The first railway in what is now Canada was built in 1836. This was the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad in Lower Canada (Quebec) that linked Laprarie near Montreal with St. Johns on the Richelieu River. After this initial endeavor, there was a pause of several years. The great expansion occurred in the 1850s. 1856 starts in this era, focusing on what was then Upper Canada (Southern Ontario).

The large number of railways that started during this period were undercapitalized. However, to meet political objectives, the government would often step in and loan the railways money. Eventually most of these companies owed the government too much money to repay. During the confederation of Canada, the government started to absorb these bankrupt companies to form the Canadian Government Railways, which, in turn, became the Canadian National Railway. 1856 simulates this limited government intervention and support that was Canadian railroading.

1856 is a stock market and railroad building game where the players take the roles of railway investors and company presidents. In these roles, players try to accumulate wealth. Players do this through the ownership of shares of stock in the railroad companies. When a company earns money and pays dividends, the dividends are paid to the players owning shares in the company. As shares increase and decrease in value, so does the wealth of the owning players.

The players' wealth is the sum of their cash on hand, the current value of their public company shares, and the face value of any private companies they own. The object of the game is to have the most wealth at the end of the game.

Players may become shareholders in any company. The shareholder with the greatest number of shares in each company is the president and is responsible for making all decisions on behalf of that company. These decisions need not always be in the best interests of the company, but they are almost always in the best interests of the president. The presidency of a company changes anytime there is a change in majority ownership. Sometimes this occurs when a player manages to acquire more shares than the current president. More often, the current president manages to plunder a company and then dump it on another shareholder.

The passage of time in 1856 is represented by six phases in the game. The beginning of each new phase is keyed to the purchase of successively larger trains.

Players participate in alternating stock and operating rounds. Between the stock rounds are one to three operating rounds. During each stock round, players attempt to improve their financial positions by buying and selling shares of stock. During each operating round, the railroad companies lay or upgrade track, build stations, run trains to earn revenue, and buy trains.

A game played by players familiar with the rules should require about four hours. If several players are playing for the first time, the game runs somewhat longer. Players unfamiliar with the 18XX game system may want to follow the short game rules to become familiar with the concepts of track laying and running trains before playing the full game. A short game requires about 60-90 minutes for new players.

Considerate players speed the play of the game and make the experience more fun for everyone. In a game of this length, players should plan their stock purchases and company moves in advance of their turns, including, when possible, tile lays or upgrades and the routes their trains will run.

The shares a player owns are laid out in an orderly manner so that all can easily see them. All players are allowed to know how much money others have and what certificates they own. The trains, private companies, and loan stamps a company has are displayed on the company charter for all to see. The company treasury is stacked on the charter in clear sight, but the amount in the treasury need not be made public. Players wanting clarification of any of this information, time their requests so as to not interrupt another player's turn.

Before you begin your first game, carefully snap out the track tiles, certificates and tokens. You will need 12 to 16 square feet of table space to play 1856. Place the map board within easy reach of all players. The map of the area on which the game is played is overlaid with a hexagonal grid; it is on these hexes that track will be laid. Also on the map board are the initial share and new train displays. The stock market board is placed adjacent to the map board. The stock market board features the grid which is used to track the share prices of the companies. It also contains the open market, which is where shares sold by players and trains discarded by companies are placed, and the par value display, which indicates the value of initial offering shares. The bank tray (the plastic tray containing the money used in the game), track tiles, public company charters, station markers, par value tokens, share price tokens, and private company tokens are all placed on the table near the map board and stock market board. Plan enough room in front of each player for two to three company charters, 15 to 30 certificates, and a pile of money.

Place the ROUND marker on the Operating Round space marked Stock Round. Stack each company's share certificates on the map board in the spaces provided with the president's certificate on top. Stack the cards representing the trains by train type on the map board in the spaces provided. Stack the loan stamps on the map board in the box labeled GOVERNMENT LOANS. Lay the private company certificates in the center of the map board in the following order:

They will be removed as they are purchased which will be prior to the placement of any track tiles on the map.

The bank tray holds all of the bank's money at the start of the game. Payments of dividends to players are made from the bank. Payments for new trains, terrain costs and all share purchases are made to the bank.

The bank starts with $12,000 in seven denominations. Because the game will end when the bank runs out of money, this amount should not be changed.

The train type represents the maximum number of cities (defined as large cities, small cities, and red off-board locations) a train may run to or through. For example, a type 3 train can run to or through three cities.

Trains purchased from the bank must be purchased in numeric order. For example, type 3 trains may be purchased only when all type 2 trains have been purchased from the bank. Type D trains (Diesels) are the single exception to this rule: they become available after the purchase of the first (not last) type 6 train. Diesels may run to an unlimited number of cities.

The purchase price of a train is listed on the train card. In the case of Diesels, they can be purchased for $1000, or $750 with the trade-in of a type 4, type 5, or type 6 train.

