18GL

About this board game

18GL is an 18xx railway game for 2–6 players, set in the US Great Lakes region, with an approximate play time of 300 minutes.

The game shares many features with David G. Hecht’s 1826: Railroading in France and Belgium. It also introduces its own combination of systems and themes, creating a Great Lakes setting shaped by railroads, ferry lines, private companies, mergers, and diesel locomotives.

Unlike 1826, 18GL has no destinations. As a result, it also does not include 5-share corporations. The game features only one merger corporation, while using diesels in place of the TGVs found in 1826.

• A Great Lakes setting in the United States
• A varied mix of private companies
• A small amount of random setup involving the private companies
• Ferry lines and one merger corporation
• Diesels instead of TGVs

The private companies offer a varied starting mix, with a small random element helping distinguish one setup from another. Ferry lines add another notable feature to the game’s railway landscape, while the merger corporation provides a focused corporate element rather than a broad collection of merger corporations.

18GL combines these distinctive ideas with a mix of features drawn from numerous games in the 18xx series. The result is a substantial railway title for groups seeking a long session in a setting inspired by the US Great Lakes. Released in 2005, it offers a focused variation on the 18xx tradition while clearly reflecting its connection to 1826.