Vehicle Cost Calculation

This page outlines some basic cost calculations I use in my vehicle sets, both pre-calculated spreadsheet numbers, and the code used for variable running costs in the game. When designing a set in a spreadsheet, it's probably best to use standard numbers first, then fudge values for vehicles which you think need to be more or less expensive.

Base Costs

I use the following base costs:

• 0F/4B8E for locomotive purchase, multiplier 08
• 10/4B94 for wagon purchase, multiplier 0A
• 2A/4C30 for locomotive running, multiplier 0B
• 2B/4C36 for wagon running, multiplier 05

• 2D/xxxx for aircraft running, multiplier 0C

The NFO looks like this:

   1 * 7	 00 08 01 01 0F 08 08 // loco cost
   1 * 7	 00 08 01 01 10 08 0A // wagons cost
   1 * 7	 00 08 01 01 2A 08 0B // running cost
   1 * 7	 00 08 01 01 2B 08 05 // wagon running cost

Trains

Locomotives

Purchase Cost

Steam Locomotives

Weight in Tons * ProdCost

• ProdCost is usually 0.25, but can be fudged between 0.2 and 0.3.

• Example: 4-6-0 Jubilee, 126 * 0.25 = 32

Diesel and Electric Locomotives

Weight in Tons * ProdCost * (Horsepower / BaseHP )

• ProdCost starts at 0.4 for early experimental diesels, 0.3 for 1960s production units, down to 0.22 for 21st century designs. Again, these numbers are fudgable if you think a particular vehicle should be more or less expensive. For electric locomotives, early vehicles are 0.5, and is down to 0.4 by the end of the century.
• BaseHP is a "typical" power output for engines of that type/era. For diesels, I use 2000 for models designed before 1975, 2500 from 1975 to 1990, and 3000 after 1990. For large electrics, I use 4000.

• Example: EE Type 3, 107 * 0.3 * (1750 / 2000) = 28

Running Cost

(Horsepower * EffCost) / (SuspCost - MaxSpeed)

• EffCost is the efficency of the design, where a higher number is worse; 5 for pre-WWI steam locomotives, down to 4.5 for the latest post-WWII designs. 4 for early diesels, with 3.75 for production diesels from the 1960s down to 3.5 for modern designs. 3 for most electrics. Very powerful locomotives may need lower numbers and very underpowered vehicles (eg railbusses) may need higher numbers.
• SuspCost represents the wear and tear on the traction system and track, and is a number roughly imagined as the speed at which the vehicle will fall apart. I use 200 for steam locomotives and 300 for modern electric locomotives, 225 for first generation diesels and 250 for modern diesels.

• Example: 4-6-0 Jubilee, (1550 * 4.75) / (200 - 90) = 67
• Example: EE Type 3, (1750 * 3.75) / (225 - 80) = 45

Variable Running Cost

NFO: UKRS2 subroutines

 // ============ diesel engine running cost subroutine (action 2 98)

  403 * 11	 02 00 80 81 7D 01 00 FF 00 00 80  // return value in 7D 01
  404 * 28	 02 00 81 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b10 \2+ 7D 01 20 FF \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value +10%, resave to 7D 01
  405 * 27	 02 00 82 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b03 \2* 1A 20 \b02 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value -33%, resave to 7D 01
  406 * 23	 02 00 83 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b02 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value -50%, resave to 7D 01
  407 * 23	 02 00 84 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b03 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value -66%, resave to 7D 01
  408 * 23	 02 00 85 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b04 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value -75%, resave to 7D 01
 // bonuses:

 // hybrid bonuses for Junker:
  409 * 14	 02 00 82 81 C6 00 FF 01 83 00 5C 5C 82 00 // -33 becomes -50
  410 * 14	 02 00 83 81 C6 00 FF 01 84 00 5C 5C 83 00 // -50 becomes -66
  411 * 14	 02 00 84 81 C6 00 FF 01 85 00 5C 5C 84 00 // -66 becomes -75

  // running (+10% for running hard, -33% for running idle, -66% when stationary)
  412 * 18	 02 00 97 82 98 20 FF \2- B4 00 FF 01
 82 00 00 0C //running idle
 81 00  // running hard
  413 * 14	 02 00 97 82 B4 00 FF 01 97 00 02 FF 84 00 // stationary
  414 * 17	 02 00 97 86 90 00 FF FF 01 97 00 00 00 00 00 84 00 // at signal/station/depot?

