Immersive Railroading Mod Wiki

Immersive Railroading (IR) is a massive transport mod for Minecraft (1.16.5, 1.12.2, and others) that replaces the simplistic vanilla minecart system with a realistic, life-sized railroading experience. It is built on real-world physics, featuring detailed 3D models and a flexible track-laying system. The mod allows for the transport of players, items, fluids, and even mobs across vast distances.

Core Features

• Life-Sized Models: Trains are scaled to real-world dimensions, dwarfing the player and standard Minecraft blocks.
• Physics-Based Movement: Weight, momentum, friction, and gravity affect how trains accelerate, brake, and handle slopes.
• In-World Assembly: Instead of a crafting table, rolling stock is assembled directly on the tracks using components and tools.
• Multiple Gauges: Support for various track widths, from tiny model trains to massive broad-gauge systems.
• Resource Pack Support: The mod is designed to be expanded with community-made resource packs that add hundreds of new locomotives and cars.

To begin your railroad empire, you must first craft the essential tools and set up a basic manufacturing line. If Immersive Engineering is installed, IR will use its materials (Steel, Treated Wood) and multiblock components; otherwise, it defaults to iron-based recipes.

Essential Tools

The First Track

1. Craft a Track Blueprint (6 Steel Ingots + 1 Paper in an 'H' shape).
2. Right-click the air to set the gauge (Standard is recommended for beginners).
3. Place the blueprint on the ground. You will see a ghost image of the track.
4. Supply the required materials (Rails and Ties) to the blueprint to manifest the physical track.

Manufacturing trains requires a series of specialized machines. These are multiblocks formed by placing specific blocks and right-clicking the center with a Large Wrench.

The Production Line

1. Casting Basin: The heart of the factory. Melt Steel Ingots or Blocks into molten metal to cast Rails, Wheels, and Frames.
2. Rail Machine (Track Roller): Processes raw Rail Castings from the Casting Basin into finished Rail Segments.
3. Plate Rolling Machine: Flattens steel into various plate sizes used for boilers and car bodies.
4. Boiler Roller: Bends steel plates into cylindrical segments for steam locomotive boilers.
5. Steam Hammer: Forges heavy components like cylinders and pistons.

Powering Machines

Machines require Forge Energy (FE/RF). If Immersive Engineering is present, they can be powered via wire connectors. The power input is typically marked by a specific block (often a Gold Block in the ghost guide).

Immersive Railroading features a flexible track system that allows for smooth curves, steep grades, and complex junctions.

Track Gauges

Track Types

• Straight: Standard linear track.
• Slope: Allows trains to change elevation. Note: Heavy trains require more power to climb steep grades.
• Switch: A junction that allows trains to change tracks. Can be toggled via Redstone or manual interaction.
• Turntable: Rotates a single piece of rolling stock 360 degrees.
• Custom Curve: A flexible tool that allows for any angle or radius. Requires a Golden Spike to complete.

Rolling stock is divided into Locomotives (power units) and Cars (payload units).

Locomotives

• Steam Locomotives: Require Water and Solid Fuel (Coal, Coke). They must be heated to 100°C to generate steam pressure before moving.
• Diesel Locomotives: Powered by Biodiesel or Fuel. They require a warm-up period and use a throttle/brake system.
• Electric Locomotives: Require overhead catenary lines or third-rail power (depending on configuration and add-ons).

Freight and Passenger Cars

• Hopper Cars: Transport bulk items (Ore, Coal). Can be automated with Track Augments.
• Tanker Cars: Transport fluids (Water, Lava, Oil, Biodiesel).
• Passenger Coaches: Feature interior seating for players and NPCs.
• Animal Carts: Specifically designed to transport Mobs (Cows, Sheep, etc.) and Villagers.

Assembly Process

To build a train, place a Frame (cast in the Casting Basin) onto a track of the matching gauge. Right-click the frame with a Large Wrench to see a list of required components (Wheels, Bogies, Engines). Right-click the frame with each component to install it. Once all parts are added, the train is complete.

Operating a train in IR is more complex than a standard minecart. Players must manage several systems simultaneously.

Controls (Default Keybinds)

• Forward (W) / Back (S): Increase or decrease throttle.
• Space / Shift: Apply or release air brakes.
• R: Change locomotive direction (Forward/Reverse).
• L: Toggle headlights.
• H: Sound the horn or whistle.
• B: Ring the bell.

Physics and Safety

• Momentum: Large trains take a long time to stop. Always apply brakes well before a station.
• Derailment: Taking a sharp curve at high speed or hitting a track end can cause a derailment. Derailed trains must be picked up (Shift + Right-click) and replaced.
• Coupling: Use the Hook item to connect cars. When two cars touch with couplers enabled, they will click together. To uncouple, click the connection point with the Hook.
• Water Safety: Steam locomotives will explode if they run out of water while the firebox is hot. Always monitor the water level GUI.

For a truly automated empire, use Track Augments. These are items applied to a specific track segment to give it special properties.

Common Augments

The mod can be heavily customized via the immersiverailroading.cfg file or in-game config menu.

Key Configuration Options

• Model Scale: Adjust the global scale of trains if they feel too large or small for your world.
• Fuel Consumption: Increase or decrease how much fuel locomotives consume.
• Damage: Toggle whether trains damage entities they collide with.

Commands

• /ir help: Displays a list of available commands.
• /ir gauge <gauge>: Changes the gauge of the track the player is looking at.
• /ir stock: Lists all loaded rolling stock models from the base mod and resource packs.