Well, I never said I was a switching genius, and I never worked for a real railroad, but somehow I find this little game fascinating. Sometimes when I feel like relaxing for a few minutes and not necessarily working on the layout, I’ve been fooling around with Max’s John Allen Timesaver (http://roodvmax.home.xs4all.nl/) …these are my best times so far, which I’m sure are pretty pathetic compared to what a lot of guys and girls could do (I’m seriously considering concealing a timesaver on my layout in my freight yard, because I like hands-on stuff better than computer simulations, but this is really cool):
Problem #1. 1:16, 8 moves
#2. 3:29, 26x
#3. 4:00, 27x
#4. 3:31, 24x
#5 5:13, 32x
#6 6:51, 51x
#7 5:09, 38x
#8 10:39, 67x
#9 7:32, 46x
#10 9:59, 76x
#11 10:22, 67x
Well I’m not turning any times like that but it is addictive…
I find that my move count is high because after running off the end a few times, I stop too soon and have to bump it a bit.
I’ve not been brave enough to go over 9 cars.
Great fun
Thanx
Bob
You must be a brave man to try all the tasks that are included - I guess it’s time for an update to include even more… [:)] Have you tried the Editor yet and try to create your own tasks ?
Before you do read this article ; I find it rather amusing… [:D]
It makes me very happy to read about the fun you’re having with my little game…
Cheers,
Max.
Not a bad read. I love how the rule stops the loco from crossing the linked layouts.
I especially like the two color track plans as I have been collecting ideas for small switching operations for a while. Geez …I am tempted to slap one of these together just to muddle around on when I have models to pass my time. I am pretty sure I can pick up an old box of Lima or Atlas set track points off eBay pretty cheap. I’m sure having the “Y” isn’t important. As long as the staging limits are the same.
[Y] [B] [I]
Hiya Max…it’s been ten years and I’m still plyaing timesaver now and then, even my son likes it STILL.
How have you been man?
To me, it’s not how “quick” you solve the switching problem, but how many “moves” you can solve it in. The fewer the better!
Dan