diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/carts.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/carts.lua
index 63dde3a53..26a95f826 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/carts.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/carts.lua
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ function DEFAULT_CART_DEF:add_node_watch(pos)
 	local staticdata = self._staticdata
 	local watches = staticdata.node_watches or {}
 
-	for _,watch in ipairs(watches) do
-		if watch == pos then return end
+	for i=1,#watches do
+		if watches[i] == pos then return end
 	end
 
 	watches[#watches+1] = pos
@@ -168,9 +168,10 @@ function DEFAULT_CART_DEF:remove_node_watch(pos)
 	local watches = staticdata.node_watches or {}
 
 	local new_watches = {}
-	for _,node_pos in ipairs(watches) do
+	for i=1,#watches do
+		local node_pos = watches[i]
 		if node_pos ~= pos then
-			new_watches[#new_watches] = node_pos
+			new_watches[#new_watches + 1] = node_pos
 		end
 	end
 	staticdata.node_watches = new_watches
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ function DEFAULT_CART_DEF:on_step(dtime)
 
 	mod.update_cart_orientation(self)
 end
-function mod.kill_cart(staticdata)
+function mod.kill_cart(staticdata, killer)
 	local pos
 	minetest.log("action", "cart #"..staticdata.uuid.." was killed")
 
@@ -288,16 +289,33 @@ function mod.kill_cart(staticdata)
 
 	-- Drop items
 	if not staticdata.dropped then
+
+		-- Try to drop the cart
 		local entity_def = minetest.registered_entities[staticdata.cart_type]
 		if entity_def then
-			local drop = entity_def.drop
-			for d=1, #drop do
-				minetest.add_item(pos, drop[d])
+			local drop_cart = true
+			if killer and minetest.is_creative_enabled(killer:get_player_name()) then
+				drop_cart = false
 			end
 
-			-- Prevent item duplication
-			staticdata.dropped = true
+			if drop_cart then
+				local drop = entity_def.drop
+				for d=1, #drop do
+					minetest.add_item(pos, drop[d])
+				end
+			end
 		end
+
+		-- Drop any items in the inventory
+		local inventory = staticdata.inventory
+		if inventory then
+			for i=1,#inventory do
+				minetest.add_item(pos, inventory[i])
+			end
+		end
+
+		-- Prevent item duplication
+		staticdata.dropped = true
 	end
 
 	-- Remove data
@@ -306,7 +324,7 @@ end
 local kill_cart = mod.kill_cart
 
 function DEFAULT_CART_DEF:on_death(killer)
-	kill_cart(self._staticdata)
+	kill_cart(self._staticdata, killer)
 end
 
 -- Create a minecart
@@ -551,6 +569,8 @@ end
 
 local timer = 0
 minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
+
+	-- Periodically respawn carts that come into range of a player
 	timer = timer - dtime
 	if timer <= 0 then
 		local start_time = minetest.get_us_time()
@@ -559,11 +579,13 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 		local duration = (stop_time - start_time) / 1e6
 		timer = duration / 250e-6 -- Schedule 50us per second
 		if timer > 5 then timer = 5 end
-		--print("Took "..tostring(duration).." seconds, rescheduling for "..tostring(timer).." seconds in the future")
 	end
 
 	-- Handle periodically updating out-of-range carts
 	-- TODO: change how often cart positions are updated based on velocity
+	local start_time
+	if DEBUG then start_time = minetest.get_us_time() end
+
 	for uuid,staticdata in mod.carts() do
 		local pos = mod.get_cart_position(staticdata)
 		--[[
@@ -580,5 +602,10 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function(dtime)
 			do_movement(staticdata, dtime)
 		end
 	end
+
+	if DEBUG then
+		local stop_time = minetest.get_us_time()
+		print("Update took "..((stop_time-start_time)*1e-6).." seconds")
+	end
 end)
 
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/carts/with_hopper.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/carts/with_hopper.lua
index cb16b4cc6..ac86cfe7f 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/carts/with_hopper.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/carts/with_hopper.lua
@@ -156,13 +156,13 @@ mod.register_minecart({
 	groups = { container = 1 },
 	on_rightclick = nil,
 	on_activate_by_rail = nil,
-	_mcl_minecarts_on_enter = function(self, pos)
-		local staticdata = self._staticdata
+	_mcl_minecarts_on_enter = function(self, pos, staticdata)
 		if (staticdata.hopper_delay or 0) > 0 then
 			return
 		end
 
