Fouling the signal

Greg,

Is there a specific reason you can't leave the train east of the signal before you make the first move?

Or better yet, what is the reason for not being able to move past the signal?

I think many people will get confused with W to the right, and E to the left. Maybe in the future it would be wise to change the direction to reflect what people commonly think of W/E on a map instead of railroad W/E?

Is the signal a WBCS or an EBCS? I'm kind of confused at what the signal is protecting.

My lazy switchman (meaning he is actually pretty good, but hates to walk) wants to cut the inbound train off parrellel to the stuff at the Feed Mill, and go light engine in. That way he still has the block, and can make it in even less moves.

In Puzzle 1, shouldn't the cars to be spotted labled A1 and B1? That's what you have spotted at the end?

Following the prototype

Craig

This is based on prototype practices and location the signal protects the beginning of CTC limits. We had to clear the signal complexity so that the DS could relign the mainline switch around the corner as this is part of a wye.  In order to stop between signals we would have to get permission and 99.9% of the time they would tell us no. We also had to clear the signal anyways as we would shove back to the yard. 

You are also correct B1 should be A1 good catch.

Corrected.

The April issue has been corrected.

Where are the bonus materials?

I can't get the link to the solution to the first problem to go anywhere but "Page not found...".

Fixed

All the squaking aside I

All the squaking aside I really enjoyed the switching puzzle, and that is not meant to belittle those that found the errors, I just did what they meant not what was printed. I always enjoy those puzzles and find them one of the most enjoyable parts of a magazine. I sure hope there are enough of them available to keep several going for a while. Lots of great work this month, It is nice to have an issue of a magazine that feels like a joy to read and is not something one is finished with too quickly. A big thanks to you Joe and to your contributors for helping to produce such a great magazine!

I have a few more up my sleeve

I have already submitted another one and have about 6 or 7 I am working on. ( trying to submit one a month)

I can always look for more prototypes from my experiecne, but was thinking of taking suggestions from the readership, i.e. using examples that people have found or maybe even have on their layout that they would like "a railroaders opionion." (Discaimer: there are many ways to switch a location, it would be the way I would do it) I also have a good friend Barry who has some locations he has told me about that I would like to illustrate. 

What do you guys think?

Joe?

The Signal is a McGuffin

The signal is a McGuffin. 
Holding the interlocking and using permission by the stop or restricting, I accomplished puzzle 1 in 6 moves.  Puzzle 2 & 3 took 10.

If you never clear the signal...

16 spots, 2 tracks

Difficult...

I love these...

These are my favorite thing in the magazine, and I'm glad to see another. Looking forward to many more. I would love to see more prototype info included, such as why the cars are where they are, and why they are being moved the way they are. 

Randy