Standardized Railtype Scheme
This railtype label scheme aims to bring order to the uncontrollable growth of railtype labels. It groups the rail types into what matters from a technical perspective. The scheme provides a standardized way of defining railtype labels, based on track gauge and type, speed class, allowable axle weight and electrification type. Train sets that follow the scheme will be compatible with a large selection of track sets that also follow the scheme. That way the player can select a track set of choice to go with a train set of choice. It allows the player to play with or without axle load classes, or with or without speed limit classes, simply by loading a track set that does or does not provide these features. In some cases it will also be possible to combine niche track sets, for instance a standard gauge track set with a narrow gauge and a metro track set.
The Label Scheme
A railtype label consists of four characters. In this scheme, each position has a different purpose:
- Track gauge and type class (e.g. standard gauge rail, narrow gauge rail, monorail)
- Speed limit class
- Axle load class (maximum allowed axle weight for this track)
- Energy source type class
In the next sections, each of the four positions will be explained.
Track gauge and type class [X***]
The first position in the railtype label defines track gauge and/or track type class. The following classes are currently defined:
| Track type/gauge | |
|---|---|
| S | Standard gauge rail |
| B | Broad gauge rail |
| N | Narrow gauge rail |
| n | Secondary narrow gauge rail (e.g. when providing both metre and cape gauge, always use N in case of just one type of narrow gauge) |
| D | Dual gauge rail, standard+broad gauge |
| d | Dual gauge rail, standard+narrow gauge |
| M | Monorail |
| L | Magnetic Levitation |
Speed limit class [*X**]
The second position in the railtype label defines the speed limit class. These classes do not map to a fixed numeric value, but are used to define an internal speed limit order for the track set. This means that if your track set has two different speed limits for track types that are otherwise identical, you'll use letters A and B here. In case of three different speed limits, use A, B and C. In case your track set does not employ speed limits, always use A. Train sets do not care about the speed limit, and will always set the lowest speed class, i.e. A.
This gives for instance the following options:
| Speed limit class | |
|---|---|
| A | no speed limits |
OR
| Speed limit class | |
|---|---|
| A | low speed |
| B | high speed |
OR
| Speed limit class | |
|---|---|
| A | low speed |
| B | medium speed |
| C | high speed |
etc.
A track set may also use the speed limit class for eyecandy purposes, for instance when providing an urban track type with concrete gound tiles. The following eyecandy classes have been defined so far:
| Eyecandy class | |
|---|---|
| U | urban |
| R | rack rail |
Axle load class [**X*]
The third position defines the axle weight limit. Heavy trains cannot run on tracks with a low axle weight limit; these trains need more expensive tracks with a heigher weight limit. A track set does not have to provide a track type for each axle weight limit. A train set should set the appropriate axle weight for each train via the railtype label, as to make the set work with track sets that do provide tracks with different weight limits.
The naming scheme followed here is derived from the European Standard EN 15528. Note that the limits in the table below are not set in stone. If for your train set it makes more sense to deviate slightly from it, then you may do so. Example: you have engines with axle loads 15 t, 17 t, 18 t and 21 t. According to EN 15528 you would get classes A, B and D, but for gameplay reasons it may be more interesting to put the 18 t engines in class C.
| Axle load limit | |
|---|---|
| A | 16 t |
| B | 18 t |
| C | 20 t |
| D | 22.5 t |
| E | 25 t |
| F | 27.5 t |
| G | 30 t |
A track set that does not provide a dedicated track for each axle load class, must make sure to map all undefined axle load classes to a real railtype using property 1D (alternate rail type labels). This way a train set can rely on all labels for all axle load classes being available. Example: if you only want to provide 20 t and 30 t axle load classes for standard gauge unelectrified with no speed limits, you map SAAN + SABN to SACN and SADN + SAEN to SAGN.
If you don't want to provide any axle load classes in your track set, it doesn't really matter what axle load class you choose for the track, as you'll be mapping all other classes to this track anyways. But the lowest or highest class are the obvious choice. Example: if your track set only provides narrow gauge unelectrified track with no speed limits and no axle load limits, you may use NAAN for the track label, and provide NABN, NACN, NADN, NAEN, NAFN, NAGN in property 1D.
If you want a axle load class lower than 16 t, you may use lowercase letter a for that, or a and b if you want to split it even further (b is a lower limit than a, so for increasing axle load limits: b < a < A < B < C etc.). Be advised that your train set may not assume the existance of any other class than listed above, so when using lowercase class letters make sure to program your railtype table such that trains with such a class will fall back to class A if the lowercase class is not defined. If you make a track set with very low axle load limits, be aware that not all train sets will define trains for these tracks. In general: only do this in case of a train set with a matching track set.
Energy source type class [***X]
The last position defines the energy source type class. This is split in generic energy source types like overhead wires and third rail and specialized types like alternating and direct current.
A track set that only uses specialized types, should map the generic types to the most suitable specialized type in the set.
A vehicle set that uses specialized types should define a generic type as fallback, via the railtype table. If such a fallback is omitted, please note that certain vehicles may be unavailable depending on track set loaded.
| Generic energy type classes | |
|---|---|
| N | no electrification |
| E | overhead wires/catenary electrification |
| 3 | 3rd rail electrification |
| Specialized energy type classes | Vehicle set fallback | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4th rail electrification | 3 |
| Z | 3rd rail and catenary electrification | 3 or E |
| D | DC catenary electrification | E |
| d | low voltage DC catenary electrification (only when D also used in set) | E |
| A | AC catenary electrification | E |
| a | low voltage AC catenary electrification (only when A also used in set) | E |
| C | two phase catenary electrification | E |
| T | three phase catenary electrification | E |
