Chicago and North Western Board Game

Compete as railroad investors expanding westward from Chicago in Chicago and North Western. Players establish railroads, purchase shares and direct track construction across the American Midwest during the late nineteenth century. Stock sales place capital into each railroad's treasury, so ownership decisions directly affect which companies have the money needed to reach new cities.

Every turn presents a choice between offering stock, building track, paying dividends or using a railroad's special opportunities. Track can be built in single, double or triple links at increasingly demanding treasury costs. Players decide when dividends are distributed, creating tension between taking income now and leaving capital available for expansion that could raise future shareholder returns.

Money management is unforgiving because players cannot rely on loans. A competitor may support a railroad for personal profit even when another player controls more shares, and the timing of auctions, special city bonuses and westward completion can shift the value of each investment. There is no random resolution; the player finishing with the most cash wins through pricing, positioning and well timed action choices.

• Railroad Stock Auctions: Sell shares to players and place the proceeds into company treasuries
• Player Directed Expansion: Choose which owned railroad builds and where its track advances
• Dividend Timing: Decide when shareholders receive income and when capital remains invested
• Scaling Track Costs: Build single, double or triple links when a treasury can support the expense
• Special City Opportunities: Trigger company specific dividends and westward completion bonuses
• No Loan Economy: Manage personal cash carefully because poor investments cannot be rescued by borrowing

Includes:

• 1 Game Board
• 96 Railroad Cubes
• 24 Railroad Stock Cards
• 6 Special Cards
• 5 Pay Dividend Cards
• 165 Money Notes
• 1 Rulebook

Specifications:

• Manufacturer: Rio Grande Games
• Category: Board Game
• Subcategory: American Railroad Stock Auction and Economic Train Board Game
• Players: 3-5
• Play Time: 30-60 Minutes