The driving of the Golden Spike in 1869 completed the first transcontinental railroad in the United States—but it was actually only the beginning of a rapid expansion of railroads that would crisscross the country.

In Whistle Stop, you'll make your way west across the country, using your fledgling railroad company to build routes, pick up valuable freight, and deliver needed goods to growing cities, creating a network of whistle stops that you and your competitors can use. Along the way, you'll gain shares in other railroads and watch your reputation rise with each successful delivery before making a final push to complete long journeys to the booming cities of the West.

This design is a new twist on pick-up-and-deliver games. As players move their trains west and pick up goods, they can take those goods to small towns to gain shares in the railroads or hold onto them for a bigger payout when they reach the west coast. At the same time, they try to optimize their actions (and get extra actions), lay down new track tiles, block the other players, collect valuable whistles and use them for special moves and skills, and carefully manage their coal supplies.

NOTE: In addition to the base game, you also get the Rocky Mountains expansion.