Devlog #6 — Building with Layout Pieces

Hi everyone,

In the last devlog, we focused on real-time rail editing.

This time, we want to show a smaller but very important part of the editor: how rail pieces start becoming part of a real railway network.

When building a model railway, placing tracks is only half of the problem. The editor also needs to understand how pieces connect, which direction they follow and whether the result makes sense as a track.

Designing Rail Connections

Each rail piece has two natural ends: A and B.

This gives every piece a clear internal direction, even if the player is building from either side.

The goal is not to force every layout into a single line. We want the system to support more flexible railway layouts over time, including branches and different connection options.

Connection Slots

A connection is not only about two endpoints being close.

The editor also needs to know which side of the rail is being used, how the next piece is aligned and whether the connection would create a readable track.

This is why we started planning connection slots such as left, middle and right exits.

It is still early, but this structure will help us build more complex layouts later.

Watch the Rail Building Video

We also uploaded a video showing how rail construction currently works in the editor.

It gives a clearer look at how tracks can be created, adjusted and connected during development.

Watch it here:

What Comes Next

Next, we will keep improving snapping, branches and the logic needed to support more complex railway layouts.

This is still early, but each step brings the editor closer to the main goal of Speed Rivals: Model Trains:

building your own model railway layouts.

Thanks for following the development.