Last Train to Wensleydale

About this board game

Last Train to Wensleydale is a railway-themed board game for 3–4 players, with play lasting about 120 minutes. Set in the Yorkshire Dales, it challenges players to build railway lines that connect local goods and passengers with the major trunk routes of the North Eastern Railway and the Midland Railway.

The Dales’ valleys strongly influence where track can be built, making route planning an important part of the game. Once a line is constructed, its company must acquire second-hand engines and rolling stock to move the goods and passengers connected to the route.

There are three kinds of traffic to handle: stone from the quarries, cheese destined for market, and the occasional passenger seeking a journey to civilization. Running a line can quickly become unprofitable, so the key is knowing when to have one of the two major railway companies take it over before its losses become your responsibility.

• Build track across challenging Yorkshire Dales terrain.
• Move stone, cheese, and passengers toward major railway routes.
• Acquire second-hand engines and rolling stock for your lines.
• Overcome local opposition with government influence and compulsory purchase orders.

Local residents and farmers may object to railways crossing their land, creating another obstacle for ambitious railway directors. To overcome this resistance, you need influence in government to arrange the necessary compulsory purchase orders. Contacts with other train companies are also valuable when you need equipment for your growing network.

With its distinctive mix of railway construction, transported goods, government influence, and route takeovers, Last Train to Wensleydale turns the business of building a small railway into a demanding Yorkshire enterprise.