Minecart Basics: T-shaped Intersection

For the next chapter in crafting, we have the T-shaped intersection, which is known in crafting circles as a t-junction. A t-junction occurs when a rail reaches another rail that curves. T-junctions resemble forks in a road, with one major exception: Unlike with forks, the rider has no control over where their minecart travels when it it reaches a junction.

T-junctions look like this:

It does indeed look like a T.

A T-junction is a turning track with a straight track leading to it.

T-junctions allow carts to turn in different directions depending on what direction the cart is coming from. For instance, a cart traveling on the straight track on the right of the screen will continue traveling on a straight path to the left.

The cart coming from the right...

...ignores the curve and travels to the left.

However, if that same cart is coming from the left, then it will turn at the junction instead of traveling straight.

But the cart coming from the left turns...

T-junctions can make effective one-way streets for minecarts, as well as many other things like delayed boosters, two-way resetters, and more. It can even make "minecart labyrinths", mazes made entirely out of minecart rails that are made to be ridden through like a roller coaster. Later, I'll show you some useful constructs you can make from t-junctions.