Crime scene: 162 mystery solving puzzles to find out who the murderer is

Chapter 43 The Mystery of the Vanishing Truck
This is the kind of whimsical case that is hard to believe.A carriage containing world-famous paintings exhibited in the exhibition hall quietly disappeared from a moving freight train.Moreover, that carriage was hung in the middle of the train.

When the truck departed from Upton at [-] o'clock in the evening, the famous painting was still on the truck, and there was no abnormality.But at the next stop, Newberry Station, only the carriage containing the famous painting was missing.On the way, the train didn't stop once, but... Although there is a branch line between Appleton and Newberry, it is only used for the summer tourist season and is generally not used.

The next day, the disappearing carriage was found on that branch line, but the famous paintings had been looted.It is unbelievable how the car hanging in the middle of the train would be uncoupled from the running train and run to that branch line?For this strange case, the police have no clues and are helpless.

In this case, the famous detective Hassle came out.He searched on foot between the two stations along the railway line, paying particular attention to the switch on the branch line.The switch was rusted, but traces of oiling on the tires were found. "As expected. Someone has touched it near here." He took a photo of the fingerprint on the switch, and asked his friends from the Metropolitan Police Department to help identify it. After that, he learned that it was the fingerprint of Alai, who had a previous record of robbing a train.So, Hassel found out Alai's hiding place and went alone.

"Alai, hurry up and take out the painting stolen from the train."

"That's unreasonable. What evidence do you have that I'm a criminal?"

"Your fingerprints are on the switch. Of course, you are not the only criminal. There should be at least two other criminals. Otherwise, the truck will not be unloaded so easily." Hassell exposed Alai's The gang's modus operandi.

So, what method did they use to remove a carriage from a moving train?
[Answer] Divide the three criminals into A, B, and C, and set the truck that was taken off as X. A and B sneak into the train, and C waits at the switch of the branch line switch.As soon as the train departs from Appleton, A and B tie a thick rope to the connectors of the two cars at the front and rear of wagon X.The rope is wound to the outside of the X, on the opposite side to the branch line.When the train approaches the branch line, the connectors on the front and rear carriages of the X are opened.Even if it is opened, the rope is connected, so the front and rear compartments will not be separated, and it will continue to move forward.

The moment the side wheels of the front and rear carriages of C and X stepped on the intersection point while waiting on the branch line, the switch was quickly switched.In this way, X slides on the branch line.Instead of waiting for the wheels of the rear compartment of the X to step on the handover point, return the switch switch to its position.In this way, the carriage behind is pulled on the main line by the thick rope.

Soon, as the train approached Newberry Station, the speed slowed down, and the rear car pulled by the rope would catch up with the front car due to inertia.At this time, criminals A and B close the connector again, unload the slack rope, jump off the train and escape.On the other hand, the truck X that slipped into the branch line will automatically stop after walking for a while, and criminals can easily steal all the famous paintings on it.

(End of this chapter)