- BGG rank
- BGG #654
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Wabash Cannonball
- 2–6 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2007
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- BGG rating
- 7.0
Prairie Railroads
1999
Rules assistance for Prairie Railroads
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30–60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.0/5
Rules assistant for Prairie Railroads
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Prairie Railroads is a board game released in 1999 for 3–5 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by John Bohrer and its main mechanics are Network and Route Building and Stock Holding.
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About the game
America is opening the Great Plains and America’s railroads are forging ahead, across the Mississippi and going West as fast as they can. Hardy pioneers are building towns & cities as they raise cattle and grow wheat & other crops. The railroads are needed to carry this bounty to the hungry East. Six major railroads are funded by aggressive investors looking to get rich in this venture. The railroads vie for dominance in this expanding market, driving west. Players are investors and railroad Presidents in this struggle to capitalize this explosive market to the greatest extent possible. Balancing time vs money is critical in this game. The ability to react to organically growing markets increasing constantly adds a level of decision making where recognizing savvy opportunities is a key to success.
Editions
- Prairie RailroadsenRio Grande Games2024
- Prairie RailroadsenWinsome Games2011
- Prairie RailroadsenWinsome Games1999
- Prairie RailroadsenWinsome Games1999
- Prairie RailroadsenWinsome Games1999
Designers
Publishers
- Rio Grande Games
- Winsome Games
Questions and answers
Prairie Railroads supports 3–5 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 Prairie Railroads is 30–60 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 Prairie Railroads 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.
Prairie Railroads has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Prairie Railroads belongs to these categories: Economic and Trains. Its main mechanics are Network and Route Building and Stock Holding. 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 Prairie Railroads are: John Bohrer. 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 Prairie Railroads 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.