diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/rails.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/rails.lua
index c42fdc03f6..36f1d43178 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/rails.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/rails.lua
@@ -1,29 +1,82 @@
+-- Template rail function
+local register_rail = function(itemstring, tiles, def_extras, creative)
+	local groups = {handy=1,pickaxey=1, attached_node=1,rail=1,connect_to_raillike=1,dig_by_water=1,destroy_by_lava_flow=1, transport=1}
+	if creative == false then
+		groups.not_in_creative_inventory = 1
+	end
+	local ndef = {
+		drawtype = "raillike",
+		tiles = tiles,
+		is_ground_content = false,
+		inventory_image = tiles[1],
+		wield_image = tiles[1],
+		paramtype = "light",
+		walkable = false,
+		selection_box = {
+			type = "fixed",
+			fixed = {-1/2, -1/2, -1/2, 1/2, -1/2+1/16, 1/2},
+		},
+		stack_max = 64,
+		groups = groups,
+		sounds = mcl_sounds.node_sound_metal_defaults(),
+		_mcl_blast_resistance = 3.5,
+		_mcl_hardness = 0.7,
+	}
+	if def_extras then
+		for k,v in pairs(def_extras) do
+			ndef[k] = v
+		end
+	end
+	minetest.register_node(itemstring, ndef)
+end
+
 local railuse = "Place them on the ground to build your railway, the rails will automatically connect to each other and will turn into curves, T-junctions, crossings and slopes as needed."
 
 -- Normal rail
-minetest.register_node("mcl_minecarts:rail", {
-	description = "Rail",
-	_doc_items_longdesc = "Rails can be used to build transport tracks for minecarts. Normal rails slightly slow down minecarts due to friction.",
-	_doc_items_usagehelp = railuse,
-	drawtype = "raillike",
-	tiles = {"default_rail.png", "default_rail_curved.png", "default_rail_t_junction.png", "default_rail_crossing.png"},
-	is_ground_content = false,
-	inventory_image = "default_rail.png",
-	wield_image = "default_rail.png",
-	paramtype = "light",
-	walkable = false,
-	selection_box = {
-		type = "fixed",
-                -- but how to specify the dimensions for curved and sideways rails?
-                fixed = {-1/2, -1/2, -1/2, 1/2, -1/2+1/16, 1/2},
-	},
-	stack_max = 64,
-	groups = {handy=1,pickaxey=1, attached_node=1,rail=1,connect_to_raillike=1,dig_by_water=1,destroy_by_lava_flow=1,transport=1},
-	sounds = mcl_sounds.node_sound_metal_defaults(),
-	_mcl_blast_resistance = 3.5,
-	_mcl_hardness = 0.7,
-})
+register_rail("mcl_minecarts:rail",
+	{"default_rail.png", "default_rail_curved.png", "default_rail_t_junction.png", "default_rail_crossing.png"},
+	{
+		description = "Rail",
+		_doc_items_longdesc = "Rails can be used to build transport tracks for minecarts. Normal rails slightly slow down minecarts due to friction.",
+		_doc_items_usagehelp = railuse,
+	}
+)
 
+-- Powered rail (off = brake mode)
+register_rail("mcl_minecarts:golden_rail",
+	{"carts_rail_pwr.png", "carts_rail_curved_pwr.png", "carts_rail_t_junction_pwr.png", "carts_rail_crossing_pwr.png"},
+	{
+		description = "Powered Rail",
+		_doc_items_longdesc = "Rails can be used to build transport tracks for minecarts. Powered rails are able to accelerate and brake minecarts.",
+		_doc_items_usagehelp = railuse .. "\n" .. "Without redstone power, the rail will brake minecarts. To make this rail accelerate minecarts, power it with redstone power.",
+		_rail_acceleration = -3,
+		mesecons = {
+			conductor = {
+				state = mesecon.state.off,
+				onstate = "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail_on",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+)
+
+-- Powered rail (on = acceleration mode)
+register_rail("mcl_minecarts:golden_rail_on",
+	{"mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_powered.png", "mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_curved_powered.png", "mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_t_junction_powered.png", "mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_crossing_powered.png"},
+	{
+		_doc_items_create_entry = false,
+		_rail_acceleration = 4,
+		mesecons = {
+			conductor = {
+				state = mesecon.state.on,
+				offstate = "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail",
+			},
+		},
+	},
+	false
+)
+
+
+-- Crafting
 minetest.register_craft({
 	output = 'mcl_minecarts:rail 16',
 	recipe = {
@@ -33,65 +86,6 @@ minetest.register_craft({
 	}
 })
 
-
--- Powered rail
-local powered_rail_template = {
-	description = "Powered Rail",
-	_doc_items_longdesc = "Rails can be used to build transport tracks for minecarts. Powered rails are able to accelerate and brake minecarts.",
-	_doc_items_usagehelp = railuse .. "\n" .. "Without redstone power, the rail will brake minecarts. To make this rail accelerate minecarts, power it with redstone power.",
-	drawtype = "raillike",
-	tiles = {"carts_rail_pwr.png", "carts_rail_curved_pwr.png", "carts_rail_t_junction_pwr.png", "carts_rail_crossing_pwr.png"},
-	inventory_image = "carts_rail_pwr.png",
-	wield_image = "carts_rail_pwr.png",
-	paramtype = "light",
-	is_ground_content = false,
-	walkable = false,
-	selection_box = {
-		type = "fixed",
-		fixed = {-1/2, -1/2, -1/2, 1/2, -1/2+1/16, 1/2},
-	},
-	groups = {handy=1,pickaxey=1, attached_node = 1, rail = 1, connect_to_raillike = 1, dig_by_water = 1,destroy_by_lava_flow=1, transport = 1},
-
-	sounds = mcl_sounds.node_sound_metal_defaults(),
-	mesecons = {
-		conductor = {
-			state = mesecon.state.off,
-			onstate = "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail_on",
-		},
-	},
-
-	_rail_acceleration = -3,
-	_mcl_blast_resistance = 3.5,
-	_mcl_hardness = 0.7,
-}
-minetest.register_node("mcl_minecarts:golden_rail", powered_rail_template)
-
-
--- Powered rail (activated by redstone)
-local powered_rail_on = table.copy(powered_rail_template)
-powered_rail_on.description = nil
-powered_rail_on._doc_items_create_entry = false
-powered_rail_on._doc_items_longdesc = nil
-powered_rail_on._doc_items_usagehelp = nil
-powered_rail_on.tiles = {"mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_powered.png", "mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_curved_powered.png", "mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_t_junction_powered.png", "mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_crossing_powered.png"}
-powered_rail_on.inventory_image = "mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_powered.png"
-powered_rail_on.wield_image = "mcl_minecarts_rail_golden_powered.png"
-powered_rail_on.groups.not_in_creative_inventory = 1
-powered_rail_on.groups.transport = nil
-powered_rail_on.mesecons = {
-	conductor = {
-		state = mesecon.state.on,
-		offstate = "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail",
-	}
-}
-powered_rail_on._rail_acceleration = 4
-
-minetest.register_node("mcl_minecarts:golden_rail_on", powered_rail_on)
-
-if minetest.get_modpath("doc") then
-	doc.add_entry_alias("nodes", "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail", "nodes", "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail_on")
-end
-
 minetest.register_craft({
 	output = "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail 6",
 	recipe = {
@@ -101,3 +95,8 @@ minetest.register_craft({
 	}
 })
 
+-- Aliases
+if minetest.get_modpath("doc") then
+	doc.add_entry_alias("nodes", "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail", "nodes", "mcl_minecarts:golden_rail_on")
+end
+