On a train, Smithe, Robins, and John are the fireman, conductor, and the engineer, but NOT respectively. Also aboard the train are three businessmen who have the same names: a Mr. Smithe, a Mr. Robins, and a Mr. John.

Mr. Robins Lives in New York. The conductor lives exactly halfway between Columbus and New York. Mr. John earns exactly $20,000 per year. The conductor's nearest neighbor, one of the passengers, earns exactly three times as much as the conductor. Smithe beats the fireman in billiards. The passenger whose name is the same as the conductor's lives in Columbus.

Who is the Engineer?

My answer is Smithe

At the beginning the fireman, conductor, and engineer could be any of the three.

There are three cities to live in...New York, Columbus, and halfway in between.  Mr. Robins lives in New York.  The conductor lives halfway between New York and Columbus.  The man with the name of the conductor lives in Columbus, the conductor earns exactly 1/3 of a passenger.  $20,000 isn't exactly three times a number, so Mr. John isn't the conductor's nearest neighbor, and therefore lives in Columbus. 

John is the conductor...Smithe can't be the fireman, since he beats him in billiards, therefore Smithe is the engineer.

Posted by Ro on 2004-08-16 01:43:36