
- BGG rank
- BGG #320
- BGG rating
- 7.9
1830: Railways & Robber Barons
- 2–7 players
- 180–360 min
- Complexity 4.2/5
- 1986

Expansion for 1817
Rules assistance for 1817: Under the 5 Boroughs
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
1817: Under the 5 Boroughs is an expansion for 1817 for 2–6 players. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Hexagon Grid, and Market.
New York City’s subway system is endlessly fascinating, and the idea of setting an 18XX game beneath the streets of the world’s most densely populated metropolis proved just as compelling. Based on 1817—but scaled down and without short selling—the game introduces a tighter scope, a shorter train deck, and a set of clever mechanical McGuffins that heighten pressure at every turn. The result is a claustrophobic, unforgiving environment where timing is ruthless, capital is fragile, and only the most intrepid railroaders will thrive underground.
1817: Under the 5 Boroughs supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
1817: Under the 5 Boroughs belongs to these categories: Economic, Trains, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement, Hexagon Grid, and Market. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists 1817: Under the 5 Boroughs as an expansion for 1817. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need 1817 to use it. Check that your edition of 1817 is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.