Killer on the Orient Express
(Published on 9. December 2022, 19:00 by ThePedallingPianist)
Play on CTC
Normal sudoku rules apply.
Draw a "train" in the grid. The train is a line of orthogonally connected cells that cannot loop or branch, and can touch itself diagonally but not orthogonally. Its "carriages" are 2-cell Killer cages. The first carriage sums to 3, and thereafter each carriage's sum increases by 1 going along the train until the last carriage, which sums to 17.
Cells marked with a grey square are not on the train. A digit in a marked cell, N, indicates that there are exactly N cells on the train in at least one of the same row or column as the marked cell. For example, a 3 in a marked cell could indicate that there are 3 train cells in that column; there can then be any number of train cells in that row, including 3.
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Highlight the text below for some hints!...
Consider general properties of the train, particularly regarding the last 4 cells at either end.
Consider the grid as a chessboard, and how the black and white squares relate to the beginnings and ends of carriages.
Solution code: Row 5, left to right
Comments
on 9. January 2026, 19:13 by Crulamin
Very cool puzzle, had me baffled for quite some time!
on 27. September 2024, 05:03 by isajo4002
Was easy once you made the aha moment
on 14. July 2024, 12:11 by wuc
Brilliant puzzle. What a clever construction. Amazing thx.
on 21. January 2024, 14:11 by marcmees
Very enjoyable. Thanks
on 29. June 2023, 00:04 by oxjphs
Very cool and unique logic, great puzzle!
on 3. January 2023, 23:44 by ThePedallingPianist
Wording of the rules slightly revised.
on 10. December 2022, 01:39 by Elliott810
Brilliant puzzle! Thanks:)
on 10. December 2022, 00:10 by ralphwaldo1
using sudoku helps even early on. good solve
on 10. December 2022, 00:02 by OutOfMyMindBRB
Fun solve - thanks :-)
on 9. December 2022, 22:23 by tryote
Very nice!
