Tutorial talk:Minecart trains

Some theories I have, that we can prevent derailings (and some bounce events) with the right combination of three game settings:

• Render Distance (default on Java 26.2: 16 chunks)
• Simulation Distance (default on Java 26.2: 12 chunks)
• Entity Distance (default on Java 26.2: 100%)

Theory 1: When minecarts move out into unloaded chunks, that's what can cause derailing, when a chunk finally loads. If true, you should never send a train without ensuring that you can load chunks faster than a minecart can go... and it would also be important to keep looking forwards, because the game (at least with Sodium) prioritizes loading the chunks in the direction you look!

Theory 2: Whatever the source of the bug, you could prevent derailing if you keep your convoys compacted to well below your simulation distance. E.g. a simulation distance of 5 chunks = 80 blocks would impose a maximum train length of ~80 minecarts.

Theory 3: Whatever the source of the bug, if you can see both the minecarts and the terrain, then no derailings happen.

Interestingly, I can't see minecarts very far at all. Entity distance does *not* do what it sounds like it should, b/c with the setting at 100%, I still need render and simulation distance of 9 chunks to see minecarts ~4 chunks away.

An easy way to test how far you can see entities:

1. Do /gamemode creative
2. Give yourself a stack of 64 rail (= 4 chunks... though keep in mind chunk borders)
3. Do /gamemode survival
4. Place all 64 rails in a line, with an upward slope at the end
5. Do /gamemode creative
6. Place minecarts on the sloped rail until there's no more space on the whole line
7. Zoom with a spyglass and check whether you can see any minecarts at the other end

Nerefir (talk) 15:19, 27 June 2026 (UTC)