The number of type 2 to type 6 trains listed above is the maximum number available. Diesels, however, have no limit. Type 2 trains can be used to represent additional Diesels, if more than the six Diesel trains provided are needed. The six type 8 trains are provided for use with one of the variants described later in the rules; they are not used in the normal game.

To determine the players' starting order, place the starting order tokens in a cup or hat and have each player take one. One player should volunteer to be the banker and sit next to the bank tray; the other players then arrange themselves clockwise in ascending starting number order around the banker.

Each player receives as starting capital $1500 divided by the number of players in the game.

In 1856, there are six private companies and twelve public companies. Private companies are initially owned by the players, but may later be sold to the public companies. They earn fixed revenue for their owners and can imbue an owning public company with special privileges. Public companies are owned by various players, represented by share certificates purchased in the stock rounds. They lay track, place station markers, operate trains for revenue, pay dividends or withhold earnings, and purchase trains.

Private companies are purchased by players during the initial stock round. All private companies produce revenue as indicated on their certificates for their owners during each operating round. Three of the private companies (the Flos Tramway, the Waterloo & Saugeen Railway Co., and The Canada Company) appear in hexes on the map. While a private company is owned by a player, public companies may not lay track in that private company's hex, even if the owning player is willing to allow track to be laid. Once a private company is owned by a public company, any public company may lay track in that private company's hex according to normal track laying rules.

A public company may purchase a private company at any time during that public company's operating round, once the first type 3 train has been purchased. The price paid, negotiated by the buyer and seller, is limited to one-half to double the cost printed on the certificate, regardless of the price paid by the owner. A player may purchase a private company from another player in the place of their stock certificate purchase during a stock round for any mutually agreed upon price. All private companies are closed when the first type 5 train is purchased. Each private company held by a player counts as one certificate towards a player's certificate limit. Other attributes of each private company are listed below.

No other attributes.

The public company that owns this private company may place a free station marker on either city on the Kitchener hex if a space is available. The company may also place a green #59 tile in the Kitchener hex if it has not already been placed. Both actions are in the place of the public company's normal tile and/or station marker placement. The company need not be able to trace a legal train route to place the tile or station marker. The Waterloo & Saugeen Railway Co. is closed at the end of the operating round turn that the owning company performs either action.

During its operating round, the public company owning this private company may place a track tile in the hex occupied by this private company. This track lay is in addition to the public company's normal track lay. The company need not be able to trace a legal train route to place the tile. This action does not close the private company.

At any time during its operating round, the owning public company may place the port token in any one city adjacent to Lake Erie, Lake Huron, or Georgian Bay. These cities are marked with an anchor symbol. The port token raises the value of that city by $20 for only the owning company. Once placed, the port token may not be moved. This port token, if placed, is removed when the first type 6 train is purchased. Placement of this token closes the Great Lakes Shipping Company.

The public company that owns this private company may add the $10 bonus when running to Buffalo. Other public companies may purchase the right to use this bonus by paying $50 to the owning company. This right may not be purchased if this private company is owned by a player. The right may be purchased from the bank for $50 after the private company closes. Companies that have gained this right never lose it. The Canadian Government Railways gains this right if any of its forming companies had this right.

The public company that owns this private company may add the $10 Port Huron bonus when running to Sarnia. Other public companies may purchase the right to use this bonus by paying $50 to the owning company. This right may not be purchased if this private company is owned by a player. The right may be purchased from the bank for $50 after the private company closes. Companies that have gained this right never lose it. The Canadian Government Railways gains this right if any of its forming companies had this right.

There are twelve public companies including the Canadian Government Railways. Refer to the section detailing the Canadian Government Railways for more information on this company. These public companies are listed on the next page.

The stock market governs the value of shares in the public companies. This is represented in the game by a large grid of colored sections. Each grid box has a number representing the value per share of a company whose share value token is in that box. Also included on the stock market board is the open market which represents shares available for purchase at market price, and the par value chart which indicates the cost of shares purchased from the initial offering. Public company shares may only be bought or sold through the stock market or from the initial offering. Only players may own shares in the public companies. Public companies may not own shares in any public company, even their own.

As with the New York Stock Exchange, certificates are used in 1856 to represent each player's ownership in the private and public companies. For the private companies, a single certificate represents 100% ownership in the company. For the public companies, a single certificate can represent 5%, 10%, or 20% ownership. The president's certificate, whether 10% or 20%, is considered a double share, but counts as a single certificate.

Players are normally limited to 60% ownership in a company. However, the position of the company share value token on the stock market may allow a player to exceed this limit.

Each player is limited to a specific number of certificates, including private company certificates. Prior to the purchase of the first type 6 train, the limit is based solely on the number of players. After the purchase of the first type 6 train, the limit is based on the number of players and the number of companies started and available to be started.

A change of company presidency, changes in certificate limits, and movement of share value tokens from the yellow and brown sections of the stock market may cause a player to be in violation of share or certificate limits. When this occurs, the player must sell sufficient shares/certificates at the first opportunity in the next stock round to conform to the limit.

