v0.34:Minecart

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v50.14 · v0.47 · v0.34.11 · v0.31 · v0.28 · v0.23 This article is about an older version of DF. More Info · V

A minecart is a tool used mostly for hauling. It is made of wood or metal at a carpenter's workshop or a metalsmith's forge. Minecarts store five times as many items as wheelbarrows, but have the disadvantage of requiring a dedicated track system along with micromanagement. Minecart tracks take up a lot of space, may be complicated to construct, and often will require substantial resources complete. Since you can only engrave tracks in natural stone, minecart routes are especially expensive when built above-ground or in artificial structures.

The interface for selecting minecart usage can be accessed from the hauling menu.

Track

Tracks are carved with designations, with d T, or alternatively built from the construction section, with b C, in where you can not only build tracks (with T), but also build stops (with S). While engraved tracks can only be carved on natural stone floors, they are much more convenient and can be smoothed for refurbishing.

Engraved tracks have corners added automatically, while constructed tracks let you decide exactly what type of segment to build. Tracks can move up or down z-levels by means of ramps, but not stairs.

Track stop

Place a track stop on a track that has already been carved or constructed to set friction and dump controls. In the b C S menu, set the friction level of the stop and/or if a cart should automatically dump out its contents at the stop. If set to dump, select the direction to dump in. Once you proceed to build the track stop, these settings cannot be seen or changed.

Use h to set up routes. This allows you to place route stops on top of the track stops themselves (or just the bare track). Place the route stops and assign the vehicle (minecart) that will be used. For each route stop, you can tell the dwarves exactly what items to take, where to take them from, when to transport them, etc.

Then set up the stockpiles nearby, link them accordingly, set up the give or not give so everything moves where you want, then wait for them to be guided or pushed!

You do not need to build a track stop in every tile that has a route stop. Track stops are commonly built at the beginning and end of a track.

Track Physics

When pushed, minecarts will move along the track in a straight line, until they either run off the tracks or encounter a turn. Behavior at T-intersections has not yet been conclusively determined.

Some samples with behavior:

 A <-> B     A <-> C               A <-> B      
   B╥          B╥                     B╥
    ║           ║                      ║ 
A╞══╝       A╞══╩══╡C              A╞══╬╗
            You can only go A->B       ╚╝
  Works      when the cart           Works
             is in Guide mode.       

In the second example above, if you attempt to "Push" from B to A or C, the cart will go careening off of the tracks.

Roller

A roller is built with one or more mechanisms and a rope in the b M menu by selecting r. Rollers must be powered, and they serve the purpose of moving a minecart without dwarf-power. Rollers may apparently be placed on ramps to help pull carts up Z levels.

Hauling route

From the hauling menu, minecart routes can be set up, and stockpile links set.

Note that if you set up lots of routes and stops, the list will scroll off-screen in the hauling menu. This is a bug that will be fixed in the next release. You can still navigate the list with the arrow keys but cannot see the stop/route name.

Danger

Minecarts are not without danger. Although designating a track automatically sets the traffic designation to low, dwarves may still walk on them. If an unlucky dwarf fails to dodge a minecart, he or she can be injured. Most of this danger can be avoided by setting the minecart hauling commands to guide instead of push or ride.