Set up dead-end depots at critical points:

• on the exits from stations where wares are unloaded;

• periodically along passenger lines;

• generally, anywhere just after a train is likely to have fully unloaded.

Note that trains still have running costs while trapped in the depot. Click the depot's own ‘stop’ button periodically to stop the ones that have arrived so far.

For complex order sets (typically passengers, mail and valuables), start by creating a depot of the new type before converting any track. Then create a train in it to act as a duplicate of the existing trains, and copy their orders to it without sharing.

Sharing the orders would be a mistake, as it will be necessary to change the old trains' orders, while retaining them on the new train.

For each order set, starting with the longer ones:

1. Ensure that one order will cause the train to unload. Choose a station for this order that leads on to a nearby dead-end depot.

2. If you had to change the order by adding Unload, make sure that there are no trains waiting on that order at the station that haven't yet seen the change. That is, watch out for (typically) passenger trains which arrived just before you changed the order, and are therefore still expecting to load up new passengers.

3. Now insert an order to go to the dead-end depot just after the unloading station. Make sure it is Non-stop.

For very long orders, do this at several points in the order list.

Do the shortest routes last. These can remain profitable until the last moment.

Periodically, check leaf stations to see if all trains are locked away, or are heading for a dead-end depot. Click on the station, get the train list, click on a train to find out which depot it's at, open that depot's window, stop all trains in it, and sell them. If there are none left in the station's train list, the station is ready for conversion.

When a leaf station is quiet, convert it and the track leading up to it to show that it is ready. Convert any other dead-end similarly, including branches that have become dead-ends due to conversion of adjacent track.

When all trains have been removed, convert any remaining track.

Opportunistically, disable the dead-end depots to stop the new trains from wandering in. The quickest way is to reverse the signals on entry to each depot's track.

If you won't ever need them again, you can remove them, but you may as well do this later when time isn't so critical.

If you will need them for the next upgrade, don't forget to put the signals back before you set any orders to them.

Restart the short and simple (2-station) routes. But balance this against routes where supplies are dying out through lack of use.

For longer routes, with multiple trains, where it is preferable to space the trains out, create a long, straight piece of track which feeds onto the line before the first station. Give it exactly one signal where it joins. Set up a depot at the end, and create your trains there, then let them go. The long track will automatically create a minimum spacing between them.