Train Driver Handbook

The Brandywine Rail Service provides player-operated passenger and freight trains across the state. These procedures explain the basic operation of the service and set a few common-sense expectations for engineers. They are intended as guidance rather than an exhaustive rulebook. Engineers are trusted to use reasonable judgement and prioritise safe, believable roleplay

Beginning a Shift

Rail services begin at the Railway Office in Saint Denis.

• Open the Railway Office menu.
• Select Rail Services and choose an available route.
• Choose a railway company, train type and consist.
• Once the train has been prepared in the Saint Denis rail yard, board the locomotive and follow the objective shown on screen.

Only one train service may use each route at a time. The Active Services section of the Railway Office menu shows which services are already operating.

Available Routes

• Saint Denis–Emerald Line
• Northern Circuit via Valentine
• Northern Circuit via Rhodes
• Saint Denis–Valentine–Rhodes Line

Each route is a circuit which returns to Saint Denis and continues until the engineer ends their shift. A different available route may be selected when stopped at Saint Denis.

Operating the Train

Train acceleration, braking, bell and whistle use the normal locomotive controls. Once moving, Maintain Speed can be used to hold the current speed. Accelerating, braking or selecting Release Speed will cancel it.

The selected route provides station objectives and automatically controls most railway junctions. Where a junction requires a decision from the engineer, a prompt will appear as the train approaches.

Engineers should:

• Accelerate and brake gradually where possible.
• Approach stations, crossings and populated areas carefully.
• Use the bell or whistle to give reasonable warning near stations, crossings, tunnels and hazards.
• Avoid stopping a long train across roads or busy areas for longer than necessary.
• Stop and assess obstructions rather than deliberately striking people, animals, wagons or debris at speed.
• Keep an eye on the route objective and the train's coal, water and maintenance levels.

Passenger and mixed trains may carry passengers. Freight trains without passenger carriages should not be treated as passenger services.

Stations and Passengers

Passenger services provide an Announce Arrival prompt when approaching or stopped at the correct platform. Announcing arrival begins the suggested boarding period:

• Major stations: approximately 3 minutes.
• Minor stations: approximately 1 minute.

These times are guidance. An engineer may leave earlier when nobody is waiting or remain longer when it benefits the roleplay.

Before leaving, use Announce Departure while the locomotive is stationary. Allow passengers a reasonable opportunity to board or disembark, check that it is safe to move, and then pull away gradually.

Engineers may open and close supported passenger-car doors using the nearby door prompts.

Coal, Water and Maintenance

Trains begin a service with half a load of coal and water. Coal and water are consumed while operating, and the locomotive's condition gradually deteriorates.

High engine effort, excessive speed, harsh braking and collisions cause greater wear. Freight and mixed consists are heavier, use more resources and have lower operating speeds than passenger consists.

• Water can be replenished at water towers along the railway.
• Coal can be loaded at designated coal points, including the Saint Denis yard and Annesburg.
• Minor stations allow routine maintenance.
• Major stations allow a full locomotive service.

The train must be stopped in the correct area before servicing can begin. Moving away or beginning to drive will interrupt the work.

Each service carries one emergency repair. This is intended to restore a failed locomotive enough to reach a station, it is not a replacement for proper maintenance.

Incidents and Assistance

If the track is obstructed, bring the train to a safe stop and deal with the situation through roleplay. Ask nearby townsfolk or law enforcement for assistance when appropriate.

If another train, a broken junction or another technical issue prevents safe progress, do not force the train forward or create a larger obstruction. Try to resolve the situation sensibly and report genuine script problems to staff.

Engineers should only contact emergency services when there is a reasonable roleplay opportunity to do so. Being employed by the railway does not provide special authority over passengers or other townsfolk.

Ending a Shift

When finished, use End Shift from the active assignment menu. If practical, first return the train to the Saint Denis rail yard and use Put Away Train at the return point.

The /deletetrain command is available to engineers as a recovery option for their own active train. Use it when the train is stuck, broken or cannot be put away normally—not as the usual way to finish every shift.

Ending the shift or deleting the train removes the complete consist and stops railway pay. Never abandon an active train on the railway when leaving the server.

General Conduct

• Operate the railway in a professional and believable manner.
• Treat passengers fairly and communicate delays or problems where possible.
• Do not use a railway train for random destruction, harassment or unrelated criminal activity.
• Passenger safety and good roleplay take priority over keeping a perfect schedule.
• When something unusual happens, use common sense rather than searching for a technicality in these procedures.