Key Points
- The wagon system is the newest automation that can be created at your base.
- To create a wagon system, you need to place tracks to and from your destinations, then place the required wagon structures to help load and unload the items.
- Wagons are great for carrying multiple items at a time, and each wagon has a carry capacity of 100.
You can now add miniature trains to Alchemy Factory, complete with rail tracks and a loading station. These trains are efficient in transporting goods from one location to another, similar to conveyor belts. While they might not be the fastest, you can definitely find them more efficient when used properly.
Alchemy Factory – Wagon System Overview
| Unlock level | Research Tier 4 |
| Research cost | 1600 coins |
| Crafting station | Processor |
How Does the Wagon System Work
You would have noticed some new additions to the automation features in the 1.0 update. To make things run a lot smoother, you can now place train tracks and wagons to transport items over longer distances. Earlier, the only way to transport items from one place to another was via conveyor belts.
But now, you can use a more compact and mobile version of a tiny goods train to help you with that. Plus, I think they look much more pleasing to the eye than boring conveyor belts.
Using the Wagon System
All you need to do to get the wagons running is to first construct the required tracks. Building tracks just requires planks and iron ingots, which you should have plenty of by now. Then, craft a Wagon Loader and an Unloading Station at your required destinations. Attach the production line to the Wagon Launch Station to start sending out wagons.
Then, place the Wagon Loader near the production machine that you want to transport items from. Add a conveyor belt between the output of the production machine and the input of the Wagon Loader. This will help the loader pack the items and keep them ready for shipping. Place the wagon tracks near the mouth of the Wagon Loader so that the wagons will carry the items.
At the end of the rail tracks, place the Wagon Unloader that connects to the chest or storage slot where the item should be stored. And that’s how you transport items using the wagon.
How to Assign Different Items
You can also attach multiple production machines to each loader and segregate each wagon to pick up only specific items. There is a Filter option that appears when you interact with either the Wagon Unloader or Loader, which filters out which wagons can accept or release which item. You can also customize your wagons with different colors to identify the type of item they are carrying.
FAQs
Is the wagon system better than conveyor belts?
While conveyor belts are generally faster than wagons, you can only attach one product line to a conveyor belt. Whereas you can attach several Wagon Loaders to the tracks and connect them to several different production machines to pick up several items at once.
How many items can a wagon hold?
A wagon can carry up to 100 items in a go. The wagon loader can pack 4 boxes at a time, which can send out around 400 istems (100 items each) on 4 different wagons simultaneously.
Is the wagon system worth it?
If you are comfortable using conveyor belts, then you don’t need to use the wagon. But if you are looking to transport multiple items in one go without clogging up your base space, then wagons will be more beneficial here.
