Fewest Moves?
At some point in my thirty plus years reading MR, I recall an issue containing a very fun switching problem of the sort that was to be solved in the fewest moves. I am fairly certain it was from mid-to-late 1990's, but may have been 1980's.
Does anyone recall the issue?
It was small diagram/schematic at the bottom of a page and I believe it may have included a "wye" in the problem. My somewhat photographic memory recalls the diagram to have been blue background with black lines and on right hand page of open magazine and at the bottom of that page.
I'm working on insuring my planned layout will include endless switching puzzle possibilities, but would love to include that problem if I could only remember what issue. By the way, I fully intend "Time Saver" to be along my route and probably Inglenook will be there, too.
Thanks,
Crews
I recall several articles in MR that were switching issues. You were presented with a train, a switchlist and a small diagram along with a list of dos and donts.
Very good stuff. Too bad that there were only a few of them and Kalmbach never made a book just with these puzzles.
Here is a online version I found some time ago.
http://www.precisionlabels.com/shunt/jg3tims0.html
Believe it or not, it is possible to replace all of the cars with the ones on the train and swap ends for a return trip.
Sometimes they set up switching problems for featured layouts or trackplans.
Enjoy
Paul
if you go to the Index of Magazines on this site
http://index.mrmag.com/
and search by keyword for puzzles and select only MR you'll find something like 174 articles . looking through those will probably lead to the one you're looking for
I think some of the '80s and '90s Bob Hayden puzzles may have been based on a wye (you can find some of those using the magazine index search mentioned above). You could also be thinking of a switching puzzle based on a wye in the modeled town of Equinox that was part of Robert Silas' article on a track plan for the Sagatuckett River RR from the March 1972 MR. This was reprinted in the book Track Planning Ideas from Model Railroader (Kalmbach 1981).
This was one of those (in my humble opinion) annoying puzzles that requires a lot of repetitive movements of single cars. Many folks I know find this type of puzzle switching fairly tedious .. and there are lots of other ways to increase ops interest without puzzles, even on a small layout.
ByronModel RR Blog
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
In the 48 "Top notch" track plans book by Kalmbach the Port Layout titled "By the Beautiful Sea" is a powerful statement towards trackage and switches arranged to advance the work of a Port without needless waste due to puzzles.
Cars flow in via transfer to yard and is sorted according to destination and goes out smoothly.
Thanks for all the input, but I am trying to find that particular “switching problem” mentioned in my first post.
Let me try to respond to all of you, here, because you each seem concerned in various ways—and took the trouble to say so.
loather – That is a good site, and I was hoping to have found it there, but the one I want was no “classic.” In fact, I did email the site owner asking if my “switching problem” rung a bell with him. You’ll note the last paragraph—I mentioned Inglenook (as well as Time Saver”) which I really like, and which I first encountered on that site. Also, what I am looking for is not a time saver—it is a “fewest moves” problem—hence the thread’s title.
ironrooster – Yes, and the Great Model Railroads issues are probably my favorites for that reason. Barrow’s Cat Mountain, when discussed in one of those years ago, was the one that hooked me on operations (that and an operating session at a club-member’s home layout at about the same tine). Come to think of it, I am now wondering if perhaps the switching problem I am after could have been in one of the annual MR publications.
ereimer – thanks, I did not know about that index. I tried it, and went through all of the matches on “switching” and did not find the one I had in mind. I am not surprised as it was just a little box at the bottom of an unrelated article. Perhaps it was a mere space-filler taken from an MR Bulletin? Some of those titles sounded familiar even though published before I was born.
cuyama – Boy, that sounds right, but sifting through the index did not produce results—well, it made me wish I had most of the articles I saw listed under Bob Hayden’s name!
I tend to agree with your assessment of puzzles and that of the article you linked—that they are not how things are done on a real railroad. Recently, one article (in Freight Yards, I think) mentioned that “cherry-picking” just is not done in real yards. However, problem solving is a joy, and the Inglenook cherry-picking problem is like working a SuDoku puzzle or solving the Rubik’s cube: There is always a solution and once you know the method—it is easy—but easy in a way that occupies the mind in a relaxing way.
For instance, if I have a friend over and he sees a model railroad, first he’ll want to make the train go. Easy enough… turn it on and throttle up. For an adult who has no particular interest in (nor knowledge of) railroading, he is bored in minutes. But if I say to him, “Put these three cars together behind that engine, in that space, and then head for the mainline” well, lots of good things might happen. It is still a toy, but it is vastly more sophisticated than first imagined.
(Now, also including thanks to Falls Valley Railroad’s comments)
But for myself, (and this a small layout) the endless possibilities of Inglenook, and the time challenge of “timesaver” will keep me busy whenever I have few minutes, and have a need to problem solve for relaxation. It’s my layout, and that is one of the chief “must haves” for me.
Furthermore, the Inglenook “yard” is not likely to end up with a lead holding only a switcher and three cars, plus tracks of five, three, and three, but a working three track yard at the end of the line, and able to be shortened by placing cars not involved in the puzzle on those tracks to shorten them to the 5-3-3 lengths when I want to solve that puzzle anew.
