Semi-Automatic Minecart Junction (and rail alert) Tutorial

As requested by... many people, this video goes over how to make the semi-automatic rail junction seen in my "Tour of My Minecart Rail Network" video.
This junction was designed and built in Java Edition 1.19, but it should work as early as 1.9. And because it uses basic redstone mechanics, it should work in future versions too.
Bedrock Edition users, this design may not work for you.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:26 Junction Build Tutorial
8:52 Junction Usage
10:57 Junction Theory of Operation
17:15 Rail Alert Build Tutorial
LINKS:
Download the Litematica Schematics:
drive.google.com/drive/folder...
My Discord: / discord
My Patreon: / n00b_asaurus

[@MakenaForest]

depending on version, you may need to use a hoe instead of a shovel. it works identically, but 1.13 is the earliest version where dirt is able to be made into path without needing to grow grass first. if you are on a version where a hoe is needed, you need to use either a noteblock, a piston, or a visual alert system, as bells are not in your version. if you are playing on legacy console edition, you cannot be going the maximum cart speed, as it is doubled in that version.

[@n00b_asaurus]

Good points. Only thing I would correct is the noteblock thing. In my experience, noteblocks and observers are too slow for this particular junction. If you want to use noteblocks, you'll need to set them farther back to give the junction time to switch.

[@stoutyyyy]

Your railroad video popped up in my recommended yesterday and this was my immediate question. I’m not normally a redstone guy but you explain both the construction and the principle behind it very well.

[@gmartineza8775]

I loved the "junction theory of operation" bit. I never realised real world engineering concepts could be applied to minecraft lol

[@ZachTheHuman]

my sweet summer child, have you ever heard of the game known as "factorio?"

[@CantEven]

Thank you for including the theory section at the end of this video - I have been proficient at redstone for over a decade at this point, but did not know how an RS-NOR latch worked up until your explanation. I like your more practical and relaxed style of videos, so there definitely is an audience for it.

[@aayush_dutt]

Dunning-Kruger effect

[@n00b_asaurus]

I apologize profusely that your first reply was someone comparing your proficiency in redstone to the Dunning Kruger effect. I'm glad I could clear up the theory for you. And thank you for being willing to reveal your ignorance. I despise people who mock others for not knowing something. How else are you suppose to learn if not by stating that you don't know. If you would like, I have a whole playlist on my channel covering various redstone components and their theory, if you'd like to learn more :)

[@aayush_dutt]

Whoops my bad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I'll take it back

[@ArenSpace]

Right after I saw the first video, i hooked up my own using noteblocks and observers, hook up the noteblocks that turn the rail to observers and a pulse extender using comparators and it works well, is a bit slower than your design but for me the shovel durability is worth it

[@offroaders123]

That's really clever! I like the musicality of it too 🎶

[@noahanderson8688]

Noteblocks are a better choice I think because then you don't need pistons either

[@itsmi4848]

POST A TUT PLS THAT WAS MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS SAVING DURABILITY

[@itsmi4848]

i too got the previous video in my algorithm

[@IONATVS]

Yeah, had made a much more complex junction using noteblocks in a previous world, and since this is much more survival friendly, but I’d still prefer noteblocks and observers over dirt/path junctions, I was planning to make a conversion at some point to use noteblocks. I don’t carry a shovel on me often enough to have that be a basic part of my rail network operation, and don’t like “wasting” durability even on cheap tools if i can avoid it.

[@micnor1501]

Just built this in Bedrock and both the junction and the rail alert work perfectly.

[@pink_player06]

Thank you, I was sad that it wouldn't work

[@lucasBricks1234]

@@pink_player06 I built it in bedrock and it did not work so I had to modify it.

[@pink_player06]

@@lucasBricks1234 Be careful, check if you put everything right, at the beginning I made a mistake and put a block wrong, half of the system stopped working

[@lucasBricks1234]

@@pink_player06 I aready modified it.

[@MilkDrinker218]

Oh my god, I’m in a Minecraft server with a bunch of train fans, we’re working on expanding a rail network across the main hub area we’ve built everything on, this is gonna be so useful for the branchlines and extensions we’re eventually gonna build.

