In my early years of playing, I thought the only way to fail was to not have enough trains. I built a massive network, but suddenly, my cash flow turned red. I was moving more coal than ever, yet my ‘Matrix’ was showing a steady bleed of money.
I felt like I was being robbed by a ghost. I spent an hour clicking through every train, trying to find the culprit. It was frustrating and discouraging. I had built a giant empire only to watch it collapse under its own weight.
I finally figured out why when I watched the Master Hellish: Tips for Making Profit video. I realized the ‘Who’ behind the theft: Vehicle Maintenance. I was running a fleet of 30-year-old locomotives. Not only were they breaking down and causing gridlock, but their running costs had tripled.
I set up the Auto-Replace feature to swap out old models for newer, more efficient ones as soon as they hit their expiry date. My profit margins bounced back almost instantly. I learned that you cannot just ‘set and forget’ a network; you have to keep the ‘blood’ of your empire fresh.
Reality Check: At 71, I know that 'more' is not always 'better.' A network of 10 efficient, modern trains will out-earn a network of 30 rusty relics every time. Do not be afraid to spend money on new engines to save your profit in the long run. Problem solved!