Freelance
TravellerPorfiria-class Steam Train (TL6)
This article originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of the magazine.
The Porfiria is an old Ling Standard Products design, developed in the 500s for worlds entering the industrial age. The design was initially introduced in the Rimward edge of the Third Imperium and suspicions were raised that the time that LSP had copied an old Terran design after Terra was absorbed into the Third Imperium.
Several LSP plants were built in the Solomani Autonomus Region to support low tech colonisation efforts by the Solomani on the Rimward frontier. At the start of the Solomani Rim war, these plants were seized and nationalized by the Solomani and given to local manufacturing firms. The Solomani renamed the train the Victory class.
LSP (or their Solomani “affiliate”) is still engaged in legal claims against the Solomani government over these actions, and Solomani-produced trains cannot be legally shipped into the Third Imperium. LSP maintains a handful of plants on low tech industrial worlds to supply the limited demand within the Imperium.
Craft ID: Porfiria Steam Locomotive, TL6, Cr468,011
Hull: 2/3, Disp=17, Config=4USL, Armor=4B,
Unl= 215 tons, Load=325 tons
Power: 1/2, Steam Turbine=36Mw, Dur=0.33/1
Loco: 1/2, Wheels Road=134, OffRoad=N/A, P/W=74
Commo: None
Sensors: Headlights x 4
Off/Def: None
Control: Panel=BasicMech x 22, Environ=BasicEnv
Accomm: Crew=4 (Driver, co-driver, 2 firemen),
Seats=Roomy x 4
Other: Fuel(coal)=44.8Kl, Water=20Kl,
ObjSize=small, EMLevel=faint
The Porfiria is a basic utility coal powered steam locomotive. Navigation is by forced following of trackage, dead reckoning, and the driver’s knowledge of his route, and communicating with the train whilst it is moving is managed via a limited set of fixed-meaning signals (governing the train’s movements only) from structures placed adjacent to the tracks. Two firemen are required to shovel coal into the firebox. Environmental controls are limited to lights, and the heat from the engine. Experienced drivers have realized that they can cook their meals using the heat of the firebox.
24Mw is designated to the transmission system and 11.1Mw is available to power attached passenger coaches and freight cars.
Coach Configurations
Note: None of the coaches described here have any Commo, Sensors, or Offensive/Defensive capability.
Craft ID: Porfiria First Class Passenger Coach, TL6, Cr40,696
Hull: 2/3, Disp=17, Config=4USL, Armor=4B,
Unl=31 tons, Load=32 tons
Power: None (Requires 0.93Mw from the locomotive)
Loco: 1/2, Wheels Road=Special, OffRoad=N/A
Control: Panel=BasicMech x 11, Environ=BasicEnv
Accomm: Crew=1 (steward), Passengers=45,
Seats=Roomy x 46, One Toilet
Other: Fuel=None, ObjSize=small, EMLevel=faint
A luxurious first class passenger coach with a dedicated steward. The passenger coach lacks modern passenger entertainment facilities, communication and air conditioning. The passengers have little choice but to enjoy the view and the services of the steward.
Craft ID: Porfiria First Class Dining Car, TL6, Cr107,146
Hull: 2/3, Disp=17, Config=4USL, Armor=4B,
Unl=44 tons, Load=46 tons
Power: None (Requires 1.15Mw from the locomotive)
Loco: 1/2, Wheels Road=Special, OffRoad=N/A
Control: Panel=BasicMech x 31, Environ=BasicEnv
Accomm: Crew=8 (3 cooks, 5 waiters), Passengers=34,
Seats=Roomy x 42
Other: Fuel=None, Cargo=2Kl (kitchen stores),
3-man kitchen (modelled as basic life support),
ObjSize=small, EMLevel=faint
A luxurious first class dining car with an onboard kitchen, chefs and waiters. It normally provided a full lunch or dinner service, with several dinner sittings. The kitchen also provides a range of freshly prepared snacks for first class passengers when the dining car is closed. As with the rest of the train, it lacks facilities that more modern Travellers would consider normal.