Any time a company's share value token enters the closed section of the stock market, that company is closed. All tokens and station markers of that company are removed from the map and stock market, and all share certificates are removed without compensation to the owners. Any trains owned by the company are placed on the open market and any money in the company treasury is returned to the bank. Companies closed in this fashion may not be restarted. The Canadian Government Railways cannot be closed. If movement of the CGR share value token would move it into this area, that token stops one square short of the closed section.

Certificates of companies whose share value tokens are in this area do not count towards a player's certificate limit. Also, companies whose tokens are in this area may be held in excess of the normal 60% share limits.

Certificates of companies whose share value tokens are in this area do not count toward a player's certificate limit.

This area is where share value tokens for newly formed companies are placed. This area has no further effect on play.

The gridded white section represents stocks in normal play. There are no special rules associated with them.

The share value tokens move:

There are several boxes on the stock market that contain arrows in them. These arrows indicate the share value token's direction of movement if the token is required to move left or right and is unable to do so because of the market edge.

If a share value token is moved into a box where there are one or more tokens, the newly arriving token is placed at the bottom of the stack of share value tokens that are already there.

The six private companies in 1856 represent the small companies that pioneered railroading in what was then Upper Canada before the great expansion of the 1850s that is the foundation for this game. Before the game can begin in earnest, these companies must be purchased by the players. This is accomplished in the initial stock round. The six are offered for sale in the order listed below:

The private companies are offered in order, starting with the player with starting order token #1 and proceeding clockwise around the table. Each player may, in turn:

When bidding on a private company, the first bid must exceed the cost by at least $5; subsequent bids must exceed the current highest bid for that private company by at least $5. Bidding players must set aside the bid amounts. These monies cannot be used to purchase or bid on another company until that company is sold. A player with a bid on a private company need not raise that bid on subsequent turn, but may do so, adding the difference to the bid amount already set aside. The original bid is sufficient to guarantee a player a spot in the eventual auction. A player with sufficient money can place bids on other private companies in subsequent turns.

If a company is bought and the next company that would normally be offered for sale has one bid on it, that company is immediately sold to the player who bid on it at the bid price. If two or more players have bid on the next company being offered, an auction is held starting with the bidding player to the left of the player with the highest bid. Only players who have already bid on that company may participate. The company for auction goes to the player with the highest bid after all other participating players have passed.

Use the priority card to keep track of whose turn it is in a stock round. Players should announce the completion of their turn in a stock round and pass the priority card to the player on their left. Note that the priority card is not passed when a company with bid(s) on it is purchased.

If all players pass in order before the St. Clair Frontier Tunnel Company is sold, the stock round ends and an operating round begins. If any private companies are owned, the only action that occurs in the operating round is the payment of the private company revenue to their owners. Since no public companies are operating, the operating round ends and another initial stock round begins with the player with the priority card. Bids offered for private companies are still valid. The Flos Tramway, if still available for sale, is reduced in cost by $5. Should the price of the Flos Tramway reach $0 as a result of these reductions, the player with the priority card receives the company at no charge and the initial stock round proceeds to the left. This is considered a purchase for the player who receives the Flos Tramway. After the last private company is sold, the public companies are available for sale as described in Stock Round. Players may not sell certificates in the initial stock round.

Here is a sample private company auction in a five player game:

1. Player #1 buys the Flos Tramway for $20 and passes the priority card to #2.
2. Player #2 bids $105 for the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge Company and passes the priority card to #3.
3. Player #3 bids $55 for The Canada Company and passes the priority card to #4.
4. Player #4 bids $75 for the Great Lakes Shipping Company and passes the priority card to #5.
5. Player #5 bids $80 for the Great Lakes Shipping Company and passes the priority card to #1.
6. Player #1 buys the Waterloo & Saugeen Railway Co. and passes the priority card to #2.
7. As player #3 has the only bid outstanding on The Canada Company, player #3 buys that company for $55.
8. As both player #4 and player #5 have bid on the Great Lakes Shipping Company, those two players only may continue bidding until one passes; the player not passing purchases the Great Lakes Shipping Company at the last bid.
9. As player #2 has the only bid outstanding on the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge Company, that company goes to player #2 for $105.
10. The St. Clair Frontier Tunnel Company is then offered to player #2, since player #1 started the auctions by buying the Waterloo & Saugeen Railway Co. and player #2 has the priority card. Game Phases
11. The game progresses through six phases that simulate the technological changes in railroading that occurred over time in Canada. The following summarizes the six phases and the rule changes that occur with the onset of each.

The game progresses through six phases that simulate the technological changes in railroading that occurred over time in Canada. The following summarizes the six phases and the rule changes that occur with the onset of each.