[@zerobeta91]

What an incredibly comprehensive video. I feel like I’m in a STEM class.

[@skidallion]

BRO, I spent 3 hours on Sunday just raw-dogging the intersection from pause-starting your video for ages. Glad to see a tutorial for it now though; I’m using this system in my friends server to connect us all together. So far one junction done.

[@n00b_asaurus]

I don't know if raw-dogging is an appropriate term here, but I know what you mean. Good luck with your rail network, it really does make a world of difference!

[@roses_rebirth_2563]

if you're having trouble with the rs nor latch turning into a clock, make sure that the repeater powering your pistons are set to the 4 tick delay.

[@n00b_asaurus]

Yeah, that is important.

[@DREWTampa1]

This feels like old KZbin ♥️

[@roses_rebirth_2563]

this tutorial is useful and really high quality. since your first video i have laid 1000+ blocks of my new rail system and have built an iron farm to supply my needs. your case for using rails as critical infrastructure in a minecraft world has been incredibly compelling, and after starting construction on my rail network i have seen the benifits of having them. thank you for your insight and inspiration.

[@thespacedingoking]

Greetings, technical minecrafter here. Found your recent videos very interesting, especially your case for a minecart track vs other transports and the design for this junction is very nice. Very practical for your, and many other casual players' needs. Although I'm probably gonna stick to my high-speed, high-precision piston and demibolts (still using carts, they are objectively superior but I'd much rather prefer to transit my 20km with my 20 stacked chest carts in 16m40s than 41m20s. But it's only with the scale of 20km that I save 25m. Your bell system is also very nice.

[@electra_]

I love how this didn't just describe how to built it, but how it works! Love this stuff

[@dws49]

Yesss! I kept watching the parts where you turned at a junction in 0.25x speed trying to figure it out. Thank you for this.

[@Plaegu]

Thank you so much, I watched your Minecart rail tour the other day and I was waiting on this video

[@captainstarbuck1552]

I was one of those requesting this vid and I thank you kindly for your time and style in the delivery. In my rail system we stop at intersections, and tap a button to trigger similar logic. That's all getting ripped out now, thanks to you and this elegant non-stop solution. And thank you very much for bringing my mind back to a 1978 high school class on circuits. 😊 Well done!

[@Peastable]

This tutorial was cool! I've been playing a modded version of beta 1.7, and modified this design to use fences and block update detectors, as well as a different RS NOR latch, and it's quite useful!

[@n00b_asaurus]

Excellent! I'm glad you were able to modify the design to suit your needs! Thanks for sharing.

[@SnoopiGalupi]

Your minecart rail network video showed up on my recommended page about six hours before you uploaded this. I thought it would be super awesome to use your redstone in my own Minecraft world, and I loved the long format video you uploaded. I was disappointed to see you didn’t have more videos uploaded. And now, I’ve been fed this video! Seriously, your videos are great. I’d love to see both more redstone theory videos as well as some long-abandoned let’s play type videos. Please keep it up!

[@noahanderson8688]

After watching your video I also made my own design. I hadn't seen the 4 way comparator D-latch before so I used the old 2 torch design. This makes things a little more compact. I think I'm going to use note blocks instead though.

[@n00b_asaurus]

Do what works for you man :P

[@jimvaneemeren6675]

This is a very smart solution for your rail junctions!

[@niallobrien-moran6596]

Amazing 1.20. So amazing. now I can finally build a network of rail.

[@rhv3201]

Since I saw your railroad video I was fascinated with your rail switch device, you're a genius bro, really, thank you for sharing I was looking for simething similar but nothing can compare to this.

[@CubedCanine]

Very cool design! Also I like the texture pack to mke diagonal rails look better, that was actually one of thought when watching the original video.

[@MrDelightful]

Thank you youtube algorithm. I watched the tour video a while ago and finally began making my own rail network and this popped up

[@st4rgirrll]

I love how u explain redstone at 13:40... Really helps people who struggle to connect redstone with programming languages etc. Cool style of video, I hope u upload more of these!

