RealRailway Inspiration & Demos

[Herschel 10]

Hi Simtropolis - 

I'm a newish player to SimCity 4, and even newer to using NAM to customise transit. I'm embarking on a Modern Wild West type region based on a Grand Canyon map, using rail as the primary means of connecting cities.

I'm really excited by the possibilities that the Real Railway add-on allows, but am struggling with some of the NAM elements. I've already watched tutorials from Haljackey and Rob's Red Hotspot, but am wondering if here are any good video tutorials or play through that go really deep into Real Railway functionality (it's possible one of the accounts above has it and I just haven't found it yet). I'm a visual learner so even just watching someone build would be helpful, even without narration. 

Do my fellow Conductors have any favorite resources/youtubers?

Including a picture of laid track that captures the kind of situation I want to improve. I'm particularly interested in:

- Understanding the different FARR angles/pieces, and how to transition in and out of fractionally angled segments. I seem to be able to start a fractionally angled segment using the flex pieces but can't figure out how to get back to diagonal/orthagonal or transition to a different fractional angle. This is something I am mostly focused on for flat sections since I've read they don't play well with slopes. 

- How and when to use single track rail/improving junctions. I'm creating a lot of junctions on the canyon floor, so there's a lot of nearby slopes and angles that I need to work around. Can single track function almost like slip lanes to allow for multi-directional travel in fewer grid squares? How else are you using it? 

- Strategies for steep inclines. I've already got the slope mod for NAM 49 and have my rail slope set to the easiest setting. I've been using a lot of tunnels, but am wondering how feasible it is to create zig-zag style switchbacks to get up to heights where there's not enough latitude to build a straight tunnel. 

- Any other fun mods. Any Mac-compatible mods for stations, trains, or other rail-related tools or props? 

 

 

 

 

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

36 minutes ago, Herschel said:

- How and when to use single track rail/improving junctions.

In a private convo someone was also working on adding rail to their natural growth region and I replied:

On 2/9/2025 at 9:27 AM, CorinaMarie said:

And a tip you prolly already know: Be sure to use only STR (Single Track Rail) for nearly all of your railroad. Sometime in the future as your towns get larger, create a passing siding in various towns. The idea is that since passenger transportation was initially a big part of the service, you'll need a way for freight trains to slip by while the Sims are boarding.

Only way later in the growth cycle would you use dual main lines between the largest cities. Even at the height of railroading, there was prolly 95% single track rail between places.

Additionally, think about industrial spurs. These will be a single track that splits off a main one and goes to large industrial buildings. Ideally if there are any ploppable STR with boxcars you could put that at the end of a spur and next to a building with a loading dock. This would visually enhance the realism. IRL train cars to be loaded would often sit there for a week or more depending on the business volume of the factory.

^ (Since it's my side of the convo, I'm not violating any privacy. )

 

37 minutes ago, Herschel said:

how feasible it is to create zig-zag style switchbacks

I tried this once for fun to let passengers reach a Casino and Ferry at the bottom of a steep cliff. To make the Sims actually use it, I had to place a passenger station at each stub track of the switchback. Since the game treats every station as capable of generating or receiving a train, it doesn’t recognize the actual mechanics of switchbacking.

[Herschel 10]

@CorinaMarie wow a great trip on single track rail! I will give that a go for my next city.

[simmering 2,637]

3 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

I had to place a passenger station at each stub track of the switchback. Since the game treats every station as capable of generating or receiving a train, it doesn’t recognize the actual mechanics of switchbacking.

I came across the secret stations that 11241036 made. They are one-tile railway lots that function as station. They might come in handy for the design you describe.

 

[Herschel 10]

thanks @simmering i gave them a download, will be helpful getting stations placed in those tight corners!