Howdy, y'all. So, as you probably saw from the title, I'm looking for the help of someone(preferably someone at least somewhat experienced with homebrew and balance) in homebrewing a balanced combat system for trains, of all things, which I'm going to need for a weird Wild West themed setting I'm creating.

Quick setting background: Big desert infested with giant burrowing creatures. Don't step on the sands or you probably get eaten. People instead use weird magic trains that magically assemble floating track in front of them as they move to get around. Since trains are a pretty huge part of the setting, and it's reasonable to assume that people would outfit them with guns and cannons and shoot the ever-living crap out of each other, I need to make myself a relatively balanced combat system.

So... that's just about all I've got to say, if you're relatively experienced with homebrewing stuff like this and you feel like helping, go ahead and respond here or DM me.

Reflavored infernal war machines could work, just with different dimensions?

Quote from Margaret22 >>

Reflavored infernal war machines could work, just with different dimensions?

 I considered that, but it just doesn't work. I imagine the train system as involving separate cars, each with different stats and uses, all pulled by a locomotive that determines speed and amount of cars.

Then perhaps something like the ships in the Ships and the Sea UA. Each train car could be a different component of the ship, with the movement and hull component combined in the engine? 

Quote from Margaret22 >>

Then perhaps something like the ships in the Ships and the Sea UA. Each train car could be a different component of the ship, with the movement and hull component combined in the engine? 

 I know what I’m gonna be doing with it, I just need assistance in balancing.

I think for people to offer "assistance in balancing", you would need to provide a detailed description of your proposed mechanics.

However, there is a simple way: Make it so trains only ever fight other trains. If they are both run under the same rules (especially if you keep the rules simple enough) they'll be pretty balanced.

"Big desert infested with giant burrowing creatures. Don't step on the sands or you probably get eaten."   Graboids....?
Either way Cool Idea, Im trying to find something like this so I don't have to make something.

You mean like a Purple Worm? You can filter the monster listing by Environment and in the advanced filters select Burrowing and a Movement Type. Should get you this list: https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters?filter-environment=3&filter-movement=2&filter-search=&filter-type=0&sort=size

How simplified or complex do you want it to be?

If you want to use standard D&D stats, you will need to be more detailed. Looking at ship stats from Spelljammer or Ship and Sea will give you some ideas.

Primarily, you should break down the engines to different sizes. For the sake of sanity, make all cars the same size - like how most shipping containers are mostly the same now. 

Determine how many cars each size train can pull.