The Race to Utah

Materials • 1 game board with 73 spaces, numbered 1–36 along two paths that converge at the center space (the 36th space marked Promontory Summit) • 2 black Steam Locomotive tokens • 16 Firebox cards: two each numbered 1 through 8; card backs show an image of a lump of coal • This rule sheet

Goal Be the first player to reach Promontory Summit in Utah and win the Transcontinental Railroad Race of 1869!

Setup

1. Decide who plays the Central Pacific Line and who plays the Union Pacific Line — flip a coin if you can't agree. Swap roles next game.
2. Lay out the board. Place one Locomotive token on the space marked Sacramento at one end of the track, and the other on the space marked Omaha at the other end.
3. Arrange the 16 Firebox cards face-up in a 4x4 grid next to the board.

How to Play

1. Whoever is further behind on the board always takes the next turn. Both locomotives start tied, so the Central Pacific Line player takes the first turn; if a tie happens again later, alternate who goes first.
2. On your turn, choose any face-up Firebox card and move your locomotive forward that many spaces. Set the card aside.
3. No-Mirror Rule: you can't choose a card with the same number your opponent just picked, unless it's the only card remaining.
4. The first locomotive to reach or pass the space marked Promontory Summit wins the race!