Community Rail Network

Community Rail Network
Community Rail Network
Survival 5
	Labrador's Spawn Station, built by Skelleton123.
Project
Type	Transport Network
World(s)	Survival 5
Leader(s)	N1cM4tth3w63

Community Rail Network is a transport project on the Survival 5 world of the Dogcraft Server. The group operates on Labrador and Corgi and is managed by N1cM4tth3w63.

Founding

Survival 5 differed from any previous worlds on the Dogcraft Server as it features 4 playable worlds that would run alongside each other, compared to Survival 4 where there was 2 and the 3 previous Survivals where there was just a singular world. Historically the Survival Railway Network would manage rail transport throughout the survival worlds. However when it was announced that four worlds would be present on Survival 5, the SRN Team decided it would not be feasible to operate on all 4 worlds, as it would be much harder to keep the high standard of builds the network was known for, as well as stretch the management team very thin, delegating other stations and lines, which could lead to burnout.

Nevertheless, the SRN Team agreed to build 2 more central stations in the two newer spawn areas, which would become Labrador and Corgi. This allowed for and easy expansion outward from Spawn should the SRN have decided later down the line to operate on the two other worlds, or allow for players who were keen on setting up lines by themselves an easy starting point to connect to.

Survival 5 launched in mid-March 2022, and rail development quickly started on Shepherd and Akita. As April began, the server HeadMods noted that transport on Labrador and Corgi was largely non-existent. During this period homes and warps had not yet been established making player built transport networks critical in helping players get beyond the Spawn area quickly. It was for this reason that the HeadMods contacted N1cM4tth3w63 and asked him if he would be interested in managing a rail group that would focus on building on Labrador and Corgi. N1cM4tth3w63 had previous experience working on rail projects, having built several stations for the SRN on Survival 4, including Seaside Station, Toadstool Station and Petal Ranch Station. N1cM4tth3w63 accepted the offer, and created a discord server for the project on the 7th of April 2022. When the question of a name came up, Montenator half-jokingly suggested the name of 'The Other Railway Network', ORN for short (or TORN to some), which would stick for the next few months. The project would officially open to the public on the 12th April 2022.

In August talk of having a more formal name were had in the discord server. Ultimate the most popular name suggestions alongside the current 'Other Rail Network' name, were presented in the announcements channel of the Discord, and a vote took place as to what the name of the network would be. Overwhelming the name 'Community Rail Network', or CRN for short, would win, and the group would henceforth be known as the Community Rail Network.

About The Network

The CRN is less structured than the SRN and generally lets players expand out the lines whenever convenient, instead of having dedicated Line Managers that are responsible for overseeing the lines. There is currently no standard design for main lines however CRN Stations have the same facility list as SRN Stations so there is continuity between all 4 worlds. Currently the CRN plans to establish 8 stations in each cardinal direction, with the plan of letting lines expand out naturally to peoples bases and projects thereafter. It is worth noting that the project is still in its infancy, and later down the line more standardised practices may be established and a larger management team as more players get involved with expanding the network.

History

Establishing The Network

Progress would be slow but steady for the CRN. With the NTN Crew on Corgi stating their intentions to build the first North Station on Corgi at the site of the NTN HQ. These plans would eventually go ahead and Minda905 would build a design for the station in Creative and later transfer it over to survival. This station was built with many terminals, with the hope of eventually creating a 'Coastal Line' that stretched around the perimeter of Corgi's spawn sea. MrManatee13 would aim to connect up to one of these terminals and build a line out to his base Sakura. The Marsh Mechanics group would also start working on a station of their own, with the plan of connecting it up to the NTN HQ's Station.

During this time N1cM4tth3w63 would pick out a location for the first south station on Corgi and advertise it up for building on the CRN's Discord. Txp_ would offer to build this station, and designed a quaint igloo station that was later built in Survival.

Labrador would not see any major development until XPModder would take on the task of building the first stretch of North Line. Initially building a jungle themed station in the north with a connecting RHN shelter. XPModder would work with the RHN Project Leader on Labrador, _Shako to build a road out from spawn to reach the station. XPModder would later organize the groups first ever build session, to construct a large viaduct from Spawn over to the northern continent. Despite Corgi's headstart the first ever line opening to be held by the group would take place on Labrador. With Labrador North Station opening on the 25th of August 2022. Elsewhere on Labrador, Tankkiler123 would scout out locations for Labrador South (and the future location of CRN's HQ), as well has Labrador East, which he would start building alongside Colliecolie.

The First Stations Open

Minda905 would start to focus her attention onto developing the Corgi West Line. A predesigned station was build by Minda905 at her base. This station was called Meadow Hills Station, and would serve as the second station on the Corgi West Line. It was also around this time that Minda905's base would become one of the solo base winners of the Base Building Competition. As a result, renthedog, came online to tour Minda905's base as well as the other base building winners. Since renthedog really enjoys the rail transport systems on the server, it was decided that a temporary rail would be built from Corgi Spawn to Meadow Hills Station, in time for renthedog's tour. This line was built in creative with the help of the HeadMods, and as a result was subsequently torn down after the tour. Minda905 would continue to work on the West Line however, building a design for the first West Line Station in creative with help from TheWhiteTigerNL and later transferring it to Survival. The station, named Berghütte, would become the first station to open on Corgi. Berghütte Station opened on the 15th of October 2022, and the opening was accompanied by a small banner hunt when everyone had arrived at the station. 5 banners were well hidden around the station and its grounds, spelling out the word 'Igloo' where the commemorative banner prizes were located.

Progress would also continue elsewhere on Corgi. Minda905 would design a viaduct to be built for the Corgi South Line, which was later built in Survival with the help of several others. The first branch line on Corgi also began construction with various parties working together. The line, named the Mechantasy Line, started at Corgi North Station at the NTN HQ, before heading east towards AllikatUK's ocean base Qo'nos. The line then continued eastwards towards Xulili's fantasy base Dromadagr, before a final stretch of line took the player to the main Marsh Mechanics base area at Sea Ruins Station. The branch line officially opened on the 12th of November 2022, with the opening being hosted by AllikatUK and two members of the Marsh Mechanics group, those being CanadianSteampk and DwinMouse.

Progress on Labrador also continued, mainly being spearheaded by XPModder. XPModder would carry the line from spawn southwards to reach the site of the first south station on Labrador. He would also design and build the line from Spawn to Wild West Station, the first station of the Labrador West Line which was previously built by N1cM4tth3w63. Player jameslongstrider would then take over construction of the next portion of the Labrador West Line, extending the line from Wild West Station to the site of the second West Line Station.