[@dinomite3794]

Love your explanation! It’s so cool to know that you designed this yourself

[@CratthewF]

I love that you included a section for the theory. really cool video!

[@shadowednavi]

Aaaa thank you so much for sharing this! I especially appreciate how you explain the logic behind the circuit - I have a hard time understanding redstone on my own, but your demonstration was very easy to follow. I look forward to seeing more from you in the future, keep up the great work! 💖

[@sociallysatanic]

this is so smart and useful, thank you for explaining it so well and providing the full building tutorial ❤ can't wait to put it to use!

[@DarkMeta_Minecraft]

you just planned the rest of my day for me 🤣 i'm gunna start building one in my world

[@Treybon_]

Your videos are concise, specific, and very understandable. I really enjoy your videos after finding you today and look forward to seeing your work in the future. Also thank you for showing the virtual logic for this. Ever since they updated redstone in minecraft I had trouble following the logic -> minecraft translation.

[@agravemisunderstanding9668]

I was wondering about this, never seen a junction like it before, very cool qnd functional design

[@artemkatelnytskyi]

I really liked your alert system. Thanks for including that also!

[@isaacbunsen5833]

I figured out you can use a door attached to an observer to signal it. Its the hardest thing to miss. If you offset the door from the observer and link it to a fence post, that lets you put a reset circuit under the door so its always in the same position. For the reset circuit I use repeater locking to prevent infinite observer loops.

[@michaelfixedsys7463]

Highly informative and exceedingly useful! In my brief time as your viewer I've come to expect no less from you. I plan on building an overworld rail system in my world, and I have a feeling these systems will be integrated in one way or another. I'm also very glad to know that someone else loves the vanilla rail system as much as I do, even if it needs a little debugging.

[@Mr.SuperSpeeder47]

Incredible tutorial! I followed all the steps & it worked just fine. I was inspired after watching your Minecraft Rail Network video, and when I needed to make a junction, I remembered seeing this video in my recommended and I searched it up.

[@mrquokka4733]

Great explanation and clear tutorial! Love the logical approach you take to explaining Minecraft concepts

[@sandgaming8801]

Thank you for explainging how and why things work it was very intresting.

[@bagr_26]

Thanks for making such amazing content! I was hooked by your video on the rail network and couldn't stop watching. I can't wait for your future videos. Tried it on bedrock, junction works just fine and the rail alert needs just one additional tick of delay on the on tick repeater (from my testing).

[@Sultan-wj3gp]

Thank you very much for this tutorial, it is exactly what I needed!

[@henn_arts]

I liked the video Well explained, I just wanted to leave feedback, at the beginning of the video put a small scene showing your contraption working This will certainly entice people to want to see how it works.

[@PhoenixsWorldVideos]

woo a starting point for the inspiration ur rail network video has given me!

[@scooter__131]

this will be very useful, thank you!

[@lmeans]

Yay! I found this channel at the perfect time! Thank you for sharing your knowledge :)

[@not-braullio1016]

This is really cool! After watching your last video and Im inspired to build a railway in my survival world

[@RubusCalculum]

Great video! Love the Redstone and survival content!

[@joshcampbell467]

Interesting idea. Nice out of the box thinking

[@OldRaspy]

Awesome tutorial!

[@valle3581]

This is such a simple but very clever design. You said that you plan to use a fully automatic system in the future, excited for that one if you plan to share it. I have found a design by Maizuma Games that automatically routes your minecart for you, but i think he stopped working on that concept.

[@sirchoppy1810]

this is so unique and genuis holy moly

[@hazelnut2002]

Very elegant, nice design indeed.

[@ComputerWizard]

I really enjoy your voice in these videos!

[@TyleStyle]

Thanks so much for this!

[@colin5488]

awesome video thanks!

[@nessunonessun1]

Good idea 👍

[@m4jci6]

Cool and practical, I like it. Cheers!

