You can have any number of trains you want to run a given route. Trains cannot run across routes. (The only exception to this rule is modular layouts, discussed separately) If you want a train to run a series of towns that are on different routes, create a new route for this train. For example, this situation occurred for the gravel train running from Owen Sound to Durham in the demo. This trip actually spanned two routes (the Walkerton Branch Line and the Orangeville Sub). The solution was to create a route specifically for this trip, then create the train to run the route.
To create a train, you will need to:
o Enter the train number
o Enter the name of the train
o Select the route this train will run on
o Select the train’s home yard, and select the train's return yard
o Check each of the towns the train will stop at, and uncheck those that it does not. For freight trains stopping means the train will switch industries in the towns checked. In the case below of M747/748 it does not switch industries in Orangeville. For passenger trains, stopping means just that.
If the train runs in the reverse order of the towns listed, check that option. This occurs when a train runs up a branch line one day such as Train M753 (Orangeville to Teeswater), then returns the next day with the same crew as Train M756 (Teeswater to Orangeville). They are two separate trains, but M756 runs in the reverse order of towns on the route (Obviously the two trains meet at some town in the route). Thus by using this option, you do not have to create a route for each direction of travel on a route. You can define trains to run from Town A to Town B and you can define trains to run from Town B to Town A utilizing the same route.
Some trains run up a line and return back to the originating yard on the same day as one train. This happened with the Elora mixed. You must indicate this with the option "Train Returns to Home Yard".
If the train is express with no stops, only the first and last towns need to be selected, there is an option to select this.
If you select a terminating yard that is a staging yard you will have the option to create the return staged train. This train will be created at the same time as the train you are creating, with the same properties. Selecting that return staged train once created will allow you to change some properties, such as the route. You can also create more than one return staged train, but only one of those trains can run at any one time, and only after the train enters the staged yard. More on the logic of staging yards can be found on the Staging Yards page.
You can, alternatively, check the option where you will have to manually select the return staged train from one that entered staging. Though manual for each train, changing one staged train into another is a simple task. Select the staging yard you want the train to enter the layout from, and select one of the trains in that yard. Then run that new train. This process is done in the Managing Staged Trains form which you can get at from Run Scheduled Trains, the Administration form, or on the bottom right side of this form when you select a train that originates in staging and is linked to a train that enters staging (non-manual return train).
Selecting a linked out of staging train, the display changes to this:
At this point you can add more out of staging train by pushing the Add Another Inbound Staged Train button. This will clear the left side of the display allowing you to add another linked train. So adding 710 at this point becomes an alternative train to 708 for train 707. That is, once 707 arrives at the staging yard, you can run it back to the layout as either 708 or 710. But 708 and 710 are still linked to 707.
If you choose to check the manual return train option, you do not enter an out of staging train. What you need to do is create one or more trains that run from that staging yard back onto the layout. Without a train to return to the layout, 707 would go in by have no way to return.
You can select different frequency for each train run. This is only used in the schedule and indicated on the list of trains when you create a switchlist. The program does not automatically "run" trains in these days, that is up to you. If the option "Selected Days" is selected, you can then choose the day(s) of the week to run the train on. If you are not interested in adhering to specific days of the week, then simply pick Random (which is the default selection). You can also choose whether the train type is a unit train, a freight, mixed, or passenger train. The class of train can also be selected. The program comes with 1st through 5th class, but you can add your own at any time. Train classes show up in the switchlist and on the schedules.
Choose the minimum and maximum number of cars for this train. Exclude any cabooses (vans) from this calculated number.
Create the train by pressing the so indicated button. Once a train is created, you can go back and select which industries the train actually switches (after you enter the industries, of course). As is, the program will assume that all checked towns will have their industries switched by this train. You can also select which commodities a train can haul. You can also set which yards the train will visit or not. All of these are optional features for further fine tuning and customizing the program.