Sidetracked

Key takeaways

Prepare before the opening marker and treat each objective update as a checkpoint.

• Primary goal Trevor diverts a train and steals its locomotive and flatbed equipment for the obvious Big Score approach.
• Protect mission-critical assets Avoid unnecessary vehicle damage, friendly fire, or abandoning a required target outside the objective radius.
• Use protagonist abilities Use Franklin for precision driving, Michael for controlled gunfights, and Trevor for high-damage combat whenever the mission makes them available.
• Do not rush the final marker Clear pursuit conditions and keep required characters or vehicles together before entering extraction.

Overview

Trevor diverts a train and steals its locomotive and flatbed equipment for the obvious Big Score approach.

Trevor diverts a train and steals its locomotive and flatbed equipment for the obvious Big Score approach.

This Story Mode mission advances the protagonists’ connected storyline. Some neighboring missions can become available simultaneously, so the exact play order may vary.

The walkthrough below separates travel, setup, combat, pursuit, and extraction checkpoints so a failed section can be diagnosed without repeating the same mistake.

Characters in this mission

• Trevor Philips
• Michael De Santa

Where this sits

Requirements and recommended loadout

Enter with mission-appropriate ammunition, armor, and a vehicle that can survive the opening travel phase.

• RequiredComplete the preceding story unlocks
• RecommendedFull body armor and stocked ammunitionParticularly valuable for missions marked moderate or hard.
• RecommendedAccurate mid-range weaponA rifle or stable automatic weapon handles most outdoor gunfights.
• OptionalClose-range backupUseful inside buildings, alleys, and vehicles.
• RecommendedSave the relevant protagonist abilityUse it for the most difficult chase, driving, or combat checkpoint.

Objectives

1. Travel to the switching station
2. Deal with the rail workers without losing the target equipment
3. Operate the switch controls to redirect the train
4. Take control of the locomotive
5. Move the required rail equipment to the collection point
6. Use the helicopter or crane phase to deliver the components

Detailed walkthrough

1. 01

   Travel to the switching station

   Travel to the switching station

   Travel to the switching station. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

   TipBefore triggering the opening marker, restock armor and ammunition if the mission is expected to involve combat.

   Checkpoint
2. 02

   Deal with the rail workers without losing the target equipment

   Deal with the rail workers without losing the target equipment

   Deal with the rail workers without losing the target equipment. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

   Checkpoint
3. 03

   Operate the switch controls to redirect the train

   Operate the switch controls to redirect the train

   Operate the switch controls to redirect the train. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

4. 04

   Take control of the locomotive

   Take control of the locomotive

   Take control of the locomotive. Approach from the safest side, clear immediate threats, and wait for the possession or collection confirmation before moving to extraction. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

   Checkpoint
5. 05

   Move the required rail equipment to the collection point

   Move the required rail equipment to the collection point

   Move the required rail equipment to the collection point. Approach from the safest side, clear immediate threats, and wait for the possession or collection confirmation before moving to extraction. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.

6. 06

   Use the helicopter or crane phase to deliver the components

   Use the helicopter or crane phase to deliver the components

   Use the helicopter or crane phase to deliver the components. Make small control inputs, maintain safe altitude, and line up the next checkpoint early instead of correcting sharply at the last moment. Remain in the final marker until the mission-complete transition begins.

   Checkpoint

Difficult sections and useful strategies

Completion checklist

• Travel to the switching stationCheckpoint 1
• Deal with the rail workers without losing the target equipmentCheckpoint 2
• Operate the switch controls to redirect the trainCheckpoint 3
• Take control of the locomotiveCheckpoint 4
• Move the required rail equipment to the collection pointCheckpoint 5
• Use the helicopter or crane phase to deliver the componentsFinal completion condition

Failure conditions and checkpoints

• A required protagonist, ally, or protected target dies.Restart from the most recent mission checkpoint.
• A mission-critical vehicle is destroyed, abandoned, or leaves the playable route.Use the restart option rather than continuing in an unmarked replacement.
• The target escapes or a timed objective expires.Prioritize route discipline and the primary objective over optional combat.
• The player is wasted or all shared team lives are exhausted.Story Mode reloads the latest checkpoint.

Rewards and aftermath

• Mission completion and progression
  Unlocks the next related story activity, contact, property, or preparation where applicable.

Sources and verification

• GTA Base — GTA V missions list and walkthrough index — verified 2026-08-04 — GTA Base
• GTA V Wiki — Story Missions — verified 2026-08-04 — GTA V Wiki
• Codex model knowledge — detailed step expansion pending editorial gameplay review — Internal editorial