[@n00b_asaurus]

Thanks M4 :P

[@aguytimo]

That's clever, I tried to make an automatic rail system once upon a time but couldn't make junctions work. I think there might be a way to make an automatic junction system if you have a Minecart Chest infront of you with named items to signal the junctions through hopper sorter system? Most likely it'll be jank in practice

[@gamersgambit7517]

Hopper systems have always been jank, that MIDI note block player video taught me about the locationality issues of hoppers lmao

[@n00b_asaurus]

lmao? Is there a joke here that I'm missing?

[@gamersgambit7517]

@@n00b_asaurus I just find locationality to be a funny quirk of Redstone

[@guard13007]

Thank you! :D

[@danilo3552]

yay thank you so much.

[@illpunchyouintheface9094]

Very nice

[@atomicjedi6230]

THANK YOU

[@skyrim2972]

Keep it up 👍

[@lolermosskoss1834]

Seems like it could be useful even in bedrock! In bedrock you could replace slabs with Glass, they work the same

[@DarkChaosMC]

Wonder if a fully automatic version would be possible via a chest minecart with a destination at the end

I was wondering that as well but you wouldn't be able to ride it. It would also be a nightmare to remember the exact combination of items to put into the chest to reach a particular destination.

[@vampire_catgirl]

Nice!

[@hoodwinkiez]

I guess my question would be why not just use a Trap Chest to change the rail? it will hold the signal till the chest is closed and is easy u open as you are traveling toward it

[@n00b_asaurus]

If you can get trapped chests to work consistently, be my guest. I kept encountering a bug where the chest would sometimes stop sending a redstone signal.

[@rickfeitz6888]

Really appreciate the tutorial on the semi automatic rail station and rail station notifier Great video Would it be possible to make a 4 way automatic rail station with your setu I,m interested in getting a tutorial on your mob farm with the 4 bit computer on control system Please let me know Thank you

[@ashiqahamed7740]

Why does that junction inversion error occur? Is it anything related to how we made the gate? In my case the inverted RS-NOR latch issue occurred, I just fixed with by making all the comparators rotate in the opposite direction.

[@n00b_asaurus]

It's just the way rails are programmed.

[@ashiqahamed7740]

@@n00b_asaurus oh.. ig it’s probably because I’m on bedrock then I suppose?

[@rickfeitz6888]

Really appreciate you making the video of rail road mine cart station Looking forward to build them in my world Would it be possible to get a tutorial on your mob farm with 4 bit computer system Thanl you again

[@n00b_asaurus]

I have a playlist that goes over many different redstone components: kzbin.info/aero/PLuiLMR-Dpj-3s72aqvmKC5Ik_d6GB6KOf I'd skim through it and look up the following: - Etho hopper clock - T-flip flops or Counter Registers - Encoders - Decoders You're basically just powering each farm for 2 cycles, with everything being out of phase by 1 cycle. So, if you have the 4 farms arranged 1-2-3-4, your four cycles would look like this: 1-1-0-0 0-1-1-0 0-0-1-1 1-0-0-1 That's everything you need. I promise you it only looks difficult. You can piece this together.

[@jarrydarrah3064]

Omg i was just about to comment this on the last vid😂😂

[@kivets]

I was just wondering about that

[@rickfeitz6888]

Is it possle to make a 4 way minecart station with your system Please let me know Thanks

[@n00b_asaurus]

That might be a bit more complicated. I'm sure you could, but at this point I don't have a need for such a thing.

[@Znatok1699]

i made a simpler version of this junction with 1 game tick delay, do you need it?

[@pink_player06]

ok, I have a problem, it works yes, but when I try to change the direction the rail changes direction but returns to the previous direction (bedrock edition) Edit: I realized what the problem was, at minute 7:11 he puts the Redstone path between the torch and the comparator in a specific way, and I put it another way.

[@ZacharyKentVT]

Mine is working but currently flipping the rail opposite of what it ahould. I'll go back and check my design.

[@n00b_asaurus]

Keep watching the video

[@ZacharyKentVT]

@@n00b_asaurus I had seen that, but I thought it was for a mirrored setup, but it did work for me. Thx.

