1848: The Golden Spike (aka 1848LT, or "The one true 1862") is a member of the "18xx" series of games. The series is based on 1829, by Francis Tresham. 1848LT is set in the western part of the US.
Two to six players represent investors in railroad corporations, spending their initial capital to buy wholly-owned Private and Subsidiary Companies and shares in Public Corporations and the Credit Mobilier.
The Public Corporations, each controlled by the largest shareholder (its President), build track and run trains in order to earn revenues. These can be paid out as dividends to shareholders or retained to fund further track and rolling stock.
A key feature of 1848LT, as with all the other games in the series, is that the interests of the President and the interests of its shareholders are not identical, so minority shareholders need to be careful in their investments.
Being a President is not without its difficulties, either; bailing out an insolvent Corporation is the sole responsibility of its President.
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