Phase one starts at the beginning of the game and continues until the purchase of the first type 3 train. During phase one, the following restrictions apply:

Phase two starts with the purchase of the first type 3 train and continues until the purchase of the first type 4 train. During phase two, the following restrictions apply:

Phase three starts with the purchase of the first type 4 train and continues until the purchase of the first type 5 train. During phase three, the following restrictions apply:

Phase four starts with the purchase of the first type 5 train and continues until the purchase of the first type 6 train. During phase four, the following restrictions apply:

Phase five starts with the purchase of the first type 6 train and continues until the purchase of the first Diesel train. During phase five, the following restrictions apply:

Phase six starts with the purchase of the first Diesel train and continues until the end of the game. During phase six, the following restrictions apply:

The game proceeds with a series of stock rounds separated by sets of one, two or three operating rounds, depending on the phase of the game.

In a stock round, players take turns buying and/or selling certificates starting with the player with the priority card and moving clockwise around the table. During each player's turn in a stock round, the player may buy one certificate and may sell any number of certificates. A player may buy, then sell, or sell, then buy, but may not sell, then buy, then sell again. A player may also choose to pass, neither buying or selling. Once a player has completed these actions, the priority card is passed to the player's left.

A player buying and/or selling in a stock turn is guaranteed another stock turn. Each player usually gets several turns within each stock round. The stock round ends when all players pass in turn. When that occurs, the round marker is moved to the first operating round position on the Operating Round display.

In each operating round all eligible companies operate. The private companies operate first, if they have not closed, followed by the public companies. The public companies operate in share value order. The company president performs the following actions on behalf of each company in the order indicated:

A company may secure one additional government loan during any part of its turn in an operating round prior to Redeem government loans. A company may buy a private company from any player during any part of its turn in an operating round after the start of phase two. After all eligible companies have operated, the operating round marker is moved to the next space on the operating round display. This will indicate whether the next round is another operating round or a stock round.

A stock round begins with the player with the priority card and continues clockwise until all players have passed in order.

When a player sells shares, the player receives the current market price for the shares as indicated on the stock market. After the player receives money for the shares, that company's share value token is moved down one row for each full 10% sold. If a player sells a 5% share, the share value token does not move; if a player sells two or three 5% shares (10% or 15% in total), the share value token moves down 1 row.

The following rules apply to all share sales:

When buying a share, a player may purchase one share certificate from either the initial offering or the open market. Initial offering share certificates must be purchased in order (that is the president's certificate is always the first purchased) and are available at their par value price. Shares on the open market are available at their current market price. A player may purchase a private company from another player instead of a share certificate in a public company. This purchase moves the priority card and, as with a share certificate purchase, guarantees the player another stock turn in this stock round.

The following rules apply to all share purchases:

A stock round ends when all players have passed in order. The priority card will be in the hands of the player to the left of the last player to buy or sell a certificate. At this time, share value tokens of companies that have all their shares in the hands of players are adjusted up one row.

The first certificate purchased for each company must be the president's certificate. When a player buys the president's certificate, that player becomes the president of the company and performs the following actions to start the company:

The company charter is used to keep track of the various assets and liabilities of the company. The number and type of trains and the number of government loans is public knowledge. The amount of money in the corporate treasury may be kept secret by the president, but must be stacked on the company charter. Monies in public companies' treasuries must be kept separate from each other and from monies in player's hands. The charter and its contents are given to the new president if the presidency should change hands.

The starting treasury and subsequent capitalization for a company is determined at the time the president's certificate is purchased. This is based on what type train is available for sale from the bank at that time. The subsequent availability of higher numbered trains does not change the capitalization rules for a company.

A public company started before the first type 5 train is available for sale receives the monies paid for the first five shares bought from the initial offering as they are sold. Monies paid for shares sold beyond the first five are held in the bank (in escrow) until the company reaches its destination city. When a tile is laid that allows the company to reach its destination city, regardless of the company that placed that tile, the company immediately receives all held payments for shares sold from the initial offering. At this point, all further payments for initial offering shares are paid directly to the company treasury as they are bought. A company is considered to have reached its destination when it can trace a legal train route from its starting city to its destination city. For purposes of this rule only, ignore other companies' station markers when tracing a route.

If a company is started when a type 5 train is available for sale from the bank, the company receives the monies for any and all shares sold from the initial offering as those shares are sold. The destination city no longer affects a company's starting treasury.

If a company is started when a type 6 or Diesel train is available for sale from the bank, the company receives 10 times the share par value as soon as six shares have been sold from the initial offering. The company will receive no further monies from subsequent share sales.

In order for a company to operate for the first time, it must have sold from the initial offering a number of shares equal to or greater than the number of the current train type available for purchase from the bank when it becomes the company's turn to operate. Shares required to commence operations may be owned by players or be available on the open market. Diesels are regarded as type 6 trains for purposes of this rule. Once a company has operated, it will operate in all subsequent rounds until it closes.