  // running -25% = (0 for running hard, -50% for running idle, -66% when stationary)
//  551 * 18	 02 00 96 82 98 20 FF \2- B4 00 FF 01
// 83 00 00 0C //running idle
// 80 00  // running hard
//  552 * 14	 02 00 96 82 B4 00 FF 01 96 00 02 FF 84 00 // stationary
//  553 * 17	 02 00 96 86 90 00 FF FF 01 96 00 00 00 00 00 84 00 // at signal/station/depot?

 // running - 50% = (-33% for running hard, -50% for running idle, -75% when stationary)
  415 * 18	 02 00 95 82 98 20 FF \2- B4 00 FF 01 
 83 00 00 0C //running idle
 82 00  // running hard
  416 * 14	 02 00 95 82 B4 00 FF 01 95 00 02 FF 85 00 // stationary
  417 * 17	 02 00 95 86 90 00 FF FF 01 95 00 00 00 00 00 85 00 // at signal/station/depot?

 // position (50% for > 0)
  418 * 14	 02 00 97 81 40 00 FF 01 97 00 00 00 95 00

  419 * 27	 02 00 22 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b4 \2* 1A 20 \b3 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 97 00 00 00 97 00 // ai run cost - 75%
  420 * 14	 02 00 97 81 43 10 FF 01 22 00 01 01 97 00 // AI company?

 // base calculations:
 // add the base, max 220, resave to 7D 01
  421 * 27	 02 00 97 81 1C 20 FF \2+ 7D 01 20 FF \2u< 1A 20 \b220 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 97 00 00 00 97 00
 //  add age of loco\2
  422 * 26	 02 00 97 85 C0 60 FF FF 00 00 \w730 \2+ 1C 00 FF FF 01 97 00 00 00 00 00 97 00
 // (low) add 1 per 3 years after 1970 up to max 20
  423 * 20	 02 00 94 81 01 60 FF CE 02 \2u< 1A 00 \b20 01 97 00 00 00 97 00
 // (medium) add 1 per 2 years after 1970 up to max 30
  424 * 20	 02 00 96 81 01 60 FF CE 02 \2u< 1A 00 \b30 01 97 00 00 00 97 00
 // (high) add 1 per year after 1970 up to max 50
  425 * 20	 02 00 98 81 01 60 FF CE 01 \2u< 1A 00 \b50 01 97 00 00 00 97 00
  426 * 19	 02 00 98 81 7D 01 00 FF 02 94 00 00 \b50 96 00 \b51 \b75 98 00 // add different fuel costs based on original runcost

  427 * 14	 02 00 97 81 1A 00 00 01 97 00 00 00 97 00 // set 1C to 0
  428 * 14	 02 00 98 81 01 00 FF 01 97 00 00 \b50 98 00

 // the base loco running cost is stored in 7D 01.

 // =========== end of diesel engine running cost subroutine

 // ============ steam engine running cost subroutine (action 2 97)
  429 * 11	 02 00 80 81 7D 01 00 FF 00 00 80  // return value in 7D 01
  430 * 27	 02 00 81 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b04 \2* 1A 20 \b03 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 //  -25%, resave to 7D 01
  431 * 23	 02 00 82 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b02 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // -50%, resave to 7D 01
 // bonuses:
  432 * 14	 02 00 97 82 B4 00 FF 01 80 00 02 FF 82 00 // stationary
  433 * 14	 02 00 96 82 B4 00 FF 01 81 00 02 FF 82 00 // stationary

  434 * 17	 02 00 97 86 90 00 FF FF 01 97 00 00 00 00 00 82 00 // at signal/station/depot?
  435 * 17	 02 00 96 86 90 00 FF FF 01 96 00 00 00 00 00 82 00 // at signal/station/depot?

 // position (-25% for > 0)
  436 * 14	 02 00 97 81 40 00 FF 01 97 00 00 00 96 00

  437 * 27	 02 00 22 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b4 \2* 1A 20 \b3 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 97 00 00 00 97 00 // ai run cost - 75%
  438 * 14	 02 00 97 81 43 10 FF 01 22 00 01 01 97 00 // AI company?

 // base calculations:
 // add the base, max 220, resave to 7D 01
  439 * 27	 02 00 97 81 1C 20 FF \2+ 7D 01 20 FF \2u< 1A 20 \b220 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 97 00 00 00 97 00
 //  add age of loco\3
  440 * 26	 02 00 97 85 C0 60 FF FF 00 00 \w1095 \2+ 1C 00 FF FF 01 97 00 00 00 00 00 97 00
 // add 1 per 2 years after 1940 up to max 40
  441 * 20	 02 00 96 81 01 60 FF EC 02 \2u< 1A 00 \b40 01 97 00 00 00 97 00
  442 * 14	 02 00 97 81 1A 00 00 01 97 00 00 00 97 00 // set 1C to 0
  443 * 14	 02 00 97 81 01 00 FF 01 97 00 00 \b20 96 00

 // the base loco running cost is stored in 7D 01.

