Objective

Russian Railroads is a strategy board game where players act as industrialists in late 19th century Russia. The goal is to collect as many victory points as possible by building railway lines and employing workers.

Game Components

• Game board with three main tracks: Moscow-Vladivostok, Moscow-St. Petersburg, and Moscow-Kiev
• Workers (in the form of small figures)
• Locomotives and technology tiles
• Track tiles (in the form of pieces)
• Engineers
• Player markers for score tracking
• Round card

Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Each player receives a personal player board to track progress on the various lines.
3. Workers and engineers are placed on the board.
4. The round card shows the planned progress for each round.

Game Flow

The game is played over several rounds, each consisting of the following phases:

1. Preparation

2. Place new engineers on the designated spaces on the game board.

3. Player Actions

4. Players take turns placing one of their workers on a free action space. These actions include:

   • Laying Tracks: Place new tracks on one of the three routes.
   • Upgrade Locomotives: Purchase or upgrade locomotives to use longer track sections.
   • Develop Technology: Acquire technology tiles for bonuses or additional victory points.
   • Use Engineers: Employ engineers for special advantages.

5. End of Round

6. After all players have placed their workers, the round ends and points are tallied:

   • Track Advancement: The further your track progresses on certain routes, the more points you earn.
   • Technology Progress: Additional points based on technology achievements.

7. Round Change

8. Remove used engineers and action markers; prepare the board for the next round.

Game Ends

The game ends after the seventh round. After the final score tally, the player with the most victory points wins.

Strategic Tips

• Balance your actions: Invest in both technology and track expansion to create a solid point base.
• Respond to opponents: Try to block their progress when possible, but stay focused on your own plan.
• Plan Ahead: Incorporate round bonuses into your strategy to efficiently leverage them.