Fixed routes: how wagons move goods

What happens during a trip?

1. Departure: the station allocates cargo against demand along the route. With no station stock, a wagon can depart empty and load along the way.
2. At a stop: unload first, then check for loading. Continue when nothing can move; the wagon does not wait for new goods to appear.
3. Return: normally retrace the route, with loading and unloading still possible. A loop ending at the home station entrance finishes there instead. Remaining cargo enters station storage; the driver rests.

Which buildings become stops?

Cross the green entrance marker, not just a nearby tile, then check the station’s facility list. The table lists recognized types and their fixed-route permissions. Transit Crates also obey collection/distribution mode; Ice Cellars need energy. Select goods transport; passenger mode handles no cargo.

What do loading and unloading mean?

Select route goods, then set stop permissions. A Large Storage Chest or Material Pile must choose loading or unloading on one route; different routes can choose separately. The home station must allow both. Manual and free-wagon settings do not replace fixed-route permissions.

How much moves at each stop?

Stops draw from shared cargo in visit order. Except for the shelf/ice-cellar relay rule below, route sources load unreserved surplus above their own plan; the default minimum is 50. Planned receivers fill their current shortage; Large Storage Chests and Material Piles accept matching goods with space available. A full wagon cannot load more; a stop that cannot receive cannot unload it.

Follow the cargo through one trip

Route: station → chest A → shelf B → shelf C. For one item, the station is empty; A has 500 available, B needs 80 and C needs 120. B/C only receive; space and other conditions are met, with no other stock changes. A loads its available 500, not just the 200 needed later.

Why can a shelf supply below its own plan?

A shelf checks receivers later in the current travel direction. When a condition below applies, planned reserve may be loaded and the same item is not unloaded back into that shelf. Loading is downstream shortage minus cargo already aboard, limited by available stock and space. Later stops reverse order on the return trip.

Can ice cellars supply route stops?

An energized ice cellar with supply-to-shelves enabled can also release planned stock to later Dining Tables, Banquet Tables, Pastures, Feeders and Shelves under the replenishment condition above. It then avoids unloading the same item back into itself.

Why unload before stock falls below 80%?

80% is the default ordinary-restocking trigger. At a fixed-route stop, planned receivers check their current plan minus stored stock, so even a small shortage can receive goods. Shelves and ice cellars prioritizing later receivers follow the supply table above.