Rating: 
Summary: If you like building more than blowing up
Review: This is a satisfying and constructive game in which the gamer starts a company, lays track, builds stations, and decides what cars (loads) to carry. Among its STRENGTHS are the many scenarios; complexity varying from "sandbox" mode (build what you want without regard to cost or competitors) to difficult (facing AI opponents, and using an economic model involving stock market manipulations); easily available maps on the net; easy scenario and map creator;and the truly wonderful graphics, evocative of Thomas Hart Benton paintings. Among the WEAKNESSES are the absence of an undo button, useful because track-laying can be tricky; the relatively restricted choice of raw materials and industries to service; and a general sameness among scenarios, excepting the different areas of the world being covered. This is a very good game if you want to construct a (railroad) empire without devoting all your energies to fighting off military attacks, and if you find repeated actions, like changing the railroad cars, fun. This game will quickly become tedious to action junkies.
Rating: 
Summary: I hope you don't have anything important to do... ever again
Review: This is a WONDERFUL game. I have never played a game which has so many facets to it, yet is so well designed that it never overwhelms. The different scenarios emphasize different aspects of the game, so you can play the scenarios that work to your strengths until you develop other skills. Also, each scenario has a number of random elements, and has a choice of three different starting conditions, so each can be replayed many times. There are a few minor annoyances, but they are just that: minor. They aren't even worth mentioning. This is a game to own and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A great strategy sim.
Review: This is one of the better strategy sims I've ever played. It combines resource management, building, interesting history, interesting railroading facts, good gameplay, and an intutive interface. If I had kids, I would buy this for them even if they didn't ask for it. And on top of all that, its like having a giant railroad set on your computer where you can play on in real terrain (based roughly on real topological maps) at different points in history. Some people are bothered by the tweaked timeline, but they obviously haven't programmed sim games or thought through the implications of making it completely realistic. I think they have done an excellent job of balancing gameplay and I'm looking forward to anything else these guys put out. I've put this away a few times, but often come back to it or the Second Century edition.
Rating:
Summary: Pardon me Roy, is that the cat that chewed your new shoes?
Review: What? Jesse James robbed my passenger train from Chicago to Denver AGAIN? What am I paying you people for, to sit around the caboose, get drunk and play poker? Oh, hi! Didn't see you come in. I've been so busy running this continent spanning railroad empire ... it really takes a lot of my time, you know. I remember the old days of running a railroad ... you could old look straight down on things and could circle around to have a better look. Stations were harder to get exactly where you wanted them to be and those mountains just weren't up to the standards of the mountains we have today. Amazing we ever survived! Anyway, things are pretty good these day, what with all the new cargos; alcohol, munitions, aluminum, bauxite and many others. Oh, glorious profit! The opportunity to expand your empire is almost limitless as well, you can build your railways just about anywhere on Earth ... and some places beyond. Be sure to check out those slick new trains! Oh yes, a quick word about personal gains: keep an eye on that stock market. Glory for the company is great, but why not take home a few million for yourself while you're at it? Well, I've got to get back to my empire. These empires don't build themselves you know.
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