Loco Motive: Part Three Walkthrough

Part Two of Loco Motive ends on something of a cliffhanger. After the reading of Lady Unterwald's will - finally - we get punted back in time and into the shoes of Herman Merman, a novelist who seems to talk a big game but not really deliver any of the goods.

Part Three deals with Herman's story - why he's on the Reuss Express, his chaotic actions, and how he's responsible for some of the puzzles that poor Arthur had to endure in the previous parts. The difficulty ramps up a bit here, so we're on hand to deliver you from frustration and provide all the answers.

How To Disable The Board

After watching the cutscenes, you'll be in control of Herman Merman at his publishers' office. The goal here is to get Herman's manuscript accepted by the publishers, but the AI-powered board is currently standing in your way.

To start with, pick up a paper cup from the water cooler in the background. Pouring this water into the board's slot won't do any harm to it, but it's worth a try. If you do this, refill the paper cup with the water cooler.

On the right side of the office, pick up the Herman Merman doll on the window sill and a handful of packaging popcorn from the box on the ground.

Place some popcorn on the window sill under the pigeon and walk away from it. This will cause the pigeon to swoop down and distract the publishers - use this opportunity to grab the stationary pot from the table. You'll have to do this when the right-hand publisher has stood up to shoo away the pigeon.

Use the letter opener with the Herman Merman doll to get some sawdust, and then combine this sawdust with the paper cup filled with water. The result will be a cup of paste.

Pour the cup of paste into the board's slot. This will break the board, forcing the publishers to actually read the manuscripts placed in front of them.

How To Get Herman's Manuscript Accepted

Since we know Herman's manuscript isn't fantastic, we'll need to make it better. You can find out what each publisher actually wants in a manuscript by talking to them individually, but this isn't necessary.

Pick up the manuscripts found in the bin and the in-tray. The one from the in-tray is packaged - use the letter opener on it to reveal that it's Dirk Chiselton's manuscript.

With all three manuscripts in your inventory, take a peek at the in-tray to get a closeup. Place the manuscripts on the top tray in the following order:

• Herman's adventure manuscript.
• The romance manuscript from the waste bin.
• Dirk Chiselton's manuscript.

The publishers will only read the parts of the completed compilation that they enjoy, thus accepting the manuscript.

Success will secure you some progress, and you'll end up on the Reuss Express.

Following Mr. Liu

After the scenes, you can talk to Lady Unterwald if you like, but to progress, leave the room - you're tasked with following Mr. Liu to see what he's up to.

After the scene with Arista and the twins, head to the Lounge Carriage on the left to see Mr. Liu entering a backstage area.

How To Get Backstage

Talk to the stage manager here and learn that you'll need to be 'on the list' to gain access to the backstage area. You'll also need to pass a little quiz.

To the left of the band on stage, you can find a set list. Steal the set list and examine it in your inventory - you'll learn the band's name (Balboa Swing) and the set list:

1. Railroad Rhythm
2. Boxcar Boogie
3. Whistle Stop Swing
4. My Love Is On The Line
5. Freight Train Blues

Use this information to pass the stage manager's little quiz, and you'll get a signed business card. This isn't enough to get backstage, however.

Head to the Sleeper Carriage to meet Donny. Talk to him about his 'services' until you learn about his forgery services and the fact that you'll need an example of the person's handwriting.

Give Donny the business card you just acquired, and you'll learn what you need to do to get a forged guest list: you'll need to acquire something from Mr. Masson. Talk to Donny more about Mr. Masson, and you'll eventually get the Rosebud recipe. Surprise, surprise; now we know why Mr. Masson was drunk in the previous part!

How To Get Mr. Masson Drunk

Head to the Dining Carriage and give the Rosebud recipe to the bartender. Unfortunately, Mr. Masson doesn't want to drink before having his food.

Our next goal is obviously to shut down the kitchen - remember what state it was in during the previous parts? Let's make that happen. The cooks mentioned they'd had a disastrous health inspection - let's be the health inspector.

To prepare, head to the Lounge Carriage and speak to the kid here. She's playing with a detective kit that includes an 'official' badge - that could be handy. Talking to the kid about getting the kit from her reveals that she'll only trade for it.

How To Trade For The Kid's Detective Kit

Use the Dirk Chiselton cover with the adventure manuscript in Herman's inventory to create a fake Dirk Chiselton manuscript.

Give the fake Chiselton novel to the kid, and you'll be able to get the detective kit from her. The badge in the kit isn't convincing enough yet, though.

Return to Donny's quarters and talk to him, asking him to forge the detective badge into something more convincing. Afterwards, you can enter the kitchen by pretending to be the health inspector.

How To Shut Down The Kitchen

As the health inspector, you have some havoc to wreak. You'll need to ruin each cook's day systematically.

From right to left:

• The first cook is terrified of rodents. Slip the string of pearls into the bag of oysters to summon Donny's mouse to the kitchen.
• The right-hand cook usually tastes the soup but is now too terrified. Add some chilis to the soup and ask the central cook if you can sample it.
• For the third cook, turn on the water on the right side of the kitchen. Then, quickly head to the stovetop and turn it off, before increasing the gas flow using the large gas canister next to the stove.

With these done in order, the kitchen will close, and you'll automatically head back to the Dining Carriage.

Mr. Masson will be ready for a drink now - try to hand the Rosebud recipe to the bartender again to prompt the drink's delivery, and you'll witness Mr. Masson getting drunk.

Masson will drop a magnet from his pocket - pick it up, and deliver it to Donny.

Donny will give you the forged entry list. Use this on the actual guest list in the Lounge Carriage, and you'll be able to gain entrance to the backstage area.

What To Do Backstage

You'll find that Mr. Liu is missing from the backstage area. Speak to both the singer and the band about Mr. Liu until you run out of relevant dialogue options, and then try to leave the area. This will end the Part.