# Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Let's do it again! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 23, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193 "2019-10-23T21:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 98
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1941 "2020-01-28T17:57:55Z")
\*\*A woman puts some work equipment onto the local train to deliver to a co-worker at another job site. While the train is one of the fastest ever built, it takes the equipment over an hour to arrive. It was a short distance, left on time, and made no other steps. What is going on? \*\* > [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Is the route distance relevant? > > Not really. NO > > Was the equipment loaded correctly? (Anchored down, strapped, etc.) > > YES > > Did the equipment arrive the same time as the train? > > YES > > Was there more than one trip? > > NO > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was the train on a barge? > > NO > > So, I work in Bayonne, NJ and looked out the window while waiting for a meeting to start when I noticed some train cars being barged across the bay. > “Well, that’s not something you see everyday.” says I > “You mean, the rail barge that takes rail cars from Brooklyn to Jersey City? The one that runs every single day?” says my coworker. > “Yes, that’s the one.” ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1942 "2020-01-28T18:41:51Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was it being transported by another vehicle? > > YES…but also NO I think this might be a key point. It was being transported by another vehicle, (not a barge) but also wasn’t. Any ideas where we go from there? ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1943 "2020-01-28T18:50:08Z")
I thought it may have been pulled by animals, so it was yet wasn’t transported by another vehicle… but no. So what else can move a train but it’s not really a vehicle? Aircraft? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1944 "2020-01-28T18:52:55Z")
Was the train in disrepair? Did it have to be towed? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1945 "2020-01-28T19:00:51Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Aircraft? NO ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1946 "2020-01-28T19:01:58Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Was the train in disrepair? > Did it have to be towed? NO to both. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1947 "2020-01-28T19:12:01Z")
Was the train traveling at or near its maximum speed (\>100mph) during the trip? Did it maintain this speed during most of the hour+ length of the trip? Did the train travel over 100 miles during the trip? Is the train prevented from traveling its maximum speed by the presence of the cargo? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1948 "2020-01-28T20:22:49Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was the train traveling at or near its maximum speed (\>100mph) during the trip? > > YES and NO > > Did it maintain this speed during most of the hour+ length of the trip? > > YES and NO > > Did the train travel over 100 miles during the trip? > > YES and NO > > Is the train prevented from traveling its maximum speed by the presence of the cargo? > > NO kk ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1949 "2020-01-28T20:25:59Z")
Did the train accelerate and decelerate very slowly? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1950 "2020-01-28T20:39:21Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Did the train accelerate and decelerate very slowly? NO(in my opinion, anyway) ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1951 "2020-01-28T20:53:51Z")
Was the train on a treadmill? What? I’ve nothing left here. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1952 "2020-01-28T21:26:24Z")
Did the train spend a significant part of that hour stopped? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1953 "2020-01-28T22:13:09Z")
> [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser](#): > > Was the train on a treadmill? > > NO > > What? I’ve nothing left here. Keep going, you guys have made some headway. It’s a puzzle I wasn’t too confident when I posted it, but I have to admit, it really is a good lateral thinking puzzle because you have to think laterally to get it. > [@Chronos](#): > > Did the train spend a significant part of that hour stopped? No, moved the entire time towards its destination. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1954 "2020-01-28T22:18:13Z")
Are “the train” and “the local train” referring to the same train? Is the work equipment train related? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1955 "2020-01-28T22:28:18Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Are “the train” and “the local train” referring to the same train? > > YES > > Is the work equipment train related? > > NO yep ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1956 "2020-01-28T22:42:20Z")
As you guys have shared your thoughts, I have seem some good thoughts that you could pursue more to get towards the answer. We just need that little “flip” to happen where you start figuring it out. Note: The above has no clues. I just re-read it and it could be analyzed to have clues in it. It doesn’t, it’s just my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1957 "2020-01-28T22:46:19Z")
Was the equipment on the train for the whole journey, other than routine loading and unloading? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1958 "2020-01-28T22:52:56Z")
Did the train disconnect the cars with the equipment and let them travel separately? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1959 "2020-01-28T22:59:43Z")
> [@larry borgia](#): > > was the equipment on the train for the whole journey, other than routine loading and unloading? yes > [@cheesesteak](#): > > did the train disconnect the cars with the equipment and let them travel separately? no ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/1960 "2020-01-28T23:05:08Z")
Is the “woman” a human female? Is she based a real person? Is her identity relevant? The equipment is for some sort of work. Her work? Is knowing what the equipment is used for relevant? By “local train” you mean the train in the place the woman was living then? Is the fact that it’s “local” relevant? Is the co-worker’s identity relevant? The train is one of the fastest ever built, but when was it built? Before 1900? Before 1920? Before 1950? Before 1979? Before 2000? After 2000? “Short distance” means… More than a mile? More than ten miles? More than 100 miles? More than 500 miles? By “left on time” you mean the train departed at the right time the right day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=97) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=99)