Train Games

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We have hosted the Train Gamers Association at U-Con for years.  Each year, they bring us 30+ events that relate to trains.  While these games are part of the [[Puffing Billy®]] Tournament, you need not participate in the tournament to play these games.  The train gamers are very welcoming and are willing to teach all games.

Train Game Categories

For the sake of the tournament, the train games are divided up in to categories.  This is a handy reference for others as well, because games in categories 1, 4, 5, and 7 are (in my humble opinion) easier for new players to learn.

  • Category 1: Ticket to Ride (all board game variants)
  • Category 2: Empire Builder (all variants)
  • Category 3: 18XX (all variants)
  • Category 4: Union Pacific, Santa Fe, Freight Train, Ticket to Ride card game, Railways of the World card game, Station Master, Hell Rails, Days of Steam; First Train to Nuremberg, Trans America, Trans Europe, all other card games & Alan Moon designed games
  • Category 5: On the Underground, Metro, Cable Car, Streetcar, Linnie I, Chicago Express, Steel Driver, Trainsport, Circus Train, Railway Rivals, Dampfross, Paris Connections, Spectral Rails, Stephenson’s Rocket, & all other 2-hour games
  • Category 6: Railways of the World (all board game variants), Rails of New England, Brass, Age of Industry
  • Category 7: Express, Settlers of America, & all other 3-hour games
  • Category 8: Silverton, Steam, Age of Steam (all variants)
  • Category 9: Rail Baron, Baltimore & Ohio, & all other 4-hour or longer games

Play Games All Weekend Ribbon

If you want to play in an event or two, purchase a few generics and show up to the train game area in the board game room.  If you want to play a lot of train games (and other board games) we recommend purchasing a “Play Games All Weekend” Ribbon.  Those who purchase a ribbon may use it for games other than just the train games.

The ribbons were introduced last year at the convention, and they were very well received.  It costs $15, and allows you to play in any regular event without purchasing individual event ticket or dealing with generics.  Events where the ribbon may not be used will be noted in the event description.  The ribbon cannot be used to reserve your seat in a game in advance.  This is rarely a problem for train games, but sometimes is a problem for popular miniatures, role-playing, and board games.  If there is a game you absolutely want to play in, you should purchase the reserve ticket and factor that in to whether or not the ribbon is a good investment.

Tournament Rules

If you want to participate in the tournament, simply start playing games.  Players earn points based on the finish position for their best game in each category.  Read through the [[Puffing Billy®]] Tournament rules or ask the tournament runners or veterans about how it works.

Whether you participate in the tournament or not, we hope you’ll find games that you enjoy!