Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box/Chapter 1: The Legendary Molentary Express

Layton's Cabin

As the chapter starts, you will get a new journal entry explaining how we ended up on the express. First off, check the coat hanger, the base of the table and the framed picture for three hint coins. Then investigate the open trunk on the sofa to trigger Puzzle 005.

Check the tea set on the table to trigger Puzzle 017. After you're done with the room, exit to the right.

Car 03

In this corridor there are two hint coins. Check the first wooden beam from the left and the middle lamp. After that, talk to Lili twice to trigger Puzzle 024. You can try to move to the back, but you'll be stopped by Sammy, who says that only VIPs are allowed in the deluxe car. Tap the door at the back to move to the nest train car.

Car 04

Check the knob of the leftmost door and the small strip to the right of it for two hint coins. Tap the middle door to enter it.

Empty Cabin

There is noone here yet, but there are two hint coins. Check both corners of the rug. Then check the pitcher on the table to trigger Puzzle 023. Exit the room and tap on the door back in Car 04 to enter the dining car.

Car 05

This is the Molentary Express's dining car, but you won't be doing any dining soon as the car is full. Check along the rug to get a hint coin. Then, talk to Chester the waiter to trigger Puzzle 007. Just then, a table becomes available, but is quickly occupied by a plump woman called Babette.

There are two doors at the back of the car. The right door goes to Car 06, but for now you are forced to go through the left door, which leads to the kitchen.

Kitchen

You will be confronted by the chef who fears that you might contaminate the food. However, it will be revealed that the chef is hiding his overweight pet hamster inside the kitchen. He wants us to take the hamster and exercise it, and gives us an Apple as a hamster toy. You have now unlocked the Hamster minigame, which can be accessed from the trunk.

Once you're done, exit the kitchen and enter Car 06 through the right door of the dining car.

Car 06

There is a single hint coin hidden in the middle strip to the right of the middle door. Talk to Sally to trigger Puzzle 006. After that, go through the doorway to reach the last train car.

Car 07

There are two hint coins hidden here. Check the bottom strip of the leftmost door and the second wooden beam.

You can check the rightmost door to enter a currently empty cabin, but one that contains a very familiar shack and broom. There's nothing you can do here, so return to Car 07 and go through the doorway at the back to the back end of the train.

Observation Deck

Upon entering, you will automatically trigger Puzzle 011. After solving it, you'll get a new journal entry.

Check the left ball of the railing and the base of one of the chairs for a total of two hint coins. You can also pick up the piece of garbage on the floor to trigger Puzzle 022. Exit the deck after you're done.

Car 07

Back indoors, speak to the manager of the train, Beluga. Try to move back to the dining car to trigger Puzzle 010.

Car 05

Talk to Chester to enjoy a meal on the Molentary Express, as well as Puzzle 008. Then examine the champagne glass at the left table to trigger Puzzle 009. Then go to the kitchen.

Kitchen

Talk to the chef here for Puzzle 013. After solving it, move back to the dining car and back to Car 04.

Car 04

You will witness Babette requesting help from Inspector Chelmey to find her missing boy "Tom". You will get Tom's Shoe, a new mystery titled Tom's Disappearance and a journal entry.

Talk to Inspector Chelmey after the commotion to trigger Puzzle 020. Go back to the previous car.

Car 03

Talk to Karla to trigger Puzzle 018. Try to enter the deluxe car again to talk to Sammy, who tell you about his broken camera. He will give you the Squarish Camera Part, which unlocks the Camera minigame that can be accessed in the trunk.

Talk to Sammy again to trigger Puzzle 019. Once you've solved it, make your way back to the kitchen.

Kitchen

Back in the kitchen, Layton will spot a red cap at a hard-to-reach spot, which will automatically trigger Puzzle 014. Layton deduces that it must be Tom's hat, which will be stored in your trunk. Go to Car 06 and enter the middle cabin.

Babette's Cabin

There are two hint coins here, one in the wall lamp and one in the sofa's armrest. You can also pick up the food scraps on the floor.

Check the vase of roses to trigger Puzzle 016. Return outside and enter the nest train car.

Car 07

Talk to Sally, then enter the rightmost door to encounter Granny Riddleton. We have met her in the previous game, but she doesn't recall meeting us. Like in the last game, the shack will store any puzzles that you missed, so that you can go back and solve them. Go back outside and into the observation deck.

Observation Deck

Talk to Hank to trigger Puzzle 025. Then make your way back to Car 04, talking to Chester along the way. You will likely run into a mysterious girl holding a dog.

Car 04

Enter the middle door to find that the room is now occupied by an elderly couple. Talk to either of them to find out that a kid was wandering along the corridor, but it looks more like a girl than a boy. Talk to them again to trigger Puzzle 021.

After solving the puzzle, you will receive the Button Camera Part. Exit the room and return to Car 03.

Car 03

Pick up Tom's other shoe to trigger Puzzle 015. Note that you can't quit during the puzzle, so you might want to save before triggering it.

Now that we know that Tom is really a dog, Layton will recall that a girl was seen carrying a small dog around. You will get a new journal entry. Go to Car 06 to talk to Inspector Chelmey, then enter Car 07.

Car 07

Talk to Grousley to ask about the girl. Talk to him again to trigger Puzzle 012. After that, go to the Observation Deck.

Observation Deck

Talk to the girl looking out at the scenery. It will be revealed that she is actually Flora, a major character from previous game! She was also the one who took Tom. With Tom and Flora now following us, it's time to return this puppy to its owner. Go back two cars

Car 08

Enter Babette's cabin to return Tom to her. You've now solved your first mystery, Tom's Disappearance! You will also get a Pet House that can be used in the Hamster minigame.

After exiting the cabin, Flora will explain that she stayed in the cabin next door. All three of them decide to return to their respective cabins.

A sudden stop

The train will come to a sudden stop. It appears that there is another train on the tracks, and the Molentary Express cannot pass until the train is moved. Be sure to collect the three hint coins in this scene before you attempt the puzzle at the next screen. One is on the track near the wheels at the left of the screen, one is on the first step of the staircase and another one is on the window of the closed door. Walk to the left.

Talk to Hank, or just check the train in the background. It appears that another train is blocking the Molentary Express' path, so we must move it to pass. You will now have to solve trigger Puzzle 026. You will receive the round camera part after solving it.

With the path cleared, the train can now continue onward. The sudden stop did damage some mechanical components of the train, so it has to stop for repairs at a small village. Welcome to Dropstone!