A Countdown Timer on a Departure Board
The train timer turns any countdown into a railway station departure board. Set the minutes, type where your train is going, and press Start. The big flaps count down the time, and two rows underneath spell it out in words, such as FOUR MINUTES / THIRTY SECONDS, so it reads at a glance from across the room. Every tile flips through the letters just like the old mechanical split-flap boards, complete with a soft clatter.
Departure Status
- SCHEDULED before you start.
- ON TIME while the countdown runs.
- BOARDING in the last minute.
- FINAL CALL in the last ten seconds.
- DELAYED while paused, and DEPARTED when time is up, with an arrival chime.
How to Use the Train Timer
- Pick a preset or type minutes and seconds, then press Start. Click the board or press Space to pause.
- Change the destination to anything up to 16 characters, like LUNCH, RECESS, CLEAN UP or HOME TIME.
- Press Fullscreen to fill a projector or TV with the board.
- Turn the flap sound off if you want it silent. The chime at the end still plays.
Train Timers in the Classroom
Teachers use train timers for transitions: “The train to recess leaves in five minutes.” Children love watching the letters flip, and the status changing to BOARDING and FINAL CALL gives a clear, friendly warning that the activity is about to end. It works just as well for lining up, tidy-up time, reading sessions or brain breaks. For a calmer look, try the sand timer, or browse more fun timers.
About Split-Flap Displays
Split-flap displays, also called Solari boards after the Italian company Solari di Udine, hung in train stations and airports around the world for decades. Each position holds a stack of thin flaps printed with characters, and the flaps fall one by one until the right letter shows, which makes the familiar rattling sound. Most have since been replaced by screens, but the look is still loved. For just the digits, try the flip timer or the flip clock.
