Great Western Trail: Rails to the North

2018 · Expansion for Base-game

Great Western Trail: Rails to the North

Players expand into a new rail network that opens delivery routes to northeastern cities such as Chicago, Detroit and New York, changing where and how herds are transported. The game adds a distinct railway system with tougher business conditions, encouraging the placement of branchlets and town development to ease operations. New station master tiles, private buildings, and an expanded player board introduce additional strategic options for route planning, deliveries, and tableau management.

Players
2–4 best 3
Playing time
75–150 min
Age
12+
Complexity
3.8 / 5
8.6 on Ludoyafrom $29.06American WestTrainsPoint to Point MovementHand ManagementDeck, Bag, and Pool Building

On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
54
Plays logged
64
Players
2h 34m
Average play
82
In collections
3
On wishlists

8.6/10

from 23 Ludoya reviews

  • Carlos9.0

    Adds more replayability and paths to the victory. Too expensive -> PNP

  • FinnTroll10.0

    In general, I am not particularly fond of expansions.

  • FazerGD9.0

    +

Read the reviews and rate it

Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

How do I know which town squares I’m allowed to place a branchlet on?

A town square is accessible if a rail track connects it directly to the Kansas City office, one of your city-crest discs, or another town square containing one of your branchlets; switches do not interrupt a direct connection. You also cannot place a branchlet in a town square where you already have one. (Rulebook, p. 5)

Do I have to pay anything when I place a branchlet?

Only if the chosen branchlet space shows a cost: pay that amount to the bank immediately. Dollar bonuses are gained immediately, and any immediate action must be performed at once or forfeited. (Rulebook, p. 6)

What happens after I place a branchlet in a station or medium town?

In a station town, you may immediately upgrade the attached train station, but you lose the opportunity if you decline. In a medium town, you must immediately perform the attached medium-town action or forfeit it; it cannot be saved for later. (Rulebook, p. 6)

Can I deliver to a big town, and how do I calculate the transport cost?

Yes—when reaching Kansas City, you may deliver to a big town whose town square contains one of your branchlets, provided you meet its city value and other delivery requirements. For transport costs, compare your engine with the railroad space numbered like that city value and pay $1 for each cross between them if your engine is farther back. (Rulebook, p. 7)

When can I use an exchange token?

You may use one or more exchange tokens at any point, even during an action or when it is not your turn. Return a token to the general supply, then draw up to 2 cards from your personal draw stack and discard the same number of cards. (Rulebook, p. 9)

Opens Ludoya's rules assistant, which reads this game's rulebook.

Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.