 		-- try to pull from containers into our inventory
+		if not self then return end
 		local inv = mcl_entity_invs.load_inv(self,5)
 		local above_pos = pos + vector.new(0,1,0)
 		mcl_util.hopper_pull_to_inventory(inv, 'main', above_pos, pos)
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/functions.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/functions.lua
index c4694cc06..556af3dc5 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/functions.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/functions.lua
@@ -185,7 +185,8 @@ local function get_rail_connections(pos, opt)
 	local ignore_neighbor_connections = opt and opt.ignore_neighbor_connections
 
 	local connections = 0
-	for i,dir in ipairs(CONNECTIONS) do
+	for i = 1,#CONNECTIONS do
+		dir = CONNECTIONS[i]
 		local neighbor = vector.add(pos, dir)
 		local node = minetest.get_node(neighbor)
 		local nodedef = minetest.registered_nodes[node.name]
@@ -223,7 +224,8 @@ local function update_rail_connections(pos, opt)
 	local connections = get_rail_connections(pos, opt)
 
 	-- Check for rasing rails to slopes
-	for i,dir in ipairs(CONNECTIONS) do
+	for i = 1,#CONNECTIONS do
+		local dir = CONNECTIONS[i]
 		local neighbor = vector.add(pos, dir)
 		make_sloped_if_straight( vector.offset(neighbor, 0, -1, 0), dir )
 	end
@@ -258,7 +260,8 @@ local function update_rail_connections(pos, opt)
 
 	local node_def = minetest.registered_nodes[node.name]
 	if get_path(node_def, "_mcl_minecarts", "can_slope") then
-		for _,dir in ipairs(CONNECTIONS) do
+		for i=1,#CONNECTIONS do
+			local dir = CONNECTIONS[i]
 			local higher_rail_pos = vector.offset(pos,dir.x,1,dir.z)
 			local rev_dir = vector.direction(dir,vector.new(0,0,0))
 			if mcl_minecarts:is_rail(higher_rail_pos) and is_connection(higher_rail_pos, rev_dir) then
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/movement.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/movement.lua
index 198a2fede..f750a4ad0 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/movement.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mcl_minecarts/movement.lua
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ local function handle_cart_enter_exit(staticdata, pos, next_dir, event)
 	local dir = staticdata.dir
 	local right = vector.new( dir.z, dir.y, -dir.x)
 	local up = vector.new(0,1,0)
-	for _,check in ipairs(enter_exit_checks) do
+	for i=1,#enter_exit_checks do
+		local check = enter_exit_checks[i]
+
 		local check_pos = pos + dir * check[1] + right * check[2] + up * check[3]
 		local node = minetest.get_node(check_pos)
 		local node_def = minetest.registered_nodes[node.name]
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ local function handle_cart_enter_exit(staticdata, pos, next_dir, event)
 	-- Handle cart-specific behaviors
 	if luaentity then
 		local hook = luaentity["_mcl_minecarts_"..event]
-		if hook then hook(self, pos) end
+		if hook then hook(luaentity, pos, staticdata) end
 	else
 		--minetest.log("warning", "TODO: change _mcl_minecarts_"..event.." calling so it is not dependent on the existence of a luaentity")
 	end
@@ -99,12 +101,13 @@ local function handle_cart_node_watches(staticdata, dtime)
 	local watches = staticdata.node_watches or {}
 	local new_watches = {}
 	local luaentity = mcl_util.get_luaentity_from_uuid(staticdata.uuid)
-	for _,node_pos in ipairs(watches) do
+	for i=1,#watches do
+		local node_pos = watches[i]
 		local node = minetest.get_node(node_pos)
 		local node_def = minetest.registered_nodes[node.name]
 		if node_def then
 			local hook = node_def._mcl_minecarts_node_on_step
-			if hook and hook(node_pos, luaentity, dtime) then
+			if hook and hook(node_pos, luaentity, dtime, staticdata) then
 				new_watches[#new_watches+1] = node_pos
 			end
 		end
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_hoppers/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_hoppers/init.lua
index 0ba1ca9a6..73860cad1 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_hoppers/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_hoppers/init.lua
@@ -136,6 +136,47 @@ local function hopper_push_to_mc(mc_ent, dest_pos, inv_size)
 		end
 	end
 end
+local function hopper_pull_from_mc(mc_ent, dest_pos, inv_size)
+	local inv = mcl_entity_invs.load_inv(mc_ent, inv_size)
+	if not inv then
+		mcl_log("No inv")
+		return false
+	end
+
+	local dest_meta = minetest.get_meta(dest_pos)
+	local dest_inv = dest_meta:get_inventory()
+	if not dest_inv then
+		mcl_log("No dest inv")
+		return false
+	end
+
+	mcl_log("inv. size: " .. mc_ent._inv_size)
+	for i = 1, mc_ent._inv_size, 1 do
+		local stack = inv:get_stack("main", i)
+
+		mcl_log("i: " .. tostring(i))
+		mcl_log("Name: [" .. tostring(stack:get_name()) .. "]")
+		mcl_log("Count: " .. tostring(stack:get_count()))
+		mcl_log("stack max: " .. tostring(stack:get_stack_max()))
+
+		if not stack:get_name() or stack:get_name() ~= "" then
+			if dest_inv:room_for_item("main", stack:peek_item()) then
+				mcl_log("Room so unload")
+				dest_inv:add_item("main", stack:take_item())
+				inv:set_stack("main", i, stack)
+
+				-- Take one item and stop until next time, report that we took something
+				return true
+			else
+				mcl_log("no Room")
+			end
+
+		else
+			mcl_log("nothing there")
+		end
+	end
+end
+mcl_hoppers.pull_from_minecart = hopper_pull_from_mc
 
