FREE STATION LOGIC PUZZLE
Four platforms.
One missing board.
The departure board has gone dark. Four trains are waiting, and the station clerk has only four notes. Can you restore the timetable?
Play on your own or work together. All the information you need is below; no railway knowledge, signup or purchase is required.
Your departure board
Each platform has exactly one train. Each destination and departure time is used once.
- Platforms
- 1, 2, 3, 4
- Destinations
- Alder Quay, Birch Halt, Cinder Bay, Dover Lane
- Departures
- 18:10, 18:20, 18:30, 18:40
| Platform | Destination | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | __________ | ______ |
| 2 | __________ | ______ |
| 3 | __________ | ______ |
| 4 | __________ | ______ |
Four notes from the clerk
- The Alder Quay train is the last to leave.
- The Cinder Bay train leaves exactly 20 minutes after the Dover Lane train.
- The train on platform 4 leaves exactly 10 minutes before the Alder Quay train.
- The train on platform 1 leaves after the train on platform 3, but before the train on platform 4.
Your final code: write the platform numbers for Alder Quay, Birch Halt, Cinder Bay, Dover Lane, in that order.
A nudge, only if you need one
Hint 1 · Start with the destinations
Alder Quay takes the final time, 18:40. Which pair of the remaining times is exactly 20 minutes apart?
Hint 2 · Put the platforms in order
Platform 4 leaves at 18:30. There must be a time before it for platform 1, and an even earlier time for platform 3.
Reveal the answer and reasoning
The code is 2143.
| Platform | Destination | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birch Halt | 18:20 |
| 2 | Alder Quay | 18:40 |
| 3 | Dover Lane | 18:10 |
| 4 | Cinder Bay | 18:30 |
Alder Quay leaves at 18:40. That leaves only 18:10 and 18:30 for Dover Lane and Cinder Bay, respectively, so Birch Halt takes 18:20. Platform 4 leaves at 18:30. Platforms 3 and 1 must therefore leave at 18:10 and 18:20. Platform 2 takes the last train, Alder Quay.
Reading the platform numbers in the requested destination order gives 2, 1, 4, 3.
Make it a puzzle break for two
One person can read the notes while the other sketches the board. Say why a placement must be true before writing it down. If you get stuck, open one hint together and leave the answer closed.
Prefer paper? Copy the four-row board onto a sheet, or print this page with the hints closed.
READY FOR ANOTHER CASE?
The Last Signal
A separate, printable six-puzzle mystery for two players or solo. Follow the clues at Bellweather station to find a six-digit signal code. Includes four PDFs in A4 and US Letter, plus a complete ZIP. Intended as a light puzzle break for ages 14+.
This free puzzle is a standalone introduction; it is not one of the six puzzles in the paid pack.
See the complete pack · US$2.99Read the paid pack's free sampleAn original Launchroom puzzle. Personal use. You may share a link to this page.