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1836Jr56

Designer: David Hecht

The same short, kid-friendly 18xx, this time built from 1856's components.

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1836Jr56 Contents

How it works

Setup
  • 1856's rules on 1836Jr's Benelux map, for 2-4 players
  • 900 F split among the players (4 players: 225 F each); 6,000 F bank
  • Auction of 4 privates, as in 1830
  • 6 companies with a home city and a destination
  • The [MESS], the national company, waits for the first 6-train
Stock round ×1
  • In turn: sell, buy one certificate, and sell again
  • Whoever buys a president's certificate sets the par price: 65-100 F
  • Each share sold drops the share price one row
  • At the end: sold-out companies go up
Operating round ×1-3
  • Privates pay income to their owner
  • Each company, highest share price first:
  • 1. Take a 100 F loan or repay some
  • 2. One tile (new or upgrade)
  • 3. One station
  • 4. Run trains; on reaching its destination, it collects the escrowed capital
  • 5. Interest: 10 F per loan
  • 6. Pay out (up) or withhold (down)
  • 7. Buy trains
↻ Repeats until the end
End
  • The bank runs out of money
  • Play continues to the end of that set of operating rounds
  • Or a player goes bankrupt: the game ends at once
  • Most cash plus shares at current share price wins

Components

Players
  • Cash
  • Shares: normally at most 60% of a company
  • Privates
  • Certificate limit (4 players: 10)
Companies
  • Start operating with just 20% sold (more as trains run out)
  • 100 F loans: as many as shares held by players
  • Capital per share sold; the second half once it reaches its destination
Bank
  • 6,000 F
  • Initial offering and market
  • Loans, until phase 6
  • New trains and trains in the market
Privates
  • Fixed income every operating round
  • [ACC], ferry, Hainaut mines, [RdP] (+20 F in one city)
  • All close with the first 5-train
Map
  • The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg
  • Water 40 or 80 F, mountain 60 F
  • Ports (Harwich, Dover, Paris): from green, +20 F (+30 F in brown) for each of the company's own stations on the route

Where the money goes

  • Players Companies Initial offering shares at par (with escrowed capital, only the first 5)
  • Players Bank Market shares and privates in the auction
  • Bank Companies Loans, escrowed capital on reaching the destination, withheld revenue
  • Bank Players Dividends, private income, share sales
  • Companies Bank Trains, terrain, stations, interest, loan repayment
  • Players Companies The president covers interest or a train the company can't afford

Phases

2
Start
2 · 100 F (5)
Yellow; 4 trains; 1 operating round; escrowed capital; 20% to operate
3
1st 3-train
3 · 225 F (4)
Green; 2 operating rounds; privates can be bought; 30% to operate
4
1st 4-train
4 · 350 F (3)
2s rust; 3 trains; 40% to operate
5
1st 5-train
5 · 550 F (2)
Brown; privates close; 2 trains; 3 operating rounds
6
1st 6-train
6 · 700 F (2)
Grey; 3s rust; no more loans: nationalisation and the [MESS] is born
8
1st 8-train
8 · 1,000 F (5); 650 F trading in a 4, 5 or 6
4s rust (variant: 1,100 F diesel)
  • Capital in three stages: a company started while 4-trains remain collects the first 5 shares sold and the rest is held in escrow until it reaches its destination; those started later are incremental and, once the 5-trains run out, fully capitalised as in 1830.
  • At the first 6-train, loans end: each company must repay its own, and any that can't (even with the president's help) goes into the [MESS].
  • Shares in the market earn dividends for the company, not the bank.

A round, step by step

Illustrative example using 18xx.games' 1856 rules and 1836Jr56's numbers: 4 players with 225 F each. We follow [P1] and the [B], the Belgian company based in Brussels, through the first stock round and the first two operating rounds.

  1. Initial auction The cheapest one Phase 2

    In turn, each player either buys the cheapest private at face value or leaves a bid on another. [P1] buys the [ACC] at face value, 20 F. It has no ability, but pays 5 F every operating round.

    [P1] cash
    205 F
    [B] treasury
    —
    [B] share price
    —
    [B] loans
    —
    [B] trains
    —
  2. Stock round 1 President of the [B] Phase 2

    [P1] buys the [B] president's certificate (20%) and sets its par price at 70 F. The 140 F doesn't go to the bank: it goes into the [B]'s treasury.

    Possible par prices: 65, 70, 75, 80, 90 or 100 F.

    [P1] cash
    65 F
    [B] treasury
    140 F
    [B] share price
    70 F
    [B] loans
    0
    [B] trains
    —
  3. Stock round 1 Ready to operate Phase 2

    [P3] buys 10% of the [B]: another 70 F into the treasury. In this phase, 20% sold is enough for a company to operate, and the [B] already has 30%.

    With escrowed capital, the company collects the first 5 shares sold; the money for the other 5 is held back until it reaches its destination (Maastricht and Liège, for the [B]).

    [P1] cash
    65 F
    [B] treasury
    210 F
    [B] share price
    70 F
    [B] loans
    0
    [B] trains
    —
  4. Operating round 1 Income and a loan Phase 2

    The [ACC] pays [P1] 5 F. The [B] opens its turn by taking a loan: the bank gives it 100 F. It can have as many loans as players hold its shares (3).

    Only one loan per turn, and you can't take and repay in the same turn.

    [P1] cash
    70 F
    [B] treasury
    310 F
    [B] share price
    70 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    —
  5. Operating round 1 Antwerpen Phase 2

    It lays the yellow Antwerpen city on Brussels' northern exit. No terrain: it pays nothing.