 
 -- Downwards hopper (base definition)
@@ -243,16 +284,29 @@ local def_hopper = {
 		minetest.log("action", player:get_player_name() ..
 			" takes stuff from mcl_hoppers at " .. minetest.pos_to_string(pos))
 	end,
-	_mcl_minecarts_on_enter_above = function(pos, cart, next_dir)
-		-- Only push to containers
-		if cart.groups and (cart.groups.container or 0) ~= 0 then
+	_mcl_minecarts_on_enter_below = function(pos, cart, next_dir)
+		print("Cart entered above "..tostring(pos))
+		-- Only pull to containers
+		if cart and cart.groups and (cart.groups.container or 0) ~= 0 then
 			cart:add_node_watch(pos)
+			hopper_push_to_mc(cart, pos, 5)
+		end
+	end,
+	_mcl_minecarts_on_enter_above = function(pos, cart, next_dir)
+		print("Cart entered below "..tostring(pos))
+
+		-- Only push to containers
+		if cart and cart.groups and (cart.groups.container or 0) ~= 0 then
+			cart:add_node_watch(pos)
+			hopper_pull_from_mc(cart, pos, 5)
 		end
 	end,
 	_mcl_minecarts_on_leave_above = function(pos, cart, next_dir)
+		if not cart then return end
+
 		cart:remove_node_watch(pos)
 	end,
-	_mcl_minecarts_node_on_step = function(pos, cart, dtime)
+	_mcl_minecarts_node_on_step = function(pos, cart, dtime, cartdata)
 		if not cart then
 			minetest.log("warning", "trying to process hopper-to-minecart movement without luaentity")
 			return
@@ -260,9 +314,18 @@ local def_hopper = {
 
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
 
+		local cart_pos = mcl_minecarts.get_cart_position(cartdata)
+
 		local timer = meta:get_int("minecart_hopper_timer")
 		if timer < dtime then
-			hopper_push_to_mc(cart, pos, 5)
+			if vector.direction(pos,cart_pos).y > 0 then
+				-- The cart is above us, pull from minecart
+				print("Pulling from cart above "..tostring(pos))
+				hopper_pull_from_mc(cart, pos, 5)
+			else
+				print("Pushing to cart below "..tostring(pos))
+				hopper_push_to_mc(cart, pos, 5)
+			end
 			timer = timer + 1
 		else
 			timer = timer - dtime
@@ -476,7 +539,23 @@ local def_hopper_side = {
 	on_rotate = on_rotate,
 	sounds = mcl_sounds.node_sound_metal_defaults(),
 