All that is to say that: I am not planning a “puzzle layout,” but a layout upon which I can run puzzles.
I will also add that of those with large layouts and the varied possibilities for operating sessions in which no two sessions are exactly the same, I am envious. For those who have friends with such layouts—I am envious. For those who have room for such layouts—I am envious. So, not having those, I am going to pack in the most I can into what little room I have—and do what I can to ensure that I will not become bored because I know my own layout so well—or worse, wish I had not planned my layout so that it would be too easy to run.
One of my few visits to a basement-sized layout, had me watching an avid model railroader struggle with a relatively simply real-world type scenario. I had never encountered that scenario, and as he pondered how to go about spotting a car on a facing siding without unduly fowling the main, he had fifteen minutes. I walked up the main line, as unfamiliar with it as he was, and looked at his cards as he shunted around, and came up with a solution when I realized it was easier to take care of B before A, geographically. He did not. His assignment was unfulfilled by the end of the session. I realized then, that should I have the opportunity to again take part in such a session, I want my skills sharpened by experience.
Just the other day, while running errands on my day off, I stopped to watch a local that often goes past my office. A few minutes later, he was back at the same grade crossing and within an hour (I happened to be driving by), saw him once again heading out. He was running back and forth and back again over several miles of track. I thought of that switching problem, “He is taking care of B before A”
Oh for the days before telegraph when the schedule, and not computers, meant the work got done on time or people could get hurt! I don’t want that unsafe environment in the real-world— but on a model—what it must have been like—and that is a “story” I want to build into my railroad… The Ballad of Casey Jones, the intrigue and excitement of The General and The Texas… track torpedoes… hoops with train orders… townspeople declaring a “holiday” so they could lay track just so the railroad would come through their town! It was like that once. It may be again on my railroad. My older bother says I am wrong—that there was no more steam when I was child, but I know I remember steam whistles and bells at night from the not too far off Texas & Pacific. In fact, just the other night... Nah-- I was dreaming.
Wandered a bit, didn’t I?
But, where you wandered was wonderful stuff!
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
I am in agreement with you. In my very limited space - 89" x 119", with a must-remain- accessible 60" wide window on one 89" side, the ability to generate other than chase-your-tail continuous runs or a great variety of switching operations for both the HO and HOn3 portion jsut isn't there. Furthermore, I don't anticipate regular operators besides myself, althouth I could easily accommodate at least one more. So I am deliberately embedding the ability to have "switching puzzles" when I so choose.
Like you, I am setting up the HOn3 dockside terminal so that it not only serves as a terminal and a pier, but has an embedded Inglenook. My Gum Stump & Snowshoe variant will have a run-around at the lower terminal, but it will be completed by a turntable. If I want the "puzzle" feature of having to operate without a runaround, I can rule the turntable is for turning and servicing locomoitves only. A similar situation will likely exist for the upper level logging and logging service spurs - a run-around will be available further down the line, but I can rule it out of bounds to produce the switching puzzle if/when routine operations become boring.
Fred W
Thanks again, folks,
semper vaporo - Thanks for the sentiment. By-the-way, my Latin is limited, but I’m going to take a stab at it, could that be “always nebulous?” If it isn’t, it ought to be, because I’m laughing!
fwright – The port layout was from Falls Valley’s post. Mine is more likely to be mesquite, and cotton covered rural stretches outside of Fort Worth (home, and I’m homesick).
As for wall problems, I feel your pain. I have a twelve foot wall—all window-- adjacent to a twelve foot wall with windows every 30”! The other two have doors, closets, windows, etc. I would love a standing height shelf-style, but since going high is problematic with the windows, I am thinking in terms of taking advantage of a personal peculiarity: I like to sit on the floor—so I am going low, against that wall, but under the windows. I may include window seat extensions on each end that hide, beneath, return loops to feed the yard(s).
Walter Clot- I like the puzzles— they help many of us, I think, in seeing why yards and sidings look like they do, and force us to think through our designs. For that reason, what I find most helpful in a featured layout article is at least a bit (and sometimes a whole lot) about how each layout operates.
by chance was it in the december 1996 MR issue, called "two loads for the company wharf" a salty-but simple switching problem on the HOn2 1/2 carrabasset & dead river Ry?? well i dont see a "wye" on it.... but its in Kennebecport harbor, theres a coal carrier (ship) a mainline on the trestle.... hope this is it, if not, i'll keep lookin for ya!! my MR collection is one of my prized posessions!!!
Joe
Modeling:
Providence & Worcester Railroad
"East Providence Secondary"
HO scale
I hope this will help.
I am familiar with a wye switching layout feature that was part of a large layout featured in MRR.
In the late 1980's, 1989 if I had to guess, the article was "Brakeman on the Quincy Local"
It had a wye and several industries in this particular section.
When I get home, I'll search my MRR collection to give you more info.
daboneman wrote: I hope this will help.I am familiar with a wye switching layout feature that was part of a large layout featured in MRR.In the late 1980's, 1989 if I had to guess, the article was "Brakeman on the Quincy Local"It had a wye and several industries in this particular section.When I get home, I'll search my MRR collection to give you more info.
http://index.mrmag.com is a good tool for finding an article in some model railroader magazine.