Craft ID: Porfiria Second Class Passenger Coach, TL6, Cr41,496
Hull: 2/3, Disp=17, Config=4USL, Armor=4B,
Unl=31 tons, Load=40 tons
Power: None (Requires 0.93Mw from the locomotive)
Loco: 1/2, Wheels Road=Special, OffRoad=N/A
Control: Panel=BasicMech x 11, Environ=BasicEnv
Accomm: Crew=0, Passengers=60, Seats=Adequate x 60, One Toilet.
Other: Fuel=None, Cargo=9Kl (baggage),
ObjSize=small, EMLevel=faint
A second class passenger coach with less roomy seats and no steward facilities.
Craft ID: Porfiria Second Class Passenger Combine, TL6, Cr40,096
Hull: 2/3, Disp=17, Config=4USL, Armor=4B,
Unl=31 tons, Load=81 tons
Power: None (Requires 0.93Mw from the locomotive)
Loco: 1/2, Wheels Road=Special, OffRoad=N/A
Control: Panel=BasicMech x 11, Environ=BasicEnv
Accomm: Crew=1 (Guard), Passengers=44,
Seats=Roomy x 1, Adequate x 44, One Toilet.
Other: Fuel=None, Cargo=50Kl (baggage),
ObjSize=small, EMLevel=faint
A second class passenger coach with a large secure baggage area replacing several passenger seats. A single guard ensures that the baggage area is not interfered with during travel. The baggage area is connected to the passenger area via a single locked door, and is used to carry miscellaneous small cargo, bicycles, mail and additional first-class passenger baggage. The guard also performs emergency duties to protect the rear of an inoperative train from trains approaching from the rear.
Craft ID: Porfiria Second Class Buffet Car, TL6, Cr44,896
Hull: 2/3, Disp=17, Config=4USL, Armor=4B,
Unl=31 tons, Load=56 tons
Power: None (Requires 0.95Mw from the locomotive)
Loco: 1/2, Wheels Road=Special, OffRoad=N/A
Control: Panel=BasicMech x 11, Environ=BasicEnv
Accomm: Crew=2 (Stewards), Passengers=51,
Seats=Roomy x 2, Adequate x 51, One Toilet.
Other: Fuel=None, Cargo=4Kl (baggage), Buffet Area=20K,
ObjSize=small, EMLevel=faint
A second class passenger coach with a buffet area crewed by two stewards replacing several passenger seats. At this tech level the buffet area is limited to providing newspapers, cold snacks, sandwiches, and hot drinks. Cooking facilities are limited to a small stove. Due to crew limitations, second class passengers have to go to the buffet area, or wait for the trolley service to pass through the second class area.
Craft ID: Porfiria Freight Car, TL6, Cr44,896
Hull: 2/3, Disp=17, Config=4USL, Armor=4B,
Unl=29 tons, Load=220 tons
Power: None (Requires 0.69Mw from the locomotive)
Loco: 1/2, Wheels Road=Special, OffRoad=N/A
Control: Panel=BasicMech x 10, Environ=BasicEnv
Accomm: Crew=0, Passengers=0, Seats=None.
Other: Fuel=None, Cargo=191Kl,
ObjSize=small, EMLevel=faint
An enclosed freight car used for the general shipment of freight.
Train Configurations
In freight service the locomotive can pull 15 freights cars carrying 2865 Kliters of cargo. The total loaded train weight is 3,617 tons. The power to weight ratio drops to 6.6 and the train can has a top speed of 42kph. The cost of this train configuration is Cr 1,141,451.
A typical passenger service consists of four first class passenger coaches, a first class dining car, four second class passenger coaches, a second class buffet car, and a second class combine. This arrangement carries 214 first class passengers, 331 second class passengers and 97.3Kliters of cargo (usually baggage). The train has 19 crew, including 15 cooks and stewards.
This passenger train weighs 798 tons and has a power to weight ratio of 30, with a top speed of 94kph. This train configuration costs Cr988,917.