For example, during a stock round, the Grand Trunk Railway (GT) is opened with a par share price of $65. The only shares purchased from the initial offering are the two shares that comprise the president's certificate. The current train available for purchase is the last type 2 train. In the subsequent operating round, the president of the Credit Valley Railway (CV), currently valued at $70 and operating before the GT, purchases the last type 2 train. The GT has the next opportunity to operate, but, because only two shares have been sold and the current new train for sale is a type 3 train, the GT fails to meet the requirements for initial operations and does not operate. Had the president of the CV not purchased the last type 2 train, the GT would have been able to operate for the first time.

If any player ever owns a greater percentage of a company than the current president, that player becomes the new president and assumes all responsibilities for the company. This may occur either through player purchases or sales by the current president. The president of a company may sell sufficient shares of the company to cause a transfer of the presidency only if:

If both these conditions are met, the president declares how many shares are being sold. The player who will have the largest share holding in the company becomes the new president. If two or more players hold an equal number of shares, the player to the left (moving clockwise around the table) of the current president becomes the new president. As the president of a company must always hold the president's certificate, the new president trades two single share certificates with the current president for the president's certificate. The current president then completes the declared sale. The new president receives the company charter with its contents (trains, station markers, private companies, loan stamps and money).

During an operating round, all operating companies operate and produce income. Private companies operate first. The bank pays the owner of each private company the revenue listed on that company's certificate.

The public companies then operate in share value order. If two or more public companies have the same share value, the company whose share value token is furthest to the right operates first. If two or more share value tokens occupy the same value box on the stock market, the company whose share value token is uppermost in the stack operates before any lower unoperated company(s).

The only exception is during the operating round in which the Canadian Government Railways is formed. The CGR operates once immediately after it is formed, regardless of turn order, providing that none of the forming companies had already operated during that operating round. After this initial operating round, the CGR follows its normal turn order.

Each eligible public company operates only once during each operating round.

The Canadian Government will loan any operating public company money during any operating round in phases one through four. These loans must be repaid at the beginning of phase five (refer to forming the CGR). Each company may secure only one government loan per operating round. When the loan is secured, $100 is transferred from the bank to the company treasury and a loan stamp is placed on the company charter. If a loan is secured after the Pay Interest on Outstanding Government Loans segment of the operating round, the company receives $90.

All loan stamps issued should be placed in plain sight on the company's operating charter. A company may hold one outstanding loan for each share held by a player. A company may not take out a loan if doing so would put it over its loan limit. If more loan stamps are needed than are provided, use tokens to represent additional loan stamps.

The building of railroad track in 1856 is represented by the placing of colored hexagonal tiles on the map. Initially, the only track on the map is on the few hexes having preprinted track.

Each operating company may place one track tile on a map hex during its turn in each operating round. The track tiles must be placed in alignment with the map hex, but may be placed in any of the six orientations as long as the following guidelines are followed: Once laid, a tile becomes part of the map and may only be moved when it is removed to be replaced by another tile.

When a tile is replaced, all track segments on the replaced tile must be represented in the same orientations on the replacing tile.

The company placing (or replacing) a tile must be able to trace a legal train route of any length from one of its station markers to and along one of the new track segments, or increase (or decrease, in the case of a small city downgrade) the value of a city it can run to on the new tile. There are two exceptions to this rule: a company owning the Waterloo and Saugeen Railway Co. or The Canada Company is allowed to place track in certain hexes that are not extensions of the company's existing route(s). The descriptions of these two private companies provide complete details for these exceptions. The company need not use the new track segment or the tile when it operates.

When a tile is replaced, all station markers and other tokens on the tile must be placed on the new tile in the same locations as before. No tile may be placed so that any track ends against printed terrain where tiles may not be placed unless there is existing track (for example, Goderich) or a red off-board location connection point on that terrain. Examples of such terrain include printed dark green areas, named lakes, and red off-board locations without a connection point.

Hexes with one or two small cities may only have yellow tiles with the corresponding number of small cities laid on them. Similarly, vacant hexes with a large city indicated by large open dot may only have yellow tiles with a corresponding large dot placed on them.

Difficult terrain, represented on the map by a '$' followed by an amount requires an extra expenditure to lay the first tile there. This money is paid from the company treasury and must be paid when the tile is laid. Companies replacing tiles laid in such hexes do not pay the difficult terrain cost.

In phases five and six, single and double small city tiles may be upgraded or downgraded. The single small cities may be replaced with the appropriate yellow large city tile (upgraded) or the appropriate simple track tile (downgraded). The double small cities may be replaced with the corresponding green double city tile. These tiles may be further upgraded if the appropriate tiles are available. See Tile Manifest for a list of the legal tile upgrades and downgrades.

Brown #125 city tiles may be used to upgrade green #14 and #15 tiles in map positions that will not take a brown #63 city tile. These hexes are marked on the map with an "L". Brown #125 tiles may not be placed in any other location on the map.

When a company operates for the first time, it places its free station marker on the large city space designated by its abbreviation as its starting city to represent the station there. A company may pay to place one additional station marker during each operating round, including its first, to the maximum number of station markers allowed that company.

