make money fast

[Magick_maker]

Well, since RT3 is all about making money, here are a few tips I've found over time through playing.


. Don't use the computer trackage if you can help it. Sure, it may seem shorter and easier, but that's not a good idea. Ultimately, it's easier for you to build your own track and station.


. The computer trains will use the shortest distance between two points. If you see the computer trying to connect to a city, finish the trackage for it, and build a station. The computer will use your rails and station, paying you for the use. Also, building a watertower will make the comp have to use it to.

. Upgrading to electric is costly in the early days. If you chose to do it, don't electrify your whole line. Rather, pick a high speed area and electrify that. For example: Between New York and Philadelphia or Boston.

. Upgrading your locomotives: Just because a new engine comes on the market, doesn't mean you need it right away. sometimes, the old engine is actually better than the new one. A perfect example of this is the old F units. While it may look nicer than the pacific you have currently, chances are you're better off with the pacific for a while.

[Hawk]

One trick I use, not for quick money, but a steady income-after the AI lays track and stations (especially a profitable route) is to lay track from both ends of the AI track to the next city, or two, or more.
As mentioned, the AI will pay you for the track usage, but it also helps block the AI from expanding, somewhat.
If the AI's route shows a good profitability, start buying stock in the company. Soon, you should be able to take over the AI, and you'll already have your track in place.
The neat thing is, the AI helped finance their own take over. ;-)

[Magick_maker]

Also, sometimes, no matter what you do, the computer will decide to remove you from power. If you get a warning that the board of directors may fire you, and you don't think you can turn a profit, you can at least prevent the company from turning one when it fires you.

First, a few odd facts about the computer.

The computer isn't (even on HARD) the smartest apple in the basket. You can ruin its day rather easily by laying track to no where. SInce the comp rarely abandons lines, this causes it to start building in /some/ direction. Personaly, I watched it try to build a suspension bridge off the east coast once.

Also, for some reason, the computer rarely upgrades locomotives. (Well, except when something breaks down or it buys a new one.) You can also mess them up by retiring everything and buying the worst trains you can. The computer won't retire them, unless it has to, and you'll get to sit back watching the AI fight with slow speeds and grades while you run right past them.

finally, one perfect tactic to do is to just demolish all of the stations. This forces the AI to take out a loan, and if you've done enough, it's stuck sitting back with only a few stations while having to pay off those bonds you took out. (Max of 20.)

[Hawk]

"The computer isn't (even on HARD) the smartest apple in the basket. You can ruin its day rather easily by laying track to no where. SInce the comp rarely abandons lines, this causes it to start building in /some/ direction."

:D Yep! Been there-done that (and I thought I was dumb).

"Personaly, I watched it try to build a suspension bridge off the east coast once."

Now that, I haven't seen-yet. :-)

"Also, for some reason, the computer rarely upgrades locomotives. (Well, except when something breaks down or it buys a new one.) You can also mess them up by retiring everything and buying the worst trains you can. The computer won't retire them, unless it has to, and you'll get to sit back watching the AI fight with slow speeds and grades while you run right past them."

Uhm! I'm not quite sure I understand that logic. How do you retire AI trains?

"finally, one perfect tactic to do is to just demolish all of the stations"

You can bulldoze the AI stations? :o

I reckon' I'm missin' somthin' here. :)

[Magick_maker]

You can't retire the AI train. However if you retire it when it's still yours before the board of directors fire you, you can screw things up. Also you can demolish the stations before the AI has a chance to rebuild them, so long as you're still the boss at the time.