The Summer Heatwave update adds Old Faithful, a liquid-fueled train with fuel-based effects, plus new liquid containers and a Dust Storm event that can bury your train until you clear the sand.
The Dead Rails Summer Heatwave update changes both how you power a run and how quickly things can go wrong. Old Faithful is the main addition: a new train that runs on liquids instead of the usual fuel, with different effects depending on what you pour into it.
The update also adds better liquid storage through the canteen and bucket, while Dust Storm weather forces players off the train by piling sand onto the tracks and stopping movement until it is cleared.
Summer Heatwave changes in Dead Rails
Old Faithful is built around liquid fuel. Instead of feeding it coal, wood, paper, or other normal burnables, you place liquid containers into the train’s fuel zone and let the train draw from them.
The liquid system is not just a reskin of fuel. Water works as a basic option, while rarer liquids can add speed boosts, enemy control, damage reduction, healing, or visual area effects around the train.
The new containers matter because liquid handling is now part of the run. The canteen holds more than a normal water bottle, and the bucket can visibly carry liquid for scooping and pouring.
Dust Storm is the danger side of the update. Sand can build up until the train is buried, zombies close in, and you have to clear the sand with a shovel or gunshots before you can move again.
How to buy, equip, and fuel Old Faithful in Dead Rails
Old Faithful is selected from the train station, then fueled inside a run by putting a liquid container into the fuel zone.
STEP 1/7
Talk to the train station NPC
Go to the train station desk and speak to the NPC to open the train options.
STEP 2/7
Buy and equip Old Faithful
Select Old Faithful, buy it from the station menu, and equip it before starting the run; its exact cost can vary by live update state.
STEP 3/7
Enter a run with the train
Start a run after equipping it and check the train model and fuel meter.
STEP 4/7
Grab a liquid container
Pick up the water bottle on the train or use another liquid container once you have one.
STEP 5/7
Put liquid in the fuel zone
Place the liquid container into Old Faithful’s fuel zone so the train can draw from it.
STEP 6/7
Check the base speed
With water, Old Faithful reaches around 65 km/h, making it usable but slower than its stronger liquid setups.
STEP 7/7
Avoid normal train fuel
Coal, paper, and similar fuel items do not power Old Faithful, so treat liquids as mandatory fuel.
Video help
Old Faithful liquid fuel effects
| Liquid | Effect |
|---|---|
| Acid | Sprays acid behind the train as it moves, though the effect can behave inconsistently. |
| Frost | Slows or freezes nearby enemies around the train. |
| Fire | Burns enemies inside the train’s area effect. |
| Holy Water | Summons lightning around the train to strike nearby threats. |
| Unicorn Blood | Boosts train speed, reaching around 85 km/h in early runs. |
| Cerberus Blood | Boosts train speed and pairs well with other speed-focused fuel choices. |
| Angel Tears | Adds damage reduction around the train. |
| Primordial Soup | Heals players around the train’s radius. |
Old Faithful’s fuel zone accepts liquids, and the liquid type can change how the train behaves. Some fuels affect speed or fuel duration, while others create effects around the train that help control enemies or keep players alive.
KEY!The important thing is that not every liquid is equal. Water is the basic fuel and burns quickly compared with harder-to-find liquids. Stronger options like Unicorn Blood and Cerberus Blood are the fuels to save for serious movement, while utility liquids are better when enemies are the problem.
Some effects are still rough in live play. Acid can appear inconsistent, Holy Water is meant to call lightning around the train, and Angel Tears, Cerberus Blood, and Primordial Soup are best understood by their listed effects until more runs settle the details.
Save Unicorn Blood and Cerberus Blood for travel pushes; use water only when you need basic movement and have no stronger liquid ready.
Best liquids to use on Old Faithful
| Liquid | Best use |
|---|---|
| Unicorn Blood | High-speed travel and long pushes. |
| Cerberus Blood | Speed-focused fueling, especially alongside other strong speed liquids. |
| Angel Tears | Reducing damage near the train during dangerous fights. |
| Primordial Soup | Healing players around the train. |
| Frost | Slowing enemies that get too close. |
| Fire | Burning enemies inside the train’s area. |
| Holy Water | Lightning-based area damage around the train. |
| Acid | Leaving acid behind the train, when the effect triggers properly. |
| Water | Basic fuel when no rare liquid is available. |
If your goal is speed, Unicorn Blood is the standout fuel shown so far, pushing Old Faithful from its water speed of about 65 km/h to around 85 km/h. Cerberus Blood belongs in the same priority group because it is also tied to speed-focused Old Faithful setups.
