and wagons to move bulk materials across the map. A train consists of one locomotive plus one or more wagons, with each vehicle contributing its own length and weight, so train design is a balance between throughput, fuel use, staffing, and the space available on the rail network.

The locomotive determines a train’s speed, power, fuel type, worker requirement, and pollution. Early game options include the Diesel Locomotive, Steam Locomotive, and Hydrogen Locomotive, while later updates and DLC add stronger variants such as Diesel Locomotive II, Steam Locomotive II, Hydrogen Locomotive II, Electric Locomotive, Electric Locomotive II, Fireless Steam Locomotive, Turbine Locomotive, Nuclear Locomotive parts, and Captain’s Locomotive. Their performance differs sharply: the Diesel Locomotive provides 650 kW and 80 km/h, the Steam Locomotive 900 kW and 65 km/h, and the Hydrogen Locomotive 500 kW and 90 km/h. Higher-tier versions improve both speed and hauling strength, with examples such as the Diesel Locomotive II at 1800 kW and 110 km/h, the Steam Locomotive II at 2400 kW and 90 km/h, the Hydrogen Locomotive II at 1400 kW and 120 km/h, and the Turbine Locomotive at 3000 kW and 140 km/h. The Nuclear Locomotive (Reactor) is the strongest listed, with 7000 kW and 120 km/h, although its train is assembled from separate cab, reactor, and condenser parts.

Fuel and staffing are a major part of train planning. Diesel locomotives consume Diesel, steam locomotives consume Coal and Water, hydrogen locomotives consume Hydrogen, electric locomotives consume power in MW, fireless steam locomotives consume High Steam, turbine locomotives consume Fuel Gas, and the nuclear locomotive reactor consumes Uranium Rod. Worker demand ranges from 1 to 2 workers on most locomotives, while the Nuclear Locomotive (Reactor) requires no listed workers but has a high maintenance cost. Pollution also varies widely: Hydrogen Locomotives produce none, Electric Locomotives produce none, and steam and turbine engines generate more pollution than diesel or hydrogen options.

Wagons carry the cargo, and their size strongly affects train length and capacity. Standard wagons such as Flatbed Wagon, Hopper Wagon, and Tanker Wagon each hold 120 storage and are 5 tiles long, while their II versions hold 480 storage and are 10 tiles long. The Ladle Transfer Car, added with the Trains DLC, also holds 480 storage but is 10 tiles long and heavier than the other wagon types. Steam locomotive tenders are special support cars that store fuel and water rather than cargo: the Steam Locomotive Tender holds 56 Coal and 56 Water, while the Tender II stores 144 of each. The Turbine Locomotive Tender stores 210 Fuel Gas.

In practice, the best train setup depends on the distance and cargo type. Shorter, simpler routes can use early locomotives and standard wagons, while long-haul lines benefit from faster engines and higher-capacity wagons to reduce traffic and rail congestion. Longer locomotive and wagon versions improve capacity but also make the train physically longer, so rail planning must account for station length and track clearance.