- BGG rating
- 6.6
1829 Conversion Kit
- 2–9 players
- 600 min
- 1981
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,431
- BGG rating
- 7.0
1829
1974
Rules assistance for 1829
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–9 players
- 360 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.8/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for 1829
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
1829 is a board game released in 1974 for 3–9 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Francis Tresham and its main mechanics are Network and Route Building, Hexagon Grid, and Commodity Speculation.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.7
MSK 1 Extension Kit for 1829 (Northern & Southern Boards)
- 3–9 players
- 300 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 1982
- BGG rating
- 6.5
MSK 2 Extension Kit for 1829 (Southern & Northern boards)
- 3–9 players
- 300 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 1982
- BGG rating
- 5.4
MSK 3 Extension Kit for 1829 (Northern & Southern Boards)
- 3–9 players
- 300 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 1982
- BGG rating
- 5.8
MSK 5 Extension Kit for 1829 (Northern & Southern Boards)
- 3–9 players
- 300 min
- 1982
- BGG rating
- 6.0
MSK 6 Extension Kit for 1829 (Northern & Southern Boards)
- 3–9 players
- 300 min
- 1982
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About the game
1829 was the first of the 18xx series. First published in the mid-'70s it was way ahead of its time. The game works by alternating stock dealing rounds and operating rounds. Stock dealing rounds allow players to buy shares in the available railway companies. Operating rounds allow the presidents of those companies to build track, run trains & generate revenue for shareholders. This basic system has been much copied and is an integral part of all 18xx games. The original board covered the southern half of Britain, from the south coast to Darlington. In 1981 a northern board was published covering northern Britain & Scotland. Where 1829 differs from most others in the 18xx series is the means by which track is laid. Companies each have a token on the board called a Survey Party. Track is laid by moving the company's Survey token and placing a track tile in the area just vacated... if it is still vacant. This mechanism was discarded in the later 18xx titles, and creates much more of a tactical tile-laying game. It also slows down the game, and 1829 is one of the longer 18xx titles. A typical game can take anything from 4 to 10 hours to play. In 1994 Francis Tresham published 1825, which is largely a modular version of 1829 with simpler rules and a few other enhancements. It plays quite differently from 1829, though, as 1829 was always about competition for routes. The board gaming hobby has in its history a few landmark games, which redefine a part of board games in general, or even spawn an entire genre. 1829 is just such a landmark. Expanded By: MSK 1 Extension Kit for 1829 (Northern & Southern Boards) MSK 2 Extension Kit for 1829 (Southern & Northern boards) MSK 3 Extension Kit for 1829 (Northern & Southern Boards) MSK 5 Extension Kit for 1829 (Northern & Southern Boards) MSK 6 Extension Kit for 1829 (Northern & Southern Boards) 1829 Conversion Kit 1829 Northern Board
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Hartland Trefoil Ltd.
Questions and answers
1829 supports 3–9 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.
The listed playing time for 1829 is 360 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists 1829 for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
1829 has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
1829 belongs to these categories: Economic, Trains, and Transportation. Its main mechanics are Network and Route Building, Hexagon Grid, and Commodity Speculation. 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 credited designers of 1829 are: Francis Tresham. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 1829 as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.