From: "pat traynor" <pat.traynor@channel1.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: atrain recipe
Date: 14 Aug 92 16:43:20 EST
Reply-To: "pat traynor" <pat.traynor@channel1.com>
Distribution: comp
Organization: Channel 1 Communications

I got a few requests for this, so I'll post it.

I managed to create a city that was advanced enough to at least build
multi-story (some 8-story!) structures.

Here's what I did, and if I can do it, anyone can do it!
(Reference the diagram below.  Ascii terminals can't do graphics, so you'll
have to appreciate that I had to turn the actual map somewhat counter-
clockwise.)

Build the belt line that the manual talked about on pg 68.  The sides should
be ~23 blocks long.  The 'corners' of the belt are only one rail span
long.  Build large stations at the midway of each belt side, making sure
that they line up with the opposing station.  Buy 4 AR-III trains and
schedule them so that each one stops at 8am at one station and then
at 6pm at the next, etc.  Having the belt at the size outlined above means
that the trains will be moving almost all the time.  You might be able to
make the lines slightly longer, but not much.

You should have storage at each station for materials.  Make the southern
storage area WEST of the station and the eastern storage area NORTH of the
station.

Buy three freight trains.  Initially, have one of the freights going off
the map, helping to bring in materials from the outside.  The other two
should be bringing them from the northern station to the southern
station.  As soon as you have a good surplus of materials at the southern
station, build a couple of factories (and probably sell them).  Be sure to
build them east of the station.  Then have the trains start delivering to
the eastern station.  At this point, you could have one train picking up
from the northern station and the other picking up from the southern
factories.  Again, once you have enough material, build a couple of factories
south of the eastern station.

At this point, build a small station at the southeast corner of your belt.
Freight trains will be able to pick up goods built by both your eastern and
southern factories without taking from your eastern or southern storage areas.

Now, have your three frieght trains delivering goods to the east, west and
south stations.  The north station is already being serviced by the original
line that goes off the map.  Each freight train should be dedicated to one
station.  It should pick up at the small southwest station, deliver at its
dedicated site, and be scheduled as 'non-stop' at the other stations.

That's the basic structure.  Of course, you'll have to experiment with building
and selling apartment buildings, lease buildings, etc...  See what you can do
to boost the economy.


sss -- small station
SSS -- large station
F   -- factory

           Original Line --\
                           |
                           v       sss
=============================================================================
                      \===============
                                 /=====\
                       /=========================\
                     /             SSS             \
                    |                               |
                    |                               |
Build bypass lines  |                               |
so that your       /|                       / --->  |\
freights can pass | |                     /         | |
passenger trains  | |SSS                /        SSS| |
waiting at the    | |                 /             | |
stations           \|             (storage)         |/
                    |             /                 |FFF
                    |           /                   |
                    |          v                    |sss
                     \             SSS             /
                       \=========================/
                                 \=====/ FFF

An additional hint -- When you buy and sell apartment buildings (and other
subsidies, for that matter), sell it when the price is highest.  This can be
tricky, because the price changes hourly and dramatically.  So slow the game
speed down so that the hours are ticking by at a rate of about 1 hour per
real-time second.  Then check the sale price every two-hours.  You'll see it
go up and down, and after a couple of cycles, you'll see what the high price
is.  The next time it hits that price, sell.
---
  SLMR 2.1a  pat.traynor@channel1.com
--
Channel 1 (R)   Cambridge, MA

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games