How Train Tracks Puzzles Work

Summary:
Train Tracks (also called Rails) is a logic puzzle where you draw one continuous train track across a grid using row and column number clues. This tutorial explains the goal, the rules, and how to start solving.

Overview

In a Train Tracks puzzle you lay a single train line that enters from the left column and exits at the bottom row. The numbers around the grid tell you how much track goes in each row and column, and every puzzle has exactly one solution.

The Goal

Draw one continuous track that enters from the left column and exits at the bottom row. It is a single line that never crosses itself and never branches, and each cell holds at most one track piece. The track may run alongside itself in neighbouring cells — that is allowed; only crossing and branching are not.

The Pieces

Every cell is either empty or holds one track piece. There are six pieces: two straights and four curves. Each piece joins exactly two edges of its cell, and track only continues where two pieces meet edge to edge.

The Clues

The number beside each row says how many cells in that row contain track.
The number above each column says the same for that column.
The entry piece (left column) and the exit piece (bottom row) are always shown, so you always know where the track begins and ends.
Some interior cells may also show a track piece. These are givens, and your solution must use them.

How to Start Solving

Start from the printed pieces and the fixed entry (left column) and exit (bottom row) points.
Use the extreme counts first: a clue of 0 means that whole row or column stays empty, and a clue equal to the line’s length means every cell in it carries track. These are your free moves.
Then use tighter counts: a row whose clue equals its remaining empty cells must fill them all.
Follow connections: a piece pointing into a neighbour forces a matching piece there, so the track grows one forced cell at a time.
Avoid loops and crossings; there is only one continuous line, so never close a loop or strand a dead end.
Keep applying the counts until every row and column matches its number.

Two Difficulty Styles

Every Puzzle Maker Pro Train Tracks puzzle has exactly one solution. How you reach it depends on how the puzzle was made:

Guess-free (the default). The board gives you enough to solve it by pure logic — no trial and error. This is how Easy through Expert puzzles play unless the creator chooses otherwise.
Allow guessing (harder). The creator can reveal the fewest possible hints. The solution is still unique, but getting there may take a “what-if” guess and a short look-ahead. Look for these on the toughest Expert boards.

Outcome

You now understand the goal, the pieces, the clues, and the first solving moves. Ready to make your own? See How to Create Train Tracks Puzzles in Puzzle Maker Pro.