A RAILROAD PUZZLE.
Reading edition
BY THE DOCTOR
Dear "Young People,"—Not many days ago I was travelling on a railroad, and here is what happened. The train on which I was riding came to a stand-still out in the country, away from any dépôt. On looking out to ascertain why we had stopped, I saw a long freight train just ahead of us on the same track, standing still, but headed toward us. In other words, we were going down the track, and they were coming up. Between these two trains there was a switch, on which stood a "gravel train." The engine of the "gravel train" was off the track, and so could not back up on the switch, and give room enough for our train to get on and let the freight train go by. In fact, there was only room enough on the switch to accommodate half of our train. The question was, How were we to get past each other?
Of course one of the trains could be backed up to a switch at the nearest dépôt, and let the other by, but that was some miles away. Neither did we wish to wait until the engine of the "gravel train" could be put upon the track, and then back up to give us room on the switch at hand. One or the other of these things would have to be done if some method were not known by means of which—and the little piece of unoccupied switch—we could accomplish our desire.
We did get past each other, occupying only twelve minutes, leaving the cars of each train in the same order in which they stood when we met. I give this to you for a puzzle. If any of you have fathers who are railroad men, they must not tell you how until you have tried a long time yourself. I give a little sketch, which you may use if it will make things any plainer. The freight train was about three times as long as the passenger train. From the beginning of the switch to the engine D there is room for not more than half of the passenger train; so if you think that will help you any, you are at liberty to use it.
A is the passenger train, going down. B is the freight train, going up. C is the "gravel train," on the switch. D is the engine of the "gravel train," off the track.
