Voidtrain has more than one “coal.” There’s the large Lump of Coal floating in the void, the smaller Coal Chunk you’ll use as a strong fuel, the Coal material that feeds certain recipes, and Cooling Coals you can recover when dismantling fueled stations. Understanding how these pieces fit together saves time and keeps your furnaces running.
Coal types at a glance (what they are and why they matter)
| Item | What it is | Primary uses | Stack size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lump of Coal | Large resource node found in the void, marked by fireflies. | Processed in the Recycler to produce Coal Chunks. | — |
| Coal Chunk | Refined piece from a Lump of Coal. | High‑value fuel (+80 fuel units); ingredient for Steam Battery (2x at Workbench I/II). | 10 |
| Coal (material) | Crafting material distinct from Coal Chunk. | Fuel (burn time ~40 seconds); ingredient for Coal Briquette (3x at the Driller). | 5 |
| Cooling Coals | Fuel refunds extracted when dismantling fueled stations (in 10‑unit blocks). | Refuel any furnace (+10 fuel units per item). | 20 |
Where to find each coal item
- Lump of Coal: Drifts in the void and is surrounded by fireflies. It may be partially obscured by scenery.
- Coal Chunks:
- Process a Lump of Coal in the Recycler (1 Lump → 3 Coal Chunks, ~5 seconds).
- Loot from chests on Abandoned Trains.
- Loot from chests on the Soldier’s train during a Chase.
- Trade for them at Trading Machines.
- Coal (material):
- Feed a Coal Chunk into the Driller to obtain Coal.
- Found on Abandoned Trains.
- Cooling Coals:
- Dismantle a Smelter, Lab, or Kitchen that contains fuel in multiples of 10 fuel units; you’ll receive Cooling Coals rounded down to the nearest 10.
Fuel values, burn time, and what to feed your stations
| Fuel | Fuel value / burn | Where it shines |
|---|---|---|
| Coal Chunk | +80 fuel units | Efficient fueling for Smelters and Labs; also a key input for Steam Batteries. |
| Coal (material) | ~40 seconds burn time | General-purpose fuel when you specifically need “Coal” for recipes or briquettes. |
| Cooling Coals | +10 fuel units | Light refueling and scavenged recovery from dismantled stations. |
If you’re short on fuel, prioritize Coal Chunks for immediate runtime and reserve some for crafting Steam Batteries. Use Cooling Coals as a tidy way to top up furnaces after teardown.
Core conversions and recipes (what to build and where)
| Conversion / Recipe | Input | Output | Station | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lump → Chunks | 1x Lump of Coal | 3x Coal Chunks | Recycler | ~5s |
| Chunk → Coal (material) | 1x Coal Chunk | Coal (material) | Driller | — |
| Coal → Coal Briquette | 3x Coal | 1x Coal Briquette | Driller | — |
| Coal Chunks → Steam Battery | 2x Coal Chunks | 1x Steam Battery | Workbench I or II | — |
Think of the flow like this: find a Lump in the void → turn it into Chunks in the Recycler → either feed furnaces directly (+80 units) or route some Chunks into structured fuel via the Driller (Coal and briquettes) or make Steam Batteries at the Workbench. The Driller is also how you convert Chunks into “Coal” when a recipe asks for that specific item instead of raw fuel units.
Practical loop: from spotting fireflies to steady power
- Scan ahead of the train for fireflies to spot Lumps of Coal. If something looks partially hidden, check from multiple angles.
- Process Lumps immediately in the Recycler for a guaranteed batch of Coal Chunks.
- Use Coal Chunks as your reliable mid‑tier fuel. Keep a buffer for Steam Battery crafting when you need a portable or consolidated fuel source.
- When a recipe calls for “Coal” (not “Chunk”), run Chunks through the Driller to get the correct item.
- Before moving or rebuilding your Smelter/Lab/Kitchen, dismantle them to recover Cooling Coals if they contain fuel in tens; it’s an easy way to avoid wasting what’s already inside.
Coal in Voidtrain isn’t a single resource so much as a small ecosystem. Once you separate Lump, Chunk, and Coal (material) in your head—and remember the Cooling Coals refund—you can plan runs around fireflies, keep your furnaces fueled, and convert excess into batteries or briquettes without guesswork.
