Java Edition:Floating Rails
To do: Expand Update Suppression, Update Skipping, and Vanishing Blocks
In previous Minecraft versions, it has been possible to obtain floating rails through a few different methods.
Obtaining
Pistons
From Beta 1.7 - 13w01a (1.5 Snapshot) pushing with a 0/1-tick pulse or by simply pulling a rail or activator rail off a block it would leave it floating in mid air.
Powered rails can only float with this method until 11w49a (1.1 Snapshot).
Update Suppression
Main page java Edition:Update Suppression
Another (yet much more complicated) way to obtain floating rails is with update suppression. Example here.
23w13a_or_b less_interaction_updates
Vote Rule
Additionally, you can obtain floating rails with the less_interaction_updates vote rule. To do this, simply enable the vote rule before placing the rails on any block. Then, simply break the block, and due to the less_interaction_updates
vote rule, the rails will stay in place, making them float.
Update Skipping
Main page Java Edition:Update Skipping
Another way to obtain floating rails is through update skipping.
Vanishing Blocks
Main page Java Edition:Vanishing Blocks
Finally, the last way to obtain floating rails is with vanishing blocks.