The cost of each station marker is listed on the company's charter. To place a station marker, the company must be able to trace a legal train route from any of its existing station markers to the city it wishes to place the new station marker. The target city must also have space for the station marker. Only one station marker is allowed per large city space -station markers may not be stacked. A company may not have more than one station marker on any single tile. In the starting city for a company that has not yet started, a company cannot place a station marker on the last available space (if an extra space becomes available later, the staiton marker may then be placed).

The exception to the above rule is that the company that owns the Waterloo and Saugeen Railway Co. may place a token in the Kitchener hex and need not be able to trace a legal train route to another of its station markers.

Once a station marker is placed, it cannot be moved or removed, unless the company closes. When a city has all its station marker spaces filled, only companies with station markers in that city may pass though the city when determining a route. Other companies may only use such cities as a terminus of a route.

In order to generate income, a company operates its trains along routes on the map according to the following:

The value of a train's run is equal to the total of the values of the cities it traces a route to or through. If a company is running more than one train, each train must conform to the above rules and may not use a section of track that another train has already used. It may, however, use and count cities used by the other train(s). When multiple trains are run, the company's income for this operating round is the total of all the trains' runs.

Normally, the president of the company decides which route(s) to use for its trains. However, a stockholder in the operating company may point out higher valued route(s), which the president is then required to run.

The president decides whether to pay dividends or withhold the company earnings in the company treasury. If dividends are paid, each share receives 10% of the earnings. If the CGR is using 5% shares, each share receives 5% of the earnings. Dividends of shares on the open market are paid to the company's treasury. Shares still in the initial offering pay their dividends to the bank.

Adjust the share value token on the stock market one column to the right if dividends are paid, or one column to the left if earnings are withheld. Companies that declare a dividend of $0 are considered to have withheld earnings.

For ease of reference flip the share value token upside down to indicate that this company has operated.

At this point, a company has the option to purchase one or more trains, provided it does not exceed the listed train limit. Because the purchase of a train may trigger a phase change, trains must be purchased one at a time. Thus, if a company wishes to purchase more than one train, it would purchase one, resolve any phase change, purchase another one, and so on. If the purchase of a train triggers a phase change and that change reduces the number of trains a company may own, the company may not be able to purchase another train. If, as a result of a phase change, a company finds itself with an extra train, the president chooses which train to discard and places it in the open market.

Trains may be purchased from the bank, the open market, or other companies willing to sell them. The bank sells new trains and will only sell them in numerical order. Thus, all type 2 trains must be sold before the first type 3 train, all type 3 trains before the first type 4 train, and so forth. Trains purchased from the bank, the open market, or the Canadian Government Railways are always purchased at the price printed on the train card. Trains purchased from companies other than the CGR may be bought at any price (with a $1 minimum) that is mutually agreed to by the president(s) of the two companies involved. A company may buy another company's last train.

Although the sale of a train between two companies must be announced to all players, the price paid need not be revealed. When a train is purchased from another company, the entire transaction must be done during the purchasing company's turn. A company is not required to buy a train from another company if it is offered, regardless of the price.

A company that does not have a legal train route need not own a train.

However, an operating company with a legal train route must own a train and is forced to purchase one during this phase if it does not possess one.

If a company must buy a train and does not have enough money to do so, the president must make up the difference. When the president is forced to contribute to the purchase of a train, the following special rules govern the transaction:

A company may not discard or scrap a train to make space for a new train. If, however, buying a train initiates a phase change causing a company to possess too many trains, the excess trains from these companies are discarded into the open market without compensation.

If Diesels are available for sale and a company has a type 4, type 5, or type 6 train, it may trade this train for a Diesel at the reduced price of $750, even if the company is at its train limit. The traded-in train is placed on the open market.

Government loans are redeemed as the last action of a company's operating round. A company may redeem as many government loans as it wishes. For each loan it redeems, the company pays $100 to the bank and returns the loan stamp to the stock market display.

Once every eligible company has operated, the operating round is over. The share value tokens may now be flipped to right-side-up in preparation for the next round. The round marker should be moved to the next appropriate space on the operating round display. The game phase determines whether this is another operating round or a stock round.

The game ends in one of two ways. When the bank runs out of money during an operating round, complete that entire set of operating rounds before determining the winner. If the bank runs out of money during a stock round, complete the stock round and the subsequent set of operating rounds before determining the winner. Use tokens to represent $1000 bills to provide the bank with sufficient money to complete the game. Alternately, these final transactions may be tracked with paper and pencil using the tally sheet in this rule book.

When a player is bankrupt the game ends and the winner is determined immediately. A player may not voluntarily declare bankruptcy, though the player may engineer it.

As described elsewhere, there are four situations which require the president of a company to sell stock to make a purchase or payment. These are:

The following rules apply to all forced stock sales.

When a player cannot raise sufficient cash to make a required purchase or payment, that player is bankrupt. The player's cash is forfeited to the bank and the game ends immediately. No further actions may be taken by any player or company. Determine the winner as described below.

The winner is the player with the highest combined total of cash, stock valued at market value, and private companies valued at the price printed in the certificate. If the game ends before the CGR is formed, all companies with outstanding government loans have their share values reduced by $10 per outstanding loan owed by that company. It is possible for a bankrupt player to win the game.

The Canadian Government Railways (CGR) was created during Canadian Confederation to control several railways operated by the various colonial governments that formed Canada. The colonial government of Upper Canada had left the development of railways in private hands, only offering limited government support. As these public railways ran into financial difficulty, they were added to the CGR by the Canadian Government. The 1917 start date refers to the date that railways in the area covered by the game began being added to the CGR. Refer to Design Notes for further historical information.

When the first type 6 train is purchased, phase five begins. All changes that occur at the onset of phase five take effect immediately, except the repayment of outstanding government loans and the possible formation of the CGR. These two actions are delayed until the company that purchased this train completes its operating turn.

The loan repayments begin with the player who is president of the company that purchased the first type 6 train and continue clockwise around the table to all other players. For each company of which the player is president, the player repays as many loans as possible from the company's treasury. The loans are repaid in $100 increments. If outstanding loans remain after the treasury is depleted, the player may repay the remainder, supplementing the cash remaining in the treasury with personal cash. The player may not sell shares to raise money to repay the loans. If the player is president of more than one company, the player chooses the order in which those companies repay their loans.

If all companies are able to repay their loans, the CGR does not form. The operating round resumes with the next company in share price order.

If any company cannot repay all of its loans, the CGR will form. All companies that were unable to repay all of their loans will be absorbed into the CGR as described below.

Shares of companies being absorbed by the CGR are exchanged for shares of the CGR; the exchange rate is two absorbed company shares for one CGR share. The share exchange begins with the president of the company that purchased the first type 6 train, then proceeds clockwise through all other players. All of a player's shares are exchanged together, in pairs, even if they are from different companies. Extra single shares are placed in the open market without compensation to the owning player.

Once all players have exchanged their shares, shares in the open market are exchanged, in pairs, for CGR shares at the rate of two for one. After the open market exchange, all shares in the absorbed companies, including any single share left in the open market, are removed from play.

If more than ten CGR shares are needed to support this exchange, the second set of ten shares are issued. If the CGR shares run out before all shares have been converted, excess unconverted shares are removed from the game without compensation to the owning players. If the second CGR issue is not needed for the exchange, remove it from the game.

Any leftover CGR shares from the current offering (either 1st set or both sets) being distributed are placed in the initial offerings section of the stock market.

The president's certificate is given to the first player to have two CGR shares. After the share exchange is complete, the president's certificate is then moved to the player with the most CGR shares. If there is a tie, it goes to the first of the tied players, beginning with the player holding the certificate and moving to the left. The person receiving the president's certificate trades two single shares with the person who held the certificate.

The player is relieved of this burden if another player buys a second share prior to the player's first stock turn. When this occurs, the player buying the second CGR share does not receive the single certificate representing the share. Instead, the current president trades the president's certificate for the new president's single certificate.

The CGR has ten station markers. Up to ten station markers of the absorbed companies are exchanged for CGR tokens. All home station markers must be replaced first. Then the other station markers are replaced in whatever order the president chooses. Because the CGR cannot have two or more station markers on the same tile, the president of the CGR may choose which one to use, except that exchanging a company's home station marker must take precedence. All station markers that can be legally exchanged must be, even if the president would rather not do so. Further station markers may be placed during operating rounds at a cost of $100 each.

If the CGR forms, the president chooses which trains, if any, to keep from the trains that were owned by the absorbed companies. The CGR must keep all permanent (type 5 or higher) trains up to its three train limit. Discarded trains are placed in the open market and are available for purchase.

If there are no trains left to the CGR or the president chooses to discard them, the CGR may borrow a Diesel from the trains available for sale. The borrowed Diesel is not moved to the CGR charter and may be purchased by another company. Since phase changes are triggered by train purchases, the CGR borrowing a Diesel will not trigger a phase change. The CGR must withhold earnings until it can pay for a permanent (a type 5, type 6 or Diesel) train. It must purchase a Diesel when it can first afford to do so. The president may choose, however, to buy a lessor permanent train instead, relieving the CGR of the requirement to purchase a Diesel.

Until the CGR has a permanent train (a type 5, type 6 or Diesel), its token on the stock market is not adjusted from its starting position for any reason, including sales of shares. Once the CGR acquires its first permanent train, it may no longer borrow a Diesel. The CGR will only sell or buy trains at the printed cost on the train card. The CGR will only buy type 5, type 6, and Diesel trains.

The CGR acquires all money remaining in the treasuries of the companies that it absorbs. This is the only initial capital it receives. Subsequent sales of shares from the initial offering are paid directly to the bank, and not to the CGR treasury. In all other respects, the CGR treasury operates like any other public company's treasury.

The initial stock value of the CGR is $100 or the average of the share values of the absorbed companies, whichever is higher. To calculate the average value, average the values of the absorbed companies and round the result down to the nearest $5 increment. If there are three or more companies, ignore the lowest value company when computing the average. If the value is $100, place the share value and par value tokens in the $100 starting value grid space. If the average is over $100, place the CGR share value and par value tokens on the top row of the stock market in the position to the right of the $100 grid space that is closest to the average value. For example, if the average value is $120, place both tokens in the $125 grid space on the top row of the stock market.

This share value is the value per 10% share, if only the first 10 shares were issued. If the second issue was distributed, the share value token represents the value per 5% share. Shares from the initial offering can be purchased at par value. Shares from the open market are purchased at the current market price, as indicated by the share value token.

If more than ten CGR shares are issued, each CGR share counts as only half a certificate. Players may hold up to twelve CGR shares and the open market may hold up to ten shares. The CGR may start with more than 50% of its shares in the open market. When players purchase CGR shares, they must purchase open market shares until the open market is reduced to the 50% limit.

The change to phase 5 initiates the use of the second certificate limit table. If the change in limits puts a player out of compliance with these new limits, the player must sell the excess shares in the next stock round. For example, if the CGR was formed from CV, BBG, LPS, GT, and TGB in a five player game, the new certificate limit would be decreased from 13 to 11, because there are now only 7 companies in the game.

If any of the companies forming the CGR have already operated during this round, the CGR does not operate until the next operating round. If none of them have operated, the CGR operates immediately during the current operating round. Consequently, the CGR may operate out of turn the first time it operates. In subsequent operating rounds, the CGR operates in normal turn order.

Because of government involvement, there are several differences in the operation of the CGR compared to other public companies. Aside from the exceptions mentioned below, the CGR operates as a normal public company.

The CGR will only sell or buy trains at the printed cost on the train card. The CGR will only buy type 5, type 6, and Diesel trains.

When the CGR has a permanent train, it may, at the discretion of the president, pay dividends. If only ten CGR shares were issued, the dividends are the normal 10% per share. If twenty CGR shares were issued, the dividend is only 5% per share. For single 5% shares, round dividend amounts up to the nearest dollar, if necessary. In this case, treat a pair of 5% shares as a full 10% share, using no rounding.

The CGR's share value token may never move into the white Closing area of the Stock Market. It always stops one square short.

To change the nature of the game a little, you can chose a different set of destination cities for the railways. These different destination cities will change the way the game evolves.

The era represented by the game does not really extend to the time when Diesels became popular. To change this, replace the Diesels with type 8 trains costing $1000 ($650). The sale of a type 8 train now triggers phase six.

After many enjoyable (?) years playing Avalon Hill's 1830*, Hartland's 1829* and 1853*, and Hans im Glück's 1835* as well as many home-brew variations of these games, we were on the look out for new ways to play. The inspiration for a game in this specific area of Canada came from a map published in 1987 by Rideau Graphics called A Compendium of Southern Ontario Rail Lines 1850-1984. This map showed that there were enough different companies in the area to make an interesting game. Further reading in A Statutory History of Railways in Canada 1836-1986 published by the CIGGT and the two volume history of the Canadian National Railway by G.R. Stevens, provided information on when and where companies started. This added to 3 months of play testing and hundreds of hours of work on the computer, have led to this game.

All of the rail tile games have a different emphasis. 1829 is the competition for routes, 1830 is the robber baron game, 1835 the formation of the Prussian State Railway and 1853 the building of tracks. The emphasis in this game is the fight to keep your company out of the Canadian Government Railways. The rules limiting how capital is paid to the company, along with generous Government loans make this a chancy proposition. The loans are easy to assume and often necessary, but they must be repaid and all players must plan ahead or risk losing their companies.

In this era in Canada, many railways were built more on hope than on a solid financial basis. The belief that "Where a Railway is built, prosperity will follow" seldom proved to be true. Railways built because "The city of Galt has a railway and we have to have one too," seldom repaid any of the monies invested in them. Bankruptcy and reorganization was the norm for most companies, with the Colonial and later Canadian government stepping in with loans to keep the companies alive. Eventually, it was realized that many of these companies would never pay their loan interest let alone repay the loans themselves, so the Government stepped in and merged the smaller companies into the Canadian Government Railways in the 1910's. A few years after this, most of the Canadian transcontinental railways were dying (all built under the belief that Where a railway is built, ...), so they and the CGR were merged to form The Canadian National Railway. The CNR was formed out of a total of 214 railways, some of whom are in this game. In the area covered by the game map, there are now only two survivors: CNR and CPR. Until a few years ago there were two others; THB (now CPR) and the LPS (now CNR). The rest are long gone and much of the track that they laid has been abandoned.

In a curious reversal of history, new Short-Line railway companies are now being formed in the area. These new short lines are in some places operating branch lines that were at one time main lines of long dead companies.