27 replies to this topic

[Tomk]

Very nice attempt rshaffer4444, but the man was not afraid of trains, and was not saved by the nicotine associated calm.

[Tomk]

Clowns are definitely creepy. If there was one on the train - everyone should have been scared. However, the presence or absence of clowns on the train have no bearing on the story.

[terry1966]

the train broke down in very cold remote area, but because he was a smoker he had a lighter so was able to start a fire that kept everyone warm until they were rescued, so saving them from dying of exposure.

[Tomk]

No carbon monoxide poisoning.

No body died.

No bodies life was in danger more than normally experienced when traveling by train. (Or I suppose by smoking).

[oldman960]

Could the condition be claustrophobia ? He was successfully treated for that conditon but the train went through a tunnel causing him to loose his bearings. Except for the light from his lighter he might have walked out an open door. I like terry1966's clown theory.

[Tomk]

Not claustrophobia. His condition (that got corrected by the procedure) was physical. Not mental.

[Sunyata]

The only physical conditions that nicotine can treat (that I found) are tics, Alzheimer's disease, and ulcerative colitis. The only one of these that can be life-threatening in an "incident" is ulcerative colitis. Did having a smoke ward off an attack of ulcerative colitis for our unfortunate train traveler?

[terry1966]

the treatment he had was to cure his blindness, but on the train journey home the lights went out on the train and he thought he couldn't see again so depressing was this thought that he decided to commit suicide after having a last cigarette. when he lit the lighter tho he realised he could see it and hadn't lost his sight again,. so smoking saved his life.

Edited by terry1966, 27 July 2011 - 07:36 PM.

[Tomk]

Ding Ding Ding!

Well done terry1966!

He was so distraught over his blindness, that he was considering suicide when he found out about the new procedure to try. The procedure was successful and he left the hospital being able to see again. On the train ride home, he was just entering the smoking car when the train entered a tunnel. When plunged into sudden darkness, his first thought was that he had lost his sight again. He decided to throw himself from the train but then he realized that he could still see the red glow from the cigarettes and cigars of the other passengers in the smoking car. When another passenger struck a match in order to light his pipe... our "victim" realized for certain that he could still see, and his panic attack was alleviated.

Nice job all!

I didn't have time this week to come up with my own question. I suspect that this "riddle" can be found on the internet because I know I either heard or read it somewhere. I didn't even google it to see. I also suspect that there are multiple versions of it around and it is quite possible that Terry's answer is exactly what "others" have posted and I just remember it wrong.

[terry1966]

i'll see if i can find any on google, i've heard it before too, and when i thought about using the lighter to light a fire, along with your clue

His condition (that got corrected by the procedure) was physical.

it must of jogged my memory and came up with the blindness idea.



yep i found at least 1 using google "smoking riddle man on train" was first in list. so never read any more.

Edited by terry1966, 27 July 2011 - 08:38 PM.

[oldman960]

At least i got the tunnel part right. The rest I was kinda in the dark.

[Sunyata]

Well done Terry1966!

[Jimbo1]

Well I be I would have never thought of that, Well done Terry