Sometimes it's fun to jump start a game of Rail Baron by giving out a few properties to start the game. This helps to shorten the game by removing some of the cheaper rail lines without removing the overall strategy of making good connections.

Step 1 - Rolling for home cities.

a. No change in the original rules. Players roll for home cities as usual.

b. The home city rolled can impact which property a player may receive to start the game.

Step 2 - Property Distribution.

a. During this phase at the start of the game players will be given the opportunity to select rail lines from a select group of properties.

b. The following properties will be selected at the start of the game based on the number of players.

3 Player Game - NYNH&H, RF&P, T&P, N&W, B&M, GM&0, IC, D&RGW, C&NW 4 Player Game - NYNH&H, RF&P, T&P, N&W, B&M, GM&0, IC, D&RGW 5 Player Game - NYNH&H, GM&O, RF&P, N&W, B&M

c. The first of properties are distributed in the following manner. Any player with the following home cities will be alloted the following rail line. This will prevent the player from paying additional money to an opponent at the start of the game, because they are locked out of their home city.

Boston: NYNH&H Portland, MN: B&M Norfolk: N&W Rapid City: CN&W (3 player game only)

d. Players each a roll die to determine player selection order. Afterwards, property select proceeds according to table below. Note: If a player already received a propety because of their home city, then they must skip their first round of selection.

3 Player Game (9 properties) Player 1 selects the 1st property. Player 2 selects the 2nd property. Player 3 selects the 3rd property. Player 3 selects the 4th property. Player 2 selects the 5th property. Player 1 selects the 6th property. Player 2 selects the 7th property. Player 3 selects the 8th property. Player 1 selects the 9th property.

4 Player Game (8 properties) Player 1 selects the 1st property. Player 2 selects the 2nd property. Player 3 selects the 3rd property. Player 4 selects the 4th property. Player 4 selects the 5th property. Player 3 selects the 6th property. Player 2 selects the 7th property. Player 1 selects the 8th property.

5 Player Game (5 properties) Player 1 selects the 1st property. Player 2 selects the 2nd property. Player 3 selects the 3rd property. Player 4 selects the 4th property. Player 5 selects the 4th property.

Step 3 - Starting Cash (Optional).
a. Players will begin the game with $25,000 in place of $20,000.

Step 4 - Order of Play.
a. The order of play will be the opposite of the initial order of selection.