1846 Second Edition

Categories: Economic, Trains

Mechanics: Hexagon Grid, Investment, Market, Network and Route Building, Ownership, Stock Holding, Tile Placement, Victory Points as a Resource

Players: 3–5

Ages: 14+

Playtime: 120–240 Min

1846 is a compelling entry in the '18xx' series of board games, which are inspired by Francis Tresham's pioneering game, 1829. Set against the backdrop of the mid-19th century Midwestern United States, the game starts after the regional railroad boom has gone bust. Hundreds of small railroads have failed, creating a prime opportunity for five major Eastern railroads — the New York Central, Erie, Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Ohio, and the Grand Trunk from Canada — to expand their networks west of the Alleghenies.

As a 19th-century railroad tycoon in 1846, your challenge is to merge these powerful eastern lines with the struggling Midwestern remnants to build the most profitable rail network reaching key hubs like Chicago or St. Louis. The game stands out in the 18xx series due to several distinctive features. It includes an opening draft for companies and private companies, a variable setup that enhances replayability, and a shorter playtime, making it more accessible to newcomers of the 18xx games.

Gameplay alternates between stock rounds, where players buy, sell, and possibly launch new railroad corporations, and operating rounds, where each railroad's majority shareholder, or President, makes crucial decisions. These include laying tracks, building stations, running routes, declaring dividends, and upgrading to more advanced trains.

1846 offers a strategic depth combined with historical intrigue, appealing to both seasoned gamers and those new to economic simulation games.