[@lilbrocomeoutside]

neat

[@user-tf7vq9ef7n]

Just curious why you use a sledge hammer to crack a nut! Your build is, of course, technically sound and impressive, but really not wishing to be critical, in my opinion, not pretty on the surface and VERY heavy on resources. You could have achieved the same operation of a semi-automatic junction using 3 fence gates, 3 observers, 3 repeaters, 2 comparators, 23 or so redstone dust and minimal mining of blocks. As the rails reset after going through the junction, the fence gate is set on the side of the track that you need to turn. All you see above ground are 3 fence gates and the faces of the observers flush with the ground. And of course not restricted to just using a shovel or hoe to select a direction of turn, you can literally use anything that's in your hand. However, a four way junction is, I would agree, way more complex but works on the same principle but with 12 fence gates and observers and a lot more resources.

[@gio1135]

nrg sweet?

[@neutralasswitz3192]

Why does the rail (junction) look so cursed?

[@stoutyyyy]

I mean you can make it look prettier, this is just a barebones version so you can see the principle.

[@n00b_asaurus]

Are you referring to the texture pack? I was experimenting with straightening out the diagonal track in my world. I'm not too satisfied with the result, but I'm too lazy to change it back. And yes I know I just need to click one button. It's just not that important to me.

[@neutralasswitz3192]

@@n00b_asaurus yes, it just looks wrong 1000000

[@The_mrbob]

Does it work on bedrock?

[@n00b_asaurus]

Maybe?

[@FearfulFinn]

Does it work on bedrock??

[@n00b_asaurus]

I can't imagine it wouldn't, but I don't know. Bedrock is a beast onto itself that I am not familiar with.

[@FearfulFinn]

@@n00b_asaurus anyway your videos are very good and fun to watch!

[@mx_problematique]

Me, who has no idea what an RS-NOR latch is: wait I actually.... Think I understand what's happening here. Would you ever consider doing more redstone videos that break down the theory like this? I feel like every time I try to look more into it the videos assume you have a bachelor's in engineering, but the way you explained it makes sense to me even though I have no familiarity with the terminology

[@n00b_asaurus]

Heh, funny you mention that :) kzbin.info/aero/PLuiLMR-Dpj-3s72aqvmKC5Ik_d6GB6KOf

[@ucngominh3354]

hi

[@cmtg461]

i sworn i was already subscribed but no

[@samuelhulme8347]

5th like and first comment!

[@RowanO5]

I think i built mine so right is left and left is right 😂😂

[@n00b_asaurus]

10:12

[@neutralasswitz3192]

To reach more people with the algorithm, maybe upload this video without the whiteboard section. I can't see the numbers but i believe that this section of the video is hurting the overall success of this video. Love your vids, just an idea to maybe call out to a wider audience that only wants the practical infos (a big (maybe the larger)part of the mc community) Keep on going!

[@mikado_m]

Im pretty sure their intent is to make videos about whatever thing brings them joy If someone doesnt wanna see the whiteboard they can just skip it or leave. But i wouldnt have seen it if it wasnt included in the video

[@neutralasswitz3192]

@@mikado_m ik, I was just thinking commercially

[@aedd3307]

please keep the whiteboard section!!!

[@n00b_asaurus]

mikado hit the nail on the head. I appreciate your concern, but I don't like playing into the algorithm. There's a whole host of reasons behind this decision, explaining it would be a whole conversation spanning several days. But suffice it to say I find gaming the system for views to be incredibly dishonest at best, and unethical at worst. More than likely, my next video will flop... I'm okay with this. I'm just gonna keep doing what I do for my own sake.

[@dakota2579]

Promo_SM

[@brandonmtb3767]

I find that you go too fast past it before it changes. Pretty useless. Fix would be to move pistons further away making the build so large it is ugly and I would rather not use it

[@n00b_asaurus]

Odd, never had that issue. Oh well.

[@hoteny]

I don’t know how to have fun with the game. Sure it looks complete and fun but there is no element of surprise for me… too bad I wish I could find a game i want to play like you

[@themilkman9188]

Very nice