+	_mcl_minecarts_on_enter_below = function(pos, cart, next_dir)
+		print("Cart entered above "..tostring(pos)..",cart="..tostring(cart))
+
+		-- Only push to containers
+		if cart and cart.groups and (cart.groups.container or 0) ~= 0 then
+			print("Pulling from cart above "..tostring(pos))
+			cart:add_node_watch(pos)
+			hopper_pull_from_mc(cart, pos, 5)
+		end
+	end,
+	_mcl_minecarts_on_leave_below = function(pos, cart, next_dir)
+		if not cart then return end
+		cart:remove_node_watch(pos)
+	end,
 	_mcl_minecarts_on_enter_side = function(pos, cart, next_dir, rail_pos)
+		if not cart then return end
+
 		-- Only try to push to minecarts when the spout position is pointed at the rail
 		local face = minetest.get_node(pos).param2
 		local dst_pos = {}
@@ -497,20 +576,37 @@ local def_hopper_side = {
 		end
 	end,
 	_mcl_minecarts_on_leave_side = function(pos, cart, next_dir)
+		if not cart then return end
+
 		cart:remove_node_watch(pos)
 	end,
-	_mcl_minecarts_node_on_step = function(pos, cart, dtime)
-		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
+	_mcl_minecarts_node_on_step = function(pos, cart, dtime, cartdata)
+		if not cart then return end
 
+		local tick = false
+		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
 		local timer = meta:get_int("minecart_hopper_timer")
+		print("dtime="..dtime..",timer="..timer)
 		if timer < dtime then
-			hopper_push_to_mc(cart, pos, 5)
+			tick = true
 			timer = timer + 1
 		else
 			timer = timer - dtime
 		end
 		meta:set_int("minecart_hopper_timer", timer)
 
+		if tick then
+			local cart_pos = mcl_minecarts.get_cart_position(cartdata)
+			if not cart_pos then return false end
+
+			print("uuid="..cartdata.uuid)
+			if cart_pos.y == pos.y then
+				hopper_push_to_mc(cart, pos, 5)
+			elseif cart_pos.y > pos.y then
+				hopper_pull_from_mc(cart, pos, 5)
+			end
+		end
+
 		return true
 	end,
 
@@ -546,48 +642,6 @@ minetest.register_node("mcl_hoppers:hopper_side_disabled", def_hopper_side_disab
 --[[ END OF NODE DEFINITIONS ]]
 
 
-local function hopper_pull_from_mc(mc_ent, dest_pos, inv_size)
-	local inv = mcl_entity_invs.load_inv(mc_ent, inv_size)
-	if not inv then
-		mcl_log("No inv")
-		return false
-	end
-
-	local dest_meta = minetest.get_meta(dest_pos)
-	local dest_inv = dest_meta:get_inventory()
-	if not dest_inv then
-		mcl_log("No dest inv")
-		return false
-	end
-
-	mcl_log("inv. size: " .. mc_ent._inv_size)
-	for i = 1, mc_ent._inv_size, 1 do
-		local stack = inv:get_stack("main", i)
-
-		mcl_log("i: " .. tostring(i))
-		mcl_log("Name: [" .. tostring(stack:get_name()) .. "]")
-		mcl_log("Count: " .. tostring(stack:get_count()))
-		mcl_log("stack max: " .. tostring(stack:get_stack_max()))
-
-		if not stack:get_name() or stack:get_name() ~= "" then
-			if dest_inv:room_for_item("main", stack:peek_item()) then
-				mcl_log("Room so unload")
-				dest_inv:add_item("main", stack:take_item())
-				inv:set_stack("main", i, stack)
-
-				-- Take one item and stop until next time, report that we took something
-				return true
-			else
-				mcl_log("no Room")
-			end
-
-		else
-			mcl_log("nothing there")
-		end
-	end
-end
-mcl_hoppers.pull_from_minecart = hopper_pull_from_mc
-
 --[[ BEGIN OF ABM DEFINITONS ]]
 
 minetest.register_abm({