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The TOPS Maths Game from @Western 52
This is a game involving mathematical operations performed on locomotive numbers. The concept is quite easy: each player uses the answer to the previous post to create a new calculation. Calculations can be an simple or as complex as you want, but there is one important restriction – all the numbers used have to be locomotive numbers in the TOPS 5-digit series, used since 1973. Some rules are set out below, but first some examples to illustrate how this works.
Say the previous player’s calculation gave loco number 25020.
The next player decides to simply add this loco number to itself to get 25020 + 25020 = 50040.
The third player then takes their turn starting with 50040. This player then decides to calculate 50040 + 27010 – 01001 = 76049.
And on it goes….
Here are some rules for the game:-
Good luck!
This is a game involving mathematical operations performed on locomotive numbers. The concept is quite easy: each player uses the answer to the previous post to create a new calculation. Calculations can be an simple or as complex as you want, but there is one important restriction – all the numbers used have to be locomotive numbers in the TOPS 5-digit series, used since 1973. Some rules are set out below, but first some examples to illustrate how this works.
Say the previous player’s calculation gave loco number 25020.
The next player decides to simply add this loco number to itself to get 25020 + 25020 = 50040.
The third player then takes their turn starting with 50040. This player then decides to calculate 50040 + 27010 – 01001 = 76049.
And on it goes….
Here are some rules for the game:-
- Each calculation must use the answer to the previous player’s calculation at least once.
- All numbers used in calculations, and as the results of calculations, must be locomotive numbers which have existed at any time since 1973 to the present day within the current 5-digit numbering system. They must have been carried on a locomotive at some time.
- Both diesel and electric locomotive numbers can be used, but no numbers from any other rolling stock or multiple-units. Numbers allocated to main line steam locomotives cannot be used.
- Departmental locomotive numbers cannot be used.
- Many locomotives were renumbered from the previous D and E series some time after 1973, and these numbers cannot be used in this game, but with two exceptions. The Class 35 and Class 52 locomotives lasted beyond 1973 in service but were never renumbered in the TOPS series. Therefore – Class 35 (numbers 7000 to 7100) and Class 52 (numbers 1000 to 1073) can be used. Don’t worry about the Class 35s that were withdrawn prior to 1973, you can use the whole class.
- For shunter classes with numbers that start with a leading “0”, the full number needs to be shown, as in the example above.
- Full numerical calculations must be shown.
- You can use any mathematical operations that you desire, as long as your workings are clear to other players and are correct.
- As new locomotive numbers are added, they can be used in this game, but numbers allocated for future builds, conversions or re-numberings cannot be until the locomotive concerned is actually built and is on the UK national network carrying the relevant number.
- You can repeat a loco number in a calculation if you need to, as in the example above.
- You can also use two or more numbers which refer to the same physical locomotive, such as where a loco has carried two or more numbers in its lifetime. Note rule 2 though – they can’t be previous D or E series numbers apart from classes 35 and 52.
- Numbers carried by locomotives for temporary periods can be used, as long as they are 5-digit TOPS style numbers.
- Players can challenge the calculations made by other players if they think they are wrong in some way, such as incorrect calculation or use of numbers never carried by any locomotive. Where challenges are successful, the player making the error will then be able to play again to correct the error before the game continues normally.
Good luck!
56133 - 08954 - Hymek 7057* = 40122**