# John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle — Can you hostle? > Classic railroad strategy puzzle game with train switching challenges. (iPhone/iPad app by Scott Lagaly.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-allens-timesaver-puzzle/id1050764647 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Scott Lagaly](https://appshunter.io/developer/392805743) - Category: Games, Puzzle, Strategy - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 4.70/5 from 91 App Store ratings · 35 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 111 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2016-11-26 - Data updated: 2026-07-07 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-allens-timesaver-puzzle/id1050764647/reviews.md ## What is John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle? Train game meets puzzle game in this challenging world of the RG&H Railroad. Enjoy the nostalgia of a model train as you test your puzzle solving skills. This classic strategy puzzle, a favorite in the model railroading world for decades, has been re-imagined for iOS. Just a few examples of what other players are saying about John Allen’s Timesaver Puzzle: • “An excellent puzzle game.” • “Challenges your thinking and logic skills.” • “Great game!” • “I love the game!” • “Totally different from any puzzle game I have ever tried.” In John Allen’s Timesaver Puzzle you will move trains in tight quarters to complete switching orders as you go from town to town. Of course, no job is without its complications and the RG&H Railroad is no exception. Your difficulties grow and the workload increases as you navigate worker strikes, new safety regulations and more. But never fear, our engineer, Slim, will be there to keep you on track and remind you that the clock is ticking. • Pay once and play forever. No in-app purchases! • 100 challenging puzzles, each playable at 4 difficulty levels. • Sync game scores and progress across devices with iCloud. • Enjoy our lively soundtrack or listen to your own music as you play. • Climb leader boards and challenge friends through Game Center. Download John Allen’s Timesaver Puzzle now and see if you have what it takes to be a ‘hostler’! ## Key features - Train switching puzzles - Challenging levels - Difficulty settings - iCloud sync - Leaderboards - Game Center integration ## Chart rankings - #190 in Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store) ## Recent user reviews (10 of 35) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-allens-timesaver-puzzle/id1050764647/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Old app, but it works! *2025-11-16, version 1.0.4* Great app, that gets harder the longer you play. I don’t understand the high scores that seem impossibly fast, but other than that, it’s a great implementation of Allen’s classic puzzle!! ### 5/5 — Fun *2025-07-15, version 1.0.4* A great digital version of John Allen’s Timesaver switching game. I think the Wizard of Monterey would approve . ### 5/5 — Fun *2025-02-15, version 1.0.4* Love the challenge of unsubscribing the puzzles ### 5/5 — good learning opportunity *2025-02-15, version 1.0.4* Optimizing switching operations is what’s learned from the Timesaver . Sidings are short, so strategic moves save time in putting the cars where they need to be. ### 5/5 — Very calming and rewarding app *2024-09-17, version 1.0.4* After getting the hang of how things work with a gentle start the mechanics lend themselves to being thoughtful and calm. Pretty much perfect for me to unwind with. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work on any of my lPads *2024-01-03, version 1.0.4* Nice program but only works on my iPhones. But my iPhone screen is to small. I want to use it on one of my iPads but it crashes after I go through the training yard. I have tried it on 2 of my iPads, one is an original 9” running ios 9.4 and another is my 12.9” Pro running ios 17.??? ### 5/5 — All aboard *2023-12-18, version 1.0.4* Neat little game for those who want to challenge themselves. Not as easy as you think. Love it. Hope there’s another version with more tracks ### 5/5 — Great puzzle game for train lovers! *2023-10-19, version 1.0.4* Lots of fun, and you can play levels over to look for more efficient ways to improve your time. A must for any train lover, especially modellers. ### 1/5 — Stopped working *2023-10-18, version 1.0.4* Cannot uncouple cars any more. Bug? ### 5/5 — Nice switching puzzle *2023-09-15, version 1.0.4* Really nice app which is a good switching puzzle for Railroad fans. The only thing I would like to change would be to allow manual operation of the turnouts so that it’s even immersive and realistic. ## Frequently asked questions about John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle ### What is John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle? It's a classic strategy puzzle game that combines train simulation with logic challenges. Players must move trains in tight spaces to complete switching orders, progressing through towns and facing increasing difficulties. ### What are the key features of this game? The game offers 100 challenging puzzles, each with four difficulty levels. It also features iCloud syncing for progress across devices, Game Center integration for leaderboards and challenges, and a choice between the game's soundtrack or your own music. ### How much does John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle cost? This is a paid application, meaning you purchase it once to play forever. There are no in-app purchases or ads, ensuring an uninterrupted gaming experience. ### What kind of challenges can I expect in the game? You'll encounter various complications as you advance, including worker strikes and new safety regulations, which increase the difficulty and workload. The game is designed to test your thinking and logic skills. ### Is this game available on multiple devices? Yes, the game supports iCloud syncing, allowing you to sync your game scores and progress across different devices. This ensures you can continue your game wherever you are. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.0.4 — 2018-02-02 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. * Fixed an issue that was causing the app to crash in Potter Valley for a few users * Improved the transition from Timesaver Lite to the full version * Serviced the engine and checked the tracks while we were in there If you are enjoying John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle please consider giving us a 5 star rating and writing a review in the App Store. This helps us let other players know about the game and makes us feel warm fuzzies. Thanks and keep hostling! ### 1.0.3 — 2017-07-31 * The Meadowgate crew house has been relocated to a more convenient location. * Made improvements touch detection Thank you for the feedback, keep it coming! ### 1.0.2 — 2017-02-27 Did a little behind the scenes maintenance as we continue to work on improving Timesaver for you. If you have any questions, suggestions or feedback please contact us through our support link. We want to hear from you! Hostle on! ### 1.0.1 — 2016-11-30 Fumigating bugs at the RG&H Railway Crew house. ### 1.0 — 2016-11-26 No release notes. ## Apps similar to John Allen's Timesaver Puzzle | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Railway Canyon](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railway-canyon/id1510918969) | 3.8 (24) | $1.99 | Games | | [Gift Grab Express](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gift-grab-express/id1447133112) | 4.8 (6) | Free | Games | ## More apps by Scott Lagaly - [Reciprocity](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reciprocity/id392805740) - [John Allen's Timesaver Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/john-allens-timesaver-lite/id1162009059) All apps by Scott Lagaly: https://appshunter.io/developer/392805743 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-07.*