Why do Tracks need names?

[iLess]

just stumbled across this in the DD:

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// ---- 6.1 Track – Definition ---- //
Track is the utility that allows trains to move (:D). Track is defined by
several properties – which are:
name – name of the track
next – name of the next track in the series
...

I hope you must be kidding. Give all the Track-pieces names? Or should 'Name' be translated into Pointer?

[XeryusTC]

I think that it is probably like "rail" and "elektrified rail" in TT.

[iLess]

Are you sure? I don't think so because afterwards it says:

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(tracks are defined in series – these are used for track allocation for vehicles – they can ride on all tracks that are lower in the series of track definitions
example:
name next
Track1 Track2
Track2 UltraTrack
UltraTrack Turbotrack
TurboTrack
Trains assigned to Track1 will be able to ride all tracks. Trains assigned to Track2 will be able to ride track2, ultratrack and turbotrack etc.)

So this would mean, if a train can ride on Maglev, he can do so too on Monorail??? Doesn't make sense to me.

[Arathorn]

There was an idea of having grades of tracks. You'ld start with crappy tracks early on, and then when you get faster trains you'll have to upgrade the tracks to make it able to drive full speed. I believe this part of the DD is about that idea.

[Grunt]

That's how I read things - the Track class would then be a definition of one of these grades of track.

[iLess]

ah! now I (think I) understand. So this is not about an actual stretch of track on the map but about a 'quality class'. So we have different types of tracks like normal rail, monorail, maglev... and those can have different versions too.

So we could have for example:

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Rail: normal Rail,
            |
            v
        electrified Rail 
            |
            v
        electrified Rail for cogwheel trains... 

[Hellfire]

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Rail: normal Rail,
            |
            v
        electrified Rail 
            |
            v
        electrified Rail for cogwheel trains... 

That's one way of seeing it. Electrification and rack rails are extensions for rail track. You could also specify it like this:

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dirt road
    |
    v
pebble road
    |
    v
cobblestone road
    |
    v
concrete road
    |
    V
asphalt road
    |
    v
zoab

[uzurpator]

^ - What he said.