Kevin have you though about the double timesaver? If I recall correctly John Allen had a pair (or more) of timesavers which he would push together. He then put an engine on each timesaver and the engines then interchanged with each other. This could be useful if you wish to consider connecting the timesaver to the rest of the layout.
That said I’m saying you should nessearily connect the timesaver to the layout, I would as I like to see the way cars move across the distance of the entire layout and I like how cars can be interchanged from train to train. Still you may not be that type of person, so leave it as you’ve planned!
Good Luck either way!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
Doughless Its a puzzle. Trying to move multiple cars to multiple destinations in the least amount of time....or least number of moves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mtAqlOhUoY
Its a puzzle. Trying to move multiple cars to multiple destinations in the least amount of time....or least number of moves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mtAqlOhUoY
LOL. I gave up watching the video at 2:36. It provides a good argument against yard operations.
Alton Junction
I am surprised I have never seen a LEGO Timesaver at a train show. Nearly all the good sized shows in Florida and Georgia have a LEGO group participating.
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-Kevin
Living the dream.
My adult son is a huge fan of LEGOs. We just bought the track and switches for a LEGO timesaver. Turns out to be about 11 feet long. Going to to put it along a wall in a second floor loft. That area could have made a nice scale ISL, but I have to admit the LEGO trains are kind of fun. The scale prototype modeler in me cringes when I say that, lol.
Ray
They key to the Timesaver (and other switchign puzzle plans) is that the tracks can only hold the exact number of cars. So long as you maintain that, it doesn't matter what track you use, and the shorter cars can easily negotiate smaller turnouts.
I used to have a DOS game that was a Timesaver. COuld play as much as I wanted, with no space used.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
- Douglas
UNCLEBUTCHPerhaps I just don't understand the idea. All the tracks dead end, where do the cars come from,where do they go ? How will you decide what to move where ? Why?
John Allen's Timesaver is a switching puzzle. Each track can only hold a certain number of cars.
Normally, from what I understand, it is run with one locomotive and five freight cars. You use whatever method you like to decide where each of the cars needs to move to, then you try to spot the cars in the correct location as quickly as possible.
Nothing ever comes or goes from the Timesaver, it just keeps moving around.
They are great fun, and the basic rules of a Timesaver have been around for 50+ years.
Perhaps I just don't understand the idea.
All the tracks dead end, where do the cars come from,where do they go ?
How will you decide what to move where ? Why?
I need some input from people that have built versions of John Allen’s classic Timesaver switching puzzle.
My next layout will incorporate this classic as a completely separate element in the town of Centerville. This will be on a hinged section that covers the four curved tracks that go into staging.
The intention is to use three wye turnouts in the locations indicated to reduce the overall length of the Timesaver. I think I have the track capacities correct for each location, and I also believe I have the track relationships correct even though I am going to use a different style turnout that normal.
This will only ever see 36-40 foot long freight cars and an SW-7, NW-2, or S2 switcher, so the tight turnouts should never be a problem.
I am going to scenic the Timesaver with industrial buildings to provide a reason to spot the cars.
Since this will be a hinged section to provide access to the hidden trackage below, all the Tortoise Switch Machines will be inside of the buildings and the linkage run underneath the subroadbed to the throw bars on each of the turnouts.
I am hoping the whole module will be less that 48 inches long. I have not yet mocked it up to verify this.
Please let me know your thoughts, and especially if I am making a big mistake that is not obvious to me.