Welcome to the Railway Infrastructure in your Nation thread!
This thread is for all things railway and rail transport related, and is intended to contain not only your personal examples, but also discussion and views of other railway networks.
As this is a fairly new concept, and I don't know if it'll roll with the population here, we'll try to keep this thread alive. Just like the CYOE, IDT, MBT, MBM, AF, and Navy threads, feel free to post your own work, art, and other related goodies, but be aware that critique will come. Don't forget to discuss!
Rules of the Road
Abide by these, so everyone can get along.
ONE: Read the OP. Even though this is a new discussion thread, please do read this OP. It contains a few tidbits of useful information. No, seriously. Read it. Look at all the pretty pictures for all I care, but do read the OP.
TWO: Post whatever you like, as long as it's to do with trains. Accept the fact that there's critiquing that will go on here, and don't attack people based on it. No one likes it, especially during summer.
THREE: If you do offer criticism, make sure it's constructive, and don't assume that the person you're criticising knows what's wrong. Clearly state, in a non-hostile way, WHY you think x and y will not work for z.
FOUR: Be civil, the site rules still apply. Find them here, in the OSRS. In short, keep it civil. This means, be polite. Be professional. This does not mean troll, flame, flamebait, trollbait, attack, abuse, or otherwise harm anyone. While swearing is tolerated, try to limit it.
FIVE: Whilst not encouraged off topic posts are allowed to an extent, EG you won't get a warning if you post a jet or a tank, as long as you're prepared to explain how they fit into the rail infrastructure of your nation. Remember that this IS the railway network thread.
SIX: While this is an IC part of the forum, this is an OOC thread. However, be prepared for a lot of discussion flipping between OOC and IC. While jarring at first, it's not too hard to get used to.
SEVEN: Excepting page topping "railway porn", try to limit large images to spoiler tags. Same with walls of paragraphed text. It just clogs up the page for everyone.
EIGHT: Be extra nice to whichever mod runs across this thread and decides to stay, whether that be Transnapastain or someone else.
EIGHT B: Be extra nice to Transnapastain.
NINE: Read rule 4.
GOLDEN RULE
Do not talk about politics, I don''t care if you were just replying to someone, don't do it!And now for the main question:
What is your nation's railway infrastructure and network like?
I'll start it off, with my original post.
Yukonastan is infamous for having a slightly wider gauge of track than most nations, at 1500mm between the rails. This provides nice one-way commonality with Russian gauge, allowing Yukonastan railway vehicles to travel on the 1524mm track with ease. Most vehicles that travel internationally have been fitted with extra wide tires, to provide a proper and safe contact on Russian gauge. This consists of an extra 20mm on the outside of each wheel. Going in the opposite direction, however, is a logistical nightmare. Yukonastan railway interchanges are often built to Russian track gauge, and if rail vehicles are incompatible with Yukonastan's railway gauge, they will be crossloaded onto vehicles that are.
As far as public transit and signal systems go, look at the Netherlands for the system. It is the exact same system that Yukonastan uses. Each track route is divided into blocks. These blocks are on average the length of the longest standard train, plus brake way for that train. All blocks are double-single tracked for both directions. This offers amazing redundancy in case of track failure, if an experienced dispatcher makes use of the non-traditional left track. However, in most cases, the standard is right running, with the left track mainly being signaled for complete redundancy.
Trains and railway vehicles generally represent a blend of European, American, and Russian. While a significant portion of all trackage is fully electrified to a 10KVDC system, most consists will include at least two locomotives, of which one is a diesel-electric unit, normally sharing power from a second pantograph and electric rig on the electric locomotive. Freight train lengths are somewhere between American and European standards, with the longest official length being 650m, measured with all slack taken up. The standard railway equipment coupler used to be the SA3 automatic coupler, but has recently been replaced by the C-AKv coupler, which is a modernized SA3. Both continue to be used, however, when equipment goes through maintenance, the couplers will be upgraded for the newer type.
Passenger service is again comparable to the Netherlands, with a similar many rapid trains mentality. With the distances being longer, however, a distinct split between regional and intercity service is made. Regional services may continue between two cities, but often, especially on the longer routes, go only about halfway before heading back. This makes the intercity the most viable and attractive option, superior to highways and air travel in terms of emissions, time, and cost. Similarly to the freight equipment, all trains have C-AKv couplers. However, as automatic multiple units, on both sides of the actual couplers there are sprung contact boxes. These automatically connect when two multiple units couple, and if a multiple unit couples to a standard locomotive, a standard MU cable box is installed on all passenger D/EMUs. For reliability purposes, all MUs will have both a power pickup for catenary operation, as well as multiple underfloor diesel generators for stretches where 10KVDC isn't available. Multiple units do not have the ability to power share, however.
The equipment breakdown is approximately as follows.
Intercity passenger D/EMUs:
Similar to NS VIRM4, a double decker dual mode D/EMU train stick, with detachable centre cars. They aren't normally split, however.
Similar to NS ICMm, a single decker dual mode D/EMU train set, with either four-car or three-car variants.
Regional passenger D/EMUs:
Similar to NS DDZ, a double decker dual mode D/EMU train stick, with detachable centre cars. They aren't normally split, however.
Similar to NS SGMm, a single decker dual mode D/EMU train set, with three-car variants.
International passenger trains, towed by locomotives:
Similar to NS ICR, carriages coupled into train sticks normally measuring three carriages, which are combined into international consists. Will have one dual-mode lok on point, and a cab control car on the other end. These units, or some of them, have the ability to power share. This allows some consists to use exclusive diesel-electric loks, with true electric power being provided by the power-sharing portion of the consist, coupled right by the lok.
