Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register

Online Switching Puzzle!

4403 views
31 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
12
verheyen
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: Syracuse, NY, USA
  • 75 posts
Posted by verheyen on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 8:45 AM
When we debuted our switching puzzle at a recent European Train Enthusiasts (ETE) meeting, it was hilarious to watch. Ferroequinologists had the hardest time with the basic puzzle concepts - how do I create a train "x" out of the cars available... Operation was easier. Non ferroequinologists did much better on the concepts, but had to get a sense for operating the trains.

We have our public puzzle debute at the Finger Lakes Rail Fair in Ithaca, April 23-24. It'll be fun to see how it goes there.

You can see pictures of the puzzle at http://www.philobiblon.com/eisenbahn/puzzle.shtml. We also wrote an article for an upcoming issue of their newsletter which is online at http://www.philobiblon.com/eisenbahn/puzzle_article.shtml. That also features links to other puzzle games and is still being added to.

Peter

-|----|- Peter D. Verheyen
-|----|- verheyen@philobiblon.com
-|----|- http://www.philobiblon.com/eisenbahn
-|----|- http://papphausen.blogspot.com/
-|----|- http://www.youtube.com/user/papphausen2

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 27, 2005 8:37 PM
Very nice!

Actually, I ran into this because I am looking to built just such a puzzle. Google can be quite handy.

Well, it took me a little more than 5 minutes. :(

Oh, and no hints from me either! :)
Report Abuse Back to Top
doanster
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 53 posts
Posted by doanster on Saturday, March 26, 2005 4:28 AM
***SPOILER ALERT*** (don't read if u dont want the answer)

of course i won't give away the solution...
but what i did was park the yellow loco on the left track (not siding) and got the blue loco on the right hand side. then its just a matter of doing the same thing several times one by one to couple the yellow cars to the yellow loco and repeating with the blue loco :D :D
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 26, 2005 2:05 AM
Thanx for the hints, after stumbling for ten minutes I feel kinda dumb...
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 26, 2005 1:54 AM


I still cannot work it out (The puzzle with the 3 cars)

[V]


I solved the puzzle with 2 cars[8D]

Pavariangoo
Report Abuse Back to Top
cmurray
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Napanee, Ontario, Canada
  • 247 posts
Posted by cmurray on Friday, March 25, 2005 8:54 PM
My son, 23, and daughter, 21, neither of whom is a model railroader, both solved it in about 3 minutes! [(-D] [(-D] [(-D]

I don't mean to gloat; I just think it's humorous!

Colin ---------- There's just no end to cabooseless trains.

My PhotoBucket album: http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c390/CN4008/

My RailImages album: http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4049

My web site: http://www.cmgraphics.ca

Report Abuse Back to Top
soumodeler
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Georgia
  • 486 posts
Posted by soumodeler on Thursday, March 24, 2005 6:17 AM
I got it in about three minutes too.

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!
http://www.trainweb.org/mgr
soumodeler --------------- The Southern Serves the South!
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 24, 2005 5:47 AM
Hi

After 2 nights i finnally got it.

Now to work on the puzzle with 3 cars.

Many thanks

kristian

[:)].....woops I mean Pavariangoo!
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:23 PM
pretty easy...
Report Abuse Back to Top
darkstar974
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Youngstown, Ohio
  • 102 posts
Posted by darkstar974 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 8:10 PM
I got it done in about three minutes pretty cool puzzle

Dark
trains, trains, trains I love trains
Report Abuse Back to Top
medic_149
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: madison, Al
  • 151 posts
Posted by medic_149 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 7:16 PM
very cool puzzle. Gives some insight to switching thoughts long before building a switching yard. Makes you think seriously about planning ahead when building a switching spur..medic
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 3:42 PM
got it in about two minutes. Sorry: no hints here.
Report Abuse Back to Top
tstage
Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 3:02 PM
For those of you who are still struggling with it, here's a hint: Start by disconnecting one of the locomotives and parking it in the opposite siding.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

Report Abuse Back to Top
SpaceMouse
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 2:50 PM
Same solution--couple more moves.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 2:21 PM
Here's the link to the same puzzle with three cars each:
http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~ishmnn/java/trainpuzzle2.html

Wayne
Report Abuse Back to Top
trainboyH16-44
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Mile 7.5 Laggan Sub., Great White North
  • 4,201 posts
Posted by trainboyH16-44 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 2:17 PM
I'm so confused![:(] Please somebody e-mail me the answer!
Trainboy

Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296

Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

Report Abuse Back to Top
randybc2003
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 342 posts
Posted by randybc2003 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 1:19 PM
Think "saw-by" and "shuffle" [:D][:D][:D]
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 10:40 AM
Nice puzzle, very do-able. Simon's hint seems to have been in error on my browser, both sides are exactly the same.

Wayne
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 10:01 AM
Neat little puzzle.
Report Abuse Back to Top
IRONROOSTER
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:20 AM
That was fun, not too difficult. I won't give you a hint other than to play around with it. See what you can do first without worrying about how to solve the puzzle.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 9:07 AM
well that was easy, now give me a complex one.

Hint: the trains can be joined.
Report Abuse Back to Top
scole100
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 131 posts
Posted by scole100 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 8:44 AM
An 0-5-0 is another way of saying that you use your hand to lift and sort cars.
Report Abuse Back to Top
SpaceMouse
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 8:14 AM
Sorry, guys this newbee got it. Takes a little thinking outside the box.

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

Report Abuse Back to Top
ksax73
  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 204 posts
Posted by ksax73 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 8:08 AM
I did it.

The section between the sidings are key.

~Kyle

The Mary Lindsay Railroad - Featuring Amtrak Model Trains
Your HO Rail Journey Starts Here......... 

 www.marylindsayrr.vze.com (Last Update: 5/31/12)

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 7:23 AM
Oh i am soooooooooooooooooooooo embarresed. I still dont know how to do it.[:(!]
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 7:11 AM
What do you mean?
Report Abuse Back to Top
simon1966
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 7:04 AM
I did it......

Hint. You can fit 3 on the left beyond the siding, but not on the right

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 6:51 AM
please do give a hint and what do you mean by the 050?
Report Abuse Back to Top
Green Bay Paddlers
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Green Bay, WI
  • 197 posts
Posted by Green Bay Paddlers on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 6:36 AM
I gave up once I realized that I can't hook cars using the front of the engine. This one is a stumper....

Report Abuse Back to Top
12

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up
        See inside the current issue of Model Railroader Magazine

        Renew
        Digital Editions
        Give a Gift
        Customer Service
        Kalmbach Media
        More great sites from Kalmbach Media: