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American Rails

#41749BGG ↗

2009 · 3-5 players · 90min · weight 2.85 · 1,103 ratings

v2 v3

BGG raw

ID
41749
Name
American Rails
Year
2009
Rank
1292
Min players
3
Max players
5
Playing time
90
Min playtime
90
Max playtime
90
Avg weight
2.8537
Num weights
82
Bayes avg
6.11213
Average
7.38638
Users rated
1103
Num owned
1449
Wanting
98
Wishing
366
Num comments
380
Fetched at
Sat Apr 25 2026 16:16:59 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Mechanisms (9)
Action DraftingAuction / BiddingIncomeInvestmentNegotiationNetwork and Route BuildingStock HoldingTurn Order: Claim ActionVictory Points as a Resource
Categories (2)
EconomicTrains
Description (758 chars)

In American Rails, each player assumes the role of a wealthy capitalist managing a portfolio of stocks and bonds in six fictional railroad companies. Through ruthless negotiation and rigorous planning, players struggle to increase the value of their holdings and reap the profits. The player with the most money at the end of the game will become the nation's first railroad baron and win the game. This luckless game was inspired by John Bohrer's creation of Chicago Express and the Historic Railroads System from Winsome Games. Set in the United States east of the Mississippi, American Rails features player-controlled variable turn order, "city dilution", and variable set-ups, giving this cutthroat train game an unprecedented level of replayability.

LLM v2 (wide)

Not yet enriched at v2 (wide pass).

LLM v3 (deep)

Not yet enriched at v3 (deep pass).