- BGG rating
- 7.1
Chicago Express: Narrow Gauge & Erie Railroad Company
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2009
- BGG rank
- BGG #654
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Wabash Cannonball
2007
Rules assistance for Wabash Cannonball
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 30–60 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Wabash Cannonball
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Wabash Cannonball is a board game released in 2007 for 2–6 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by John Bohrer and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Ownership, and Network and Route Building.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Chicago Express: Nickel Plate Road Expansion
- 2–6 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2011
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About the game
Wabash Cannonball, which has also been released as Chicago Express, was the first title in Winsome Games' Historic Railroads System. In the game, the B&O, C&O, Pennsylvania and New York Central railroads drive from the East Coast across the growing eastern U.S. to Chicago. Smaller, more aggressive railroads like the Wabash spring up to further expand America's extensive railroads. The sharpest railroad executives vie for the maximum return on their investment in this luck-free business game lasting about one hour. The game plays out over a maximum of eight rounds. In each round, players take turns choosing one of three available actions: Auctioning a share of one of the railroad companies. Expanding the rail system of one of the railroad companies. Developing one of the board's hexes. Each of these actions is available only a limited number of times. As soon as two actions can no longer be chosen, a dividend phase is executed in which all players gain income from the railroad companies of which they have shares. After this dividend phase, the number of actions is reset, and a new round begins. The game ends after eight rounds or if one of the following conditions is met: Three or more companies have no more locomotives. Three or more companies have no more shares. The general supply contains at most three houses. At this point, the player with the most money wins. Note: Some editions of this game have carried a player count of 2-6, while the 2023 Rio Grande Games edition is labeled for 3-6 players. No rules have been changed.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Queen Games
- Rio Grande Games
- Winsome Games
- M-Ágnes
Questions and answers
Wabash Cannonball 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.
The listed playing time for Wabash Cannonball 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 Wabash Cannonball 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.
Wabash Cannonball has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Wabash Cannonball belongs to these categories: Economic, Trains, and Transportation. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Ownership, and Network and Route Building. 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 Wabash Cannonball 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 Wabash Cannonball 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.