The first Era has 7 cargo engines named after animals with one being a bonus engine.
You can open new engines by using research points generated by the Laboratory building within your Train Station. Only when you've researched the required pre-requisites, can you begin to develop the next engine. At the end of each era, a coupling system is available, allowing engines to transport goods from the next era.
If you want to compare all the engines, have a look at our Cargo Engine Comparison article.
Note: No passenger engines are available to research on the American Dream scenario.
Starting Stats:
• Cost: $15,000 • Tractive force: 1 • Reliability: 50%
• Acceleration: 14 /20 • Max. Speed: 50 km/h
You can research & buy these upgrades:
| Upgrade | Research Points | Upgrade Cost |
| +20% Reliability | 4 | $4,000 |
| +1 Tractive force | 6 | $10,000 |
| +4 Acceleration | 3 | $4,000 |
| + 10 km/h Max. speed | 5 | $5,000 |
• The Tractive force and the Acceleration Upgrade lead to next Cargo Train: The Raven
Requirements:
• Research the Swallow
• Research its Acceleration & Tractive force upgrades
Research Cost: 10 Research Points
Starting Stats:
• Cost: $35,000 • Tractive force: 2 • Reliability: 40%
• Acceleration: 03 /20 • Max. Speed: 55 km/h
You can research & buy these upgrades:
| Upgrade | Research Points | Upgrade Cost |
| +20% Reliability | 5 | $7,000 |
| +1 Tractive force | 8 | $15,000 |
| +2 Acceleration | 3 | $4,000 |
| + 10 km/h Max. speed | 6 | $8,000 |
• The Tractive force Upgrade leads to the next Cargo Train: The Rhinoceros
• The Max. speed Upgrade leads to the first Passenger Train: The Whale
Requirements:
• Research the Raven
• Research its Tractive force upgrade
Research Cost: 20 Research Points
Starting Stats:
• Cost: $70,000 • Tractive force: 1 • Reliability: 30%
• Acceleration: 10 /20 • Max. Speed: 120 km/h
You can research & buy these upgrades:
| Upgrade | Research Points | Upgrade Cost |
| +20% Reliability | 6 | $15,000 |
| +1 Tractive force | 10 | $40,000 |
| +4 Acceleration | 6 | $10,000 |
| + 20 km/h Max. speed | 7 | $20,000 |
• The Reliability upgrade leads to the next Cargo Train: The Donkey
Requirements:
• Research the Rhinoceros + its Reliability upgrade
or
• Research the Whale + its Passengers & Acceleration upgrades
Research Cost: 25 Research Points
Starting Stats:
• Cost: $100,000 • Tractive force: 2 • Reliability: 20%
• Acceleration: 01 /20 • Max. Speed: 50 km/h
You can research & buy these upgrades:
| Upgrade | Research Points | Upgrade Cost |
| +20% Reliability | 6 | $25,000 |
| +1 Tractive force I | 10 | $35,000 |
| +1 Tractive force II | 8 | $30,000 |
| +1 Acceleration | 7 | $25,000 |
| + 10 km/h Max. speed | 8 | $35,000 |
• The Tractive force & Acceleration upgrades lead to the next Cargo Train: The Falcon
Requirements:
• Research the Donkey
• Research its Acceleration & first Tractive force upgrades
Research Cost: 25 Research Points
Starting Stats:
• Cost: $120,000 • Tractive force: 2 • Reliability: 50%
• Acceleration: 01 /20 • Max. Speed: 140 km/h
You can research & buy these upgrades:
| Upgrade | Research Points | Upgrade Cost |
| +20% Reliability | 5 | $30,000 |
| +1 Tractive force | 15 | $75,000 |
| +1 Acceleration I | 10 | $40,000 |
| +1 Acceleration II | 7 | $35,000 |
| + 20 km/h Max. speed | 6 | $50,000 |
• The Tractive force & first Acceleration upgrades lead to the next Passenger Train: The Greyhound
• The Max. Speed upgrade leads to the next Cargo Train: The Mole
Requirements:
• Research the Falcon
• Research its Max. Speed upgrade
Research Cost: 30 Research Points
Starting Stats:
• Cost: $150,000 • Tractive force: 3 • Reliability: 70%
• Acceleration: 02 /20 • Max. Speed: 150 km/h
You can research & buy these upgrades:
| Upgrade | Research Points | Upgrade Cost |
| +10% Reliability I | 5 | $30,000 |
| +10% Reliability II | 4 | $30,000 |
| +1 Tractive Force | 14 | $80,000 |
| +2 Acceleration | 8 | $25,000 |
| + 15 km/h Max. speed | 12 | $60,000 |
• This is the last Train of Era 1. You need to research it and all of its upgrades to be able to research The Coupling for 40 Research Points
The Red Kite is the Cargo Bonus Engine of Era 1. It can be bought in
the Rail Nation Shop and can be won through the Lottery or by
entering competitions in Era 2.
Starting Stats:
• Cost: 2,500 Gold • Tractive force: 3 • Reliability: 95%
• Acceleration: 06 /20 • Max. Speed: 105 km/h
Note: The cost of the bonus train reduces if purchased in a later era.
The Passenger and Cargo bonus engines for an era can also be purchased as a bundle from the Rail Nation Shop.
You can install these upgrades:
| Upgrade | Upgrade Cost |
| +5% Reliability | 100 Gold |
| +1 Tractive Force | 100 Gold |
| +4 Acceleration | 100 Gold |
| + 15 km/h Max. speed | 100 Gold |