Stein
cregil wrote: Thanks again, folks,semper vaporo - Thanks for the sentiment. By-the-way, my Latin is limited, but I’m going to take a stab at it, could that be “always nebulous?” If it isn’t, it ought to be, because I’m laughing!... Crews
...
I wrote the following some time ago to explain it...
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The derivation of the phrase: "Semper Vaporo":
Many years ago, I wanted a Latin phrase that meant a particular thing... I was told about "Dictionary.com" on the internet and found on there several Latin to English conversion web sites. I found NO English to Latin dictionaries (there are many now), thus I had to "guess" what Latin word might be the one I wanted and rely on the various web sites to maybe list few synonyms that might get me where I wanted.
I was familiar with the mottos of both the U. S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard; "Semper Fidelis" and "Semper Paratus", respectively. In English, "Semper" translates to; "Forever", "Always", or "Eternally". The second word of the Marine Corps motto translates to "Faithful", or "True (to)". It is a root of the English word "Fidelity". The Coast Guard motto's second word translates to "Prepared", "Ready" or "Equipped".
Anyway, being the "Steam Locomotive NUT" that I am, I wanted a Latin word or phrase that would represent "Steam" locomotives and how "I" feel about them.
But..., obviously, when Latin was the language in vogue there were no Steam Locomotives around to have a word coined to identify them, so I needed some other word that would be well suited to express what a Steam Locomotive was all about (in "my" mind).
I found several words that were "close", but lacked something in deeper meaning or had some "OTHER" problem... to wit:
Fumo = an out-gassing, smoke, or smell... "Semper Fumo" could imply "Forever Smoking", and although I like the visual of a Steam Locomotive blasting out a good plume of smoke as it works its way up a hill, that, today, is not "Environmentally Correct". Besides, the phrase could also be interpreted as "Forever stinking" and that was not what I wanted to say!
Pervaporo = Fog, but implying aroma, smell or to reek. The root is part of the French "parfum" or English "perfume". Although some folks like the smells of coal smoke and hot oil, with my allergies I prefer the pure "steam" sight and sound and to leave the smell out of it. It could also be translated as "Forever Reeking", which, again, is something I would rather not have associated with my railway.
Vapor = Fog, clouds, etc.... "Semper Vapor" could mean "Stuck in the Clouds", which, while quite true about me, is not really something I want to call attention to.
One of the dictionaries tried to guess what I wanted and insisted on changing "Vapor" to "Vapula" and said that it meant "to knock about, beat or flog"... definitely NOT something I want to say in association with "Semper", as I only need THAT periodically.
Vaporatae Nebulae = Cloud like, indistinct... not quite what I wanted. Locomotives are definitely not "nebulous" and although "Semper Vaporatae" could be translated as "forever in steam", it could also be translated as "forever in a fog". Apropos to me maybe, but I would rather not refer to my railway that way.
Vaporifer = Emitting steam, or full of vapors. Close to what I wanted, but I feared the association of being "full of vapors" and any double-entendre that might conjure up.
"Vaporalis" = of, or belonging to, steam. Close, but I belong to God, not steam. In that regard, I might have settled for "Tempora Vaporalis" but then I'd have to explain my theology so that no one would think I am in favor of that accursed Diesel.
Vaporata:= Filled With Steam. This refers to just a static condition, and there are already too many "stuffed and mounted" locomotives in parks and static museums that will forever be in that static condition... I prefer the ones that are in use and I found one other word that implied a more dynamic condition.
Vaporo - Steam "in transition, a warm exhalation, the vapor of breathing, or to infuse with breath/vapor", also associated with the vapor coming from cooking... They didn't really understand the difference between the invisible gas form of H2O at 212 deg. F and the visible result of that gas cooling and condensing to the visible water droplets most people (even today) think of as "steam". (Remember, they believed that all things were made of three elements, Earth, Water and Fire.) At least they seemed to understand the dynamics of the result of boiling water.
The simple translation of "Semper Vaporo" is "Forever Steam", but it is intended to convey the "dynamics" of steam, as in a Railroad Steam Locomotive, and that I want them to be around, and in use, forever.
Mammay76 – I don’t know if that is it. I don’t recall it being any layout in particular. Also, I’m not the one doing the harbor layout, and I do not recall a port being a part of the puzzle. Thanks.
The neat thing is that there are, apparently, many such switching problems that can be built to make a small layout special.
Daboneman – You know? That sounds right! Brakeman on the Quincy Local. I’ll see if a friend may have that issue.
I did try the index, but could not identify the item I was looking for from it. I believe you may have done so for me. Thank you.
Semper Vaporo – Ha! I wasn’t too far off. Just this week, I was looking for my sweatshirt with alma mater’s unofficial logo printed, in Latin, around the seal, Nollite illegitimus contarere vos Of course, I was only wanting to wear it because I had the feeling “they” had succeeded in doing just that.