For survival, Angel Tears and Primordial Soup are the best utility picks. One reduces incoming damage around the train, while the other heals players in the train’s radius, which makes both more valuable when a run turns into a holdout.
The elemental liquids are more about enemy control. Frost slows enemies, Fire burns them in the train’s area, Holy Water adds lightning strikes, and Acid is useful when its trail effect works properly. Water is the fallback, not the fuel you want to build the whole run around.
Canteen and bucket uses
The canteen is the cleaner upgrade over the basic water bottle because it can hold a larger amount of liquid. That matters more now because Old Faithful’s whole fuel system depends on carrying liquids back to the train and feeding them into the fuel zone.
The bucket is the bigger, more visible container. It can hold liquid directly, show that liquid inside it, and be used for scooping or pouring, which makes it useful when you are dealing with puddles or trying to move fuel around quickly.
Together, these items make liquid collection less awkward. Instead of treating liquid as a tiny one-bottle backup, you can stockpile better fuel and decide whether to spend it on speed, defense, healing, or enemy control.
Dust Storm sand clearing
Dust Storm weather adds a direct movement threat. Sand piles onto the train and tracks, and if you ignore it long enough, Old Faithful can become fully buried and stuck at 0 speed.
How to survive Dust Storm weather in Dead Rails
During a Dust Storm, keep the tracks clear before the sand counter gets out of control.
- Watch for the Dust Storm — The weather turns sandy and visibility drops as sand begins forming around the train.
- Clear early sand piles — When sand appears on the tracks or train, hit it with a shovel to remove it before it stacks up.
- Shoot sand if needed — Gunshots can also break sand blocks, but firing will make noise and can wake nearby zombies.
- React to the buried train warning — If the train becomes buried in sand, it cannot move until you dig it out.
- Deal with nearby zombies — Zombies begin spawning and closing in while the train is stuck, so clear threats while removing sand.
- Remove enough sand to move — Keep breaking sand blocks until the tracks are clear and the train can start moving again.
- Leave once the route is clear — As soon as the tracks clear, get the train rolling instead of camping in the storm.
Summer Heatwave mistakes to avoid
The biggest mistake is treating Old Faithful like a normal coal train. Coal, paper, and other regular burnables are not the plan here, so a run can stall fast if you ignore liquids or fail to bring containers back to the train.
Do not waste rare liquids just to move a few meters. Unicorn Blood and Cerberus Blood are better saved for long travel pushes, while Angel Tears and Primordial Soup are more valuable when players are taking damage near the train.
Relying only on Water is another weak habit. It gets Old Faithful moving, but it burns faster than harder-to-find fuels and does not bring the special effects that make the train powerful.
During Dust Storm, do not sit inside the train waiting for the weather to pass. If sand fully buries the train, you lose movement and zombies close in, so clear sand early with a shovel or gunshots and leave as soon as the tracks are open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new train in the Dead Rails Summer Heatwave update?
The new train is Old Faithful. It is a liquid-fueled train that changes behavior based on the liquid placed into its fuel zone.
Does Old Faithful use coal?
No. Old Faithful does not use coal, paper, or normal train fuel. It runs on liquids such as Water, Unicorn Blood, Frost, Fire, and other liquid types.
What is the best liquid for Old Faithful?
Unicorn Blood is the best speed pick shown so far, taking Old Faithful to around 85 km/h. Cerberus Blood is also a top speed fuel, while Angel Tears and Primordial Soup are better for survival utility.
How do you clear sand during a Dust Storm?
Use a shovel to hit the sand blocks that pile up on the tracks and train. Keep clearing them until the buried-train state ends and the tracks are open again.
Can you shoot the sand blocks instead of using a shovel?
Yes. Gunshots can break sand blocks during a Dust Storm, but firing can also wake nearby zombies, so a shovel is cleaner when enemies are already close.
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