The Stardew Valley trains make their unpredictable appearances between 9am and 6pm on random days. With the “A train is passing through” alert as a beckon, players are enticed to rush to the Railroad Area, not only to watch this charming spectacle but also to seize the chance of gathering precious resources that the train might shed.
Many players choose to ignore this alert. Yet, the resources the train drops can greatly assist players in their farming, crafting, and expansion efforts, especially during the early stages of the game.
However, the train’s brief journey through the valley means there’s limited time to benefit. This guide provides insights to help players optimize their response to this time-sensitive event.
Table of Contents
How to get to the Train Station
From your Farm
- Exit your Farm: Start by exiting your farm from the north. This is usually where your farmhouse is located.
- Reach the Carpenter’s Shop: Head along the east path until you reach the Carpenter’s Shop, which is Robin’s house.
- Go North: Walk north from the Carpenter’s Shop. Before the earthquake event, this path would have been blocked by large boulders, but post-earthquake, the way is clear.
- Enter the Railroad Area: Continue north through the previously blocked path, and you will reach the Railroad area.
- Find the Train Station: Once you’re in the Railroad area, move north-east. You’ll see a train platform—this is the train station where the trains pass by.
From the Town Center
- Start at the Town Square: Begin at the heart of Pelican Town, outside Pierre’s Shop.
- Head North to the Community Center: From the town square, take the path directly north. You’ll soon see the Community Center on your left.
- Go Further North to the Carpenter’s Shop: Continue north past the Community Center, and you’ll soon reach the Carpenter’s Shop.
- Go North: Walk north from the Carpenter’s Shop. Before the earthquake event, this path would have been blocked by large boulders, but post-earthquake, the way is clear.
- Enter the Railroad Area: Continue north through the previously blocked path, and you will reach the Railroad area.
- Find the Train Station: Once you’re in the Railroad area, move north-east. You’ll see a train platform—this is the train station where the trains pass by.
Items from the Train
Here is a list of potential items dropped by the train when it passes through Stardew Valley:
1. Wood
Players will see wood popping up in many crafting recipes, from basic tools to more intricate structures like farm buildings and artisan equipment. Notably, it’s the key component in constructing and upgrading buildings, ensuring a thriving and expanding farmstead.
2. Stone
Stone is crucial for creating essential structures such as furnaces, which transform raw ores into usable metals. It also serves as the backbone for constructing farm buildings and crafting items like staircases, which allow for deeper expeditions into the mines.
Moreover, as players progress, they’ll encounter refined uses for stone, with it being a pivotal component in more advanced recipes and infrastructural developments
3. Coal
Coal stands out as an unassuming yet indispensable resource, often overlooked in the early stages but proving crucial as the game unfolds. Any budding farmer looking to transform raw ores into valuable bars in the furnace will quickly recognize coal’s vital importance.
Beyond smelting, coal becomes essential in crafting numerous items, including the much-needed preserves jar and bombs.
4. Iron Ore
Smelting iron ore in a furnace yields iron bars, which are instrumental in crafting essential tools, farm machinery, and infrastructure. Important builds that require iron ore are the sturdy iron fence and the invaluable sprinklers, optimizing crop growth.
5. Geode
In Stardew Valley, geodes are valuable rocks that can be broken open to reveal precious minerals, artifacts, or rare resources. Players can take them to Clint’s Blacksmith Shop for processing, which can uncover items essential for museum donations or crafting. Their varied contents make geodes a sought-after item for both collection and progression purposes.
6. Leprechaun Shoes
Leprechaun Shoes are the rarest train drop and serve as a stylish accessory, allowing players to customize their character’s appearance with a touch of whimsy. While they don’t offer in-game benefits, their distinct green hue adds a unique flair to any outfit.
If they don’t align with a player’s desired aesthetic, they can be sold to Marlon at the Adventurer’s Guild for a modest sum.
How to Maximize Item Collection
Once the train arrives, it will slowly pass through the map, occasionally dropping items onto the ground. To maximize item collection, walk alongside the train as it moves, keeping an eye out for any items that fall.
Items tend to drop more frequently from the cargo cars, so focus on these. Remember to have a few inventory spots clear in order to successfully pick up the items.
Safety Precautions
While it’s an exciting event, safety is paramount. Avoid standing on the train tracks while the train is moving. Doing so will cause your character to be knocked back and lose a small amount of health.
If you’re low on health, this could potentially knock you unconscious, which would end the event prematurely and lead to a loss of items and gold. Stand beside the tracks, not on them, to avoid any accidents.
The Train’s Schedule
In terms of timing, the train event can occur any time between 9 AM and 6 PM, and it can happen in any season aside from the Present Train, which only appears in Winter.
Unfortunately, there is no strict time schedule. However, players can expect the train event to happen around eight times a year. If you haven’t seen the train yet, don’t worry. The events are not evenly distributed, so it is possible to have the majority of trains pass by in one season and none the next.
Different Types of Trains
The train event in Stardew Valley is not just a single type of train passing through your tranquil farm life, but it can be a variety of different trains, each with their own unique attributes. The types of trains you may see include:
- Standard Train: This is the most common type you’ll encounter. It’s composed of a few short cars, a passenger car, a coal car, and boxcars.
- Joja Train: Decked in Joja Corp colors, this train consists of many boxcars and flatbeds with the Joja logo.
- Coal Train: This train consists mostly of coal cars, which drop Coal as they pass by.
- Passenger Train: The Passenger Train is primarily composed of passenger cars, which, unfortunately, don’t drop any items.
- Present Train: An uncommon sight, this train is decorated with colorful present boxes during the Winter Star Festival. It doesn’t drop presents, but it’s quite festive to watch!
Unlocking the Railroad Area
Interested in the train event but can’t find the Railroad area? Well, access isn’t about pickaxes or secret paths—it’s a waiting game. On the third day of Summer in the first year, an earthquake will occur.
Don’t be alarmed! This seismic event doesn’t cause harm or destruction. Instead, it removes the previously impassable boulders near the Carpenter’s Shop to the northeast.
After the quake, you will find that the path has cleared, granting you access to the once-inaccessible Railroad area. This new area not only offers you additional foraging opportunities, but it’s also the location where the much-anticipated train events occur. So, patience, farmer—the rewards are worth the wait!
Read more: What Does The Stardew Valley Earthquake Do?