# Age of Rail: South Africa – Expansion Maps: Allegheny & La Pampa ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2025 - **BGG Rating**: 7.5 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 3-6 (Best with: 4, 5) - **Duration**: 60 min - **Weight**: 3.50 / 5 - **Designers**: John Bohrer - **Artists**: Ian O'Toole - **Publishers**: Capstone Games - **Categories**: Economic, Expansion for Base-game, Trains, Transportation - **Mechanics**: Action Drafting, Auction / Bidding, Stock Holding, Victory Points as a Resource ## Verdict If you're already a fan of Age of Rail and want more maps to call your own, this expansion is a gem! It brings two new scenarios that add extra spice to your games.Two brand-new mapsNew strategic dynamicsKeeps the game's essenceIdeal for experienced fansRequires the base gameAdds complexityMore of the same, but goodHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Hey Age of Rail fans, check this out! This expansion brings two brand-new boards to spice up your games. On one side, we've got the Allegheny map, taking you to Pennsylvania with a few rule tweaks to make things more interesting. On the other, the adventure continues in La Pampa, Argentina, opening up new routes and kicking off the gameplay right from Buenos Aires. Both maps are pure fun for those who love introducing the six railway companies in a fresh way, blending strategy with that thrill of watching the market. If you already enjoy the base game and want more content to explore, this expansion is a perfect fit. Get ready for more intense auctions, action management, and that race for points we all love. It's the kind of game that makes you think about every move, from choosing your action to investing in railways. With a medium weight, it's ideal for those already skilled at Age of Rail looking for an extra challenge, or for newcomers wanting a taste of its best elements. The expansion not only adds new scenarios but also deepens the mechanics that make the game a hit, ensuring hours of engaging and strategic gameplay. It's the kind of material that renews interest and brings new dynamics to the table, keeping the game always fresh and exciting. ## How to Play Game Objective In Age of Rail: Allegheny, 3 to 6 players compete to expand their railroads and develop strategic locations. The core objective is to manage your actions and investments to maximize the success of the railroad companies. The game lasts about an hour, and the winner is determined by the final accumulated score. Setup The initial setup follows these guidelines: Initial Offering: The Initial Shares are auctioned one at a time in the following order: Red C&O, Blue B&O, Orange NYC, Yellow B&M, and Purple PRR. The Black P&LE railroad is not open at the start of the game. Starting Player: The first player is the one who holds the Purple PRR share. Play proceeds clockwise. Railroad Bases: Blue C&O: Richmond (1) Red B&O: Baltimore (2) Orange NYC: New York (3) Yellow B&M: Boston (4) Purple PRR: Philadelphia (5) Game Flow The game progresses in turns, starting with the player who holds the Purple PRR and continuing clockwise until the end of the match. During their turn, players perform specific actions to expand their networks and develop the map. Actions and How to Play The main actions available are: Build Track When performing this action, note that a railroad cannot build a double Track Link that enters and exits Pittsburgh. Additionally, External Connections on the Allegheny map only pay the Connection Bonus and do not increase the Value of the railroad. Opening the P&LE When a railroad reaches Pittsburgh, the Black P&LE railroad is opened. A P&LE share is immediately put up for auction following the Initial Offering rules. The first bid is offered by the player who made the connection. After winning the auction and paying the Treasury, the player must build, at no cost, a Track Link starting from Pittsburgh. The P&LE Income disc must be updated on the Railroad Income Track. Develop Locations The player must develop at least one Location (a Settlement or a Metropolitan Area). Both can only be developed if a railroad is connected to them. It is possible to develop up to two Locations. The first development is free. The second costs $3, paid from the player's personal supply to the bank. Automatic Metropolitan Area Development: If the player chooses not to perform a second development, an automatic development occurs. It is not necessary to have a railroad connected for this. The order of priority is: Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago. If all are developed, nothing happens. End of Game and Scoring Consult the manual for details on this section. Tips for Winning Pay attention to the Automatic Development priority order (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago) to plan your development actions without spending extra money. Remember that External Connections are useful for the Connection Bonus, but do not count toward increasing your railroad's Value. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base Age of Rail game to play this expansion? Yes, absolutely! This expansion adds new boards and scenarios, but you need the base Age of Rail game to play. ### How many players does this expansion support? The expansion maintains the player count of the base game, which is 3 to 6 players. The new maps are designed to work well within this range. ### Does the game time change with this expansion? The estimated game time for this expansion is 60 minutes, the same as the base game. The new maps might add a little time depending on players' familiarity with the new rules. ### Does the game's complexity increase significantly? The overall complexity is considered medium (3.5/5 on BGG). The new maps introduce some rule modifications, which might slightly increase the learning curve for those only familiar with the original map. ### What do the Allegheny and La Pampa maps offer differently? Allegheny focuses on Pennsylvania with adapted rules, while La Pampa opens up Argentina, starting in Buenos Aires. Both bring new ways to interact with railway companies and expand the game. ### Is this expansion focused on any specific theme? Yes, the main theme remains the development of railways and the economy tied to transportation, with the new maps exploring specific regions and their particularities. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6209932&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6136413&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6145089&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.86 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6215971&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 19.05 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6073688&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 19.95 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6144746&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 20.20 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6829802&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 20.36 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6718717&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 21.60 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6289813&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 23.48 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6102000&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/78150/age-of-rail-south-africa-expansion-maps-allegheny-la-pampa?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com