Coal is a core fuel in Voidtrain, but early on, you’ll mostly encounter it as floating “lumps” in the Void. Here’s how to identify those lumps quickly, pick them up when you see them, and convert them into usable fuel and components.
Where Lump of Coal spawns (what to look for)
- Location: in the Void along your route, often near or just off the main track.
- Visual cue: surrounded by small glowing fireflies.
- Obstruction: lumps can be tucked behind bits of scenery or debris, so check around outcrops and under ledges.
When a quest asks you to “find any lump in the Void and lift it,” it’s referring to this pickup. Move close, interact, and it goes into your inventory.
Break down Lump of Coal in the Recycler
Use the Recycler to process a single Lump of Coal into Coal Chunks. This is the main way to turn lumps into something your train can actually burn or craft with.
- Input → Output: 1× Lump of Coal → 3× Coal Chunk
- Processing time: ~5 seconds
- Category: the Recycler also breaks down other large resource chunks and unwanted gear modules.
Coal Chunk vs. Coal — what each is for
| Item | How to get it | Main uses | Stack size | Notable values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal Chunk | Recycle Lump of Coal (primary). Also via Trading Machines and chests on Abandoned Trains or the Soldier’s Train during a Chase. | Fuel; ingredient for Steam Battery (2× at Workbench I/II). | 10 | +80 fuel units per chunk. |
| Coal | Feed a Coal Chunk into a Driller; occasionally found on Abandoned Trains. | Fuel; material for Coal Briquette (3× at Driller). | 5 | ~40 seconds burn time per coal. |
Fueling choices: when to use Chunks vs. Coal
Coal Chunks are the fastest win: you can burn them directly and they stack to 10. Converting Chunks into Coal with the Driller makes sense when you want specific recipes (like Coal Briquettes) or prefer the coal burn cadence (~40s each). If you’re crafting a Steam Battery, skip the Driller and keep Chunks—two are all you need.
Alternative ways to pick up Coal Chunks and Coal
- Trading Machines: exchange for Coal Chunks when you’re short on lumps.
- Loot: check chests on Abandoned Trains; during Chase events, the Soldier’s Train can also have Coal Chunks in chests.
- Direct coal: some Abandoned Trains have Coal (the material) outright.
Common sticking points (and quick fixes)
- “I can’t find lumps, only small chunks.” Keep scanning for the firefly halo; lumps can hide behind void geometry. Brake the train for a slow pass when you spot fireflies to avoid overshooting.
- “The station won’t accept my lump.” Verify you’re at the Recycler. The Recycler is the station that breaks down large resource lumps.
- “What does ‘lift it’ mean?” That’s just the game’s prompt for picking up the floating lump in the Void.
At a glance: the coal pipeline
| Step | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Find Lump of Coal (look for fireflies) and pick it up. | 1× Lump of Coal in your inventory. |
| 2 | Place the lump into the Recycler. | 3× Coal Chunk after ~5s. |
| 3A | Use Coal Chunks as fuel or craft a Steam Battery with 2× Chunks at a Workbench. | Immediate fueling or power storage. |
| 3B | Optionally feed Coal Chunks into a Driller. | Coal (burn time ~40s), usable directly or in briquette recipes. |
Lumps are the efficient entry point to coal resources: grab them when the fireflies give one away, run them through the Recycler, and you’ll have either quick-burning Chunks for your engine or the inputs you need for batteries and briquettes.