 // =========== end of steam engine running cost subroutine

  // ============ electric engine running cost subroutine (action 2 96)

  444 * 11	 02 00 80 81 7D 01 00 FF 00 00 80  // return value in 7D 01
  445 * 28	 02 00 81 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b10 \2+ 7D 01 20 FF \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value +10%, resave to 7D 01
  446 * 27	 02 00 82 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b03 \2* 1A 20 \b02 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value -33%, resave to 7D 01
  447 * 23	 02 00 83 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b02 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value -50%, resave to 7D 01
  448 * 23	 02 00 85 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b04 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 80 00 00 00 80 00 // return base value -75%, resave to 7D 01
 // bonuses:

  // running (+10% for running hard, -33% for running idle, -75% when stationary)
  449 * 18	 02 00 94 82 98 20 FF \2- B4 00 FF 01
 82 00 00 0C //running idle
 81 00  // running hard
  450 * 14	 02 00 94 82 B4 00 FF 01 94 00 02 FF 85 00 // stationary
  451 * 17	 02 00 94 86 90 00 FF FF 01 94 00 00 00 00 00 85 00 // at signal/station/depot?

 // running - 50% = (-33% for running hard, -50% for running idle, -75% when stationary)
  452 * 18	 02 00 95 82 98 20 FF \2- B4 00 FF 01 
 83 00 00 0C //running idle
 82 00  // running hard
  453 * 14	 02 00 95 82 B4 00 FF 01 95 00 02 FF 85 00 // stationary
  454 * 17	 02 00 95 86 90 00 FF FF 01 95 00 00 00 00 00 85 00 // at signal/station/depot?

 // position (50% for > 0)
  455 * 14	 02 00 95 81 40 00 FF 01 94 00 00 00 95 00
  456 * 30	 02 00 95 81 C6 00 FF 05                           // skip this check for EMUs
  94 00 76 77                                                      // Met Cam, southern
  94 00 7B 7B                                                      // renewal
  94 00 67 69                                                      // AM10, 321, Atrain
  94 00 7A 7A                                                      // networker
  94 00 80 80                                                      // electrostar
  95 00




  457 * 27	 02 00 22 81 7D 01 20 FF \2u/ 1A 20 \b4 \2* 1A 20 \b3 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 95 00 00 00 95 00 // ai run cost - 75%
  458 * 14	 02 00 95 81 43 10 FF 01 22 00 01 01 95 00 // AI company?

 // base calculations:
 // add the base, max 220, resave to 7D 01
  459 * 27	 02 00 95 81 1C 20 FF \2+ 7D 01 20 FF \2u< 1A 20 \b220 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 95 00 00 00 95 00
 //  add age of loco\2
  460 * 26	 02 00 95 85 C0 60 FF FF 00 00 \w730 \2+ 1C 00 FF FF 01 95 00 00 00 00 00 95 00
  461 * 14	 02 00 96 81 1A 00 00 01 95 00 00 00 95 00 // set 1C to 0

 // the base loco running cost is stored in 7D 01.

 // =========== end of electric engine running cost subroutine

 // =========== electric engine power subroutine (95)
  462 * 12	 02 00 80 85 7D 01 00 FF FF 00 00 80 // return base value
  463 * 22	 02 00 81 85 7D 01 20 FF FF \2u/ 1A 20 \w03 \2* 1A 00 \w02 00 00 80 // return base value -33%
//  199 * 17	 02 00 83 85 7D 01 20 FF FF \2u/ 1A 00 \w02 00 00 80 // return base value -50%

 // position (-33%)
  464 * 14	 02 00 95 81 40 00 FF 01 80 00 00 00 81 00
  // the base loco power is stored in 7D 01.

  // =========== end of electric engine power subroutine  

NFO: UKRS2 locomotive hook

// RUNNING COSTS (subroutine 97) =============
 4858 * 11	 02 00 22 81 7E 97 00 FF 00 00 80 // gogo gadget subroutine
  //                                 vv
 4859 * 18	 02 00 21 81 1A 20 \b33 \2s 1A 00 \b01 01 22 00 00 00 22 00 // store the running cost
 4860 * 14	 02 00 21 81 10 00 FF 01 21 00 0D 0D 11 00
 4861 * 14	 02 00 11 81 0C 00 FF 01 21 00 36 36 11 00 // cb36