Game Rules

Game Structure

The game is played over two eras: Canal Era then Rail Era.

Setup

• Each player draws 8 cards and starts with £30.
• Income marker starts at level 10 (£0 income).
• Turn order is randomized.
• Some cards are removed from the deck (varies by player count).

Turn Structure

1. Collect Income - Each player receives money based on their income level.
2. Perform Actions - Each player takes 2 actions in turn order (first turn of Canal era = 1 action only). Each action requires discarding a card.
3. Reorder - Players are reordered by amount spent (lowest first). Ties keep previous order.
4. Refill Hands - Draw cards back up to 8 (if possible).

Canal Era End

When the draw deck and all hands are empty:

• Score VP for flipped industry tiles.
• Score VP for canals (count gold circles in connected locations).
• Remove all canals and Level 1 tiles from the board.
• Reset markets and deal new cards for Rail Era.

Rail Era End

Same scoring as Canal Era, plus 1 VP per £10 held. Highest total VP wins.

Tie Break: Income level, then money, then turn order.

Key Mechanisms

Flipping Industry Tiles

• Cotton Mills and Ports: Flip during a "Sell Cotton" action.
• Coal Mines and Iron Works: Flip when all resource cubes are removed.
• Shipyards: Flip immediately when built.

When a tile flips, immediately move your income marker up.

Consuming Iron

1. If any iron on tiles anywhere on the board, take for free (flips tile if emptied).
2. If no iron on tiles, buy from external market (price varies by supply).
3. If external market empty, buy from bank at £5 each.

Consuming Coal

Coal must be transported to the building site via connected links.

1. If connected to a coal mine tile, take for free (closest first).
2. If not connected to coal but connected to any port, buy from external market.
3. If not connected to coal or any port, cannot consume coal.

Personal Networks

A location is in your personal network if you have an industry tile there or a link connected to it.

• You may only build new links that touch your personal networks.
• Industry cards may only be used to build in your personal network locations.

For transport and selling, any player's links can be used.

Important Exceptions

• First turn of Canal era: only 1 action.
• Canal era: one industry per location per player.
• Rail era: cannot build Level 1 industries (must develop through them).
• Rail era: cannot take loans after draw deck is exhausted.
• Shipyard Level 0 cannot be built (must develop through).
• Shipyard Level 1 is Canal era only; Level 2 is Rail era only.
• You can overbuild your own industries with higher tech.
• You can overbuild opponent's coal/iron only if that external market is empty.
• If you have no tiles on the board, an industry card lets you build anywhere.