    [P1] cash
    70 F
    [B] treasury
    310 F
    [B] share price
    70 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    —
  6. Operating round 1 Interest and share price Phase 2

    No trains, no run. It still pays 10 F interest on the loan. With no dividend, the share price moves one space left, from 70 F to 65 F.

    [P1] cash
    70 F
    [B] treasury
    300 F
    [B] share price
    65 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    —
  7. Operating round 1 Two 2-trains Phase 2

    It buys two 2-trains from the bank at 100 F each. There are only 5 in the whole game.

    [P1] cash
    70 F
    [B] treasury
    100 F
    [B] share price
    65 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    2 + 2
  8. Stock round 2 One more share Phase 2

    [P1] buys another 10% of the [B] at par. It's still one of the first 5 shares: the 70 F goes to the treasury. They now hold 30%.

    [P1] cash
    0 F
    [B] treasury
    170 F
    [B] share price
    65 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    2 + 2
  9. Operating round 2 Gent Phase 2

    The [ACC] pays [P1] 5 F. The [B] takes no further loan and lays the yellow Gent city on Brussels' other exit.

    [P1] cash
    5 F
    [B] treasury
    170 F
    [B] share price
    65 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    2 + 2
  10. Operating round 2 Two routes Phase 2

    One 2-train runs Brussels–Antwerpen: 30 + 20 = 50 F. The other runs Brussels–Gent: another 50 F. Total: 100 F. It pays 10 F interest from the treasury.

    If the treasury couldn't cover the interest, it would come out of the revenue.

    [P1] cash
    5 F
    [B] treasury
    160 F
    [B] share price
    65 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    2 + 2
  11. Operating round 2 Paying out Phase 2

    The [B] pays out: 10 F per share. [P1], with 30%, collects 30 F. Shares in the initial offering get nothing. The share price moves one space right, from 65 F to 70 F.

    Shares in the market do get paid: the dividend goes to the company.

    [P1] cash
    35 F
    [B] treasury
    160 F
    [B] share price
    70 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    2 + 2
  12. Operating round 2 No purchase Phase 2

    The [B] buys no train: 160 F isn't enough for a 3-train (225 F), so it keeps what it has. It'll repay the loan at the start of a future turn.

    [P1] cash
    35 F
    [B] treasury
    160 F
    [B] share price
    70 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    2 + 2
  13. Towards stock round 3 What now? Phase 2

    The [B] wants to reach Maastricht and Liège to collect its escrowed capital. And before the first 6-train it has to repay the loan: otherwise, it could end up inside the [MESS].

    [P1] cash
    35 F
    [B] treasury
    160 F
    [B] share price
    70 F
    [B] loans
    1
    [B] trains
    2 + 2

1836Jr56 — Summary

Capitalization type

  • Three-stage capitalization, just like 1856: companies float with only 20% sold, with the rest of the capital held in "escrow." Once the third 4-train is bought, new companies switch to incremental capitalization (collecting money as each share actually sells). Once the second 5-train is bought, they switch to full capitalization (100% at once, as in 1830). A company still in escrow that connects its home to its assigned "destination" hex releases its escrow early.

Floating percentage and per-player share limits

  • Floats once 60% of shares are sold (a single threshold for all corporations), though this threshold interacts with the game's own three-stage capitalization (see "Capitalization type" above)
  • No player may hold more than 60% (6 of 10 certificates) of a single corporation, no exceptions
  • Certificate limit per player: 2 players — 20; 3 players — 13; 4 players — 10

Starting cash by player count

  • 2 players: 450 F starting cash
  • 3 players: 300 F starting cash
  • 4 players: 225 F starting cash
  • The bank always starts with 6,000 F, regardless of the number of players

End game triggers

  • The bank runs out of money: the current full operating round set is finished, then the game stops
  • A company goes bankrupt and can't complete payment for a mandatory train: immediate end
  • Nationalization (the MESS being born) doesn't end the game by itself: it's only triggered by the purchase of the first 6-train

Number of phases

  • 6 phases in total (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, then either 8 by default or D with the optional Diesel rule), triggered by the purchase of the first train of each type
  • Each phase also determines the current capitalization stage and whether loans are still available (they get cut off once phase 6 arrives)

Train list and prices

  • 2 train — 100 F (5 copies; rusts on the first 4-train)
  • 3 train — 225 F (4 copies; rusts on the first 6-train)
  • 4 train — 350 F (3 copies; rusts on the first 8-train, or the first Diesel if the "Diesel variant" optional rule is used)
  • 5 train — 550 F (2 copies; buying it closes the private companies)
  • 6 train — 700 F (2 copies; the first one bought triggers nationalization and removes tokens from the map)
  • 8 train — 1,000 F (5 copies, available from phase 6; allows trading in old trains for a 350 F discount each) — the default final train
  • Diesel (D) — 1,100 F (practically unlimited, 22 copies; same 350 F discount per old train) — replaces the 8-train only if the "Diesel variant" optional rule is activated

List of private companies

  • Amsterdam Canal Company (ACC) — 20 F, revenue 5 F — no special ability; blocks hex D6 while owned by a player
  • Enkhuizen-Stavoren Ferry (E-SF) — 40 F, revenue 10 F — lets its owner lay a free tile on hex B8, in addition to the normal tile lay for the turn
  • Charbonnages du Hainaut (CdH) — 50 F, revenue 10 F — lets its owner lay a tile and station token on hex J8 for just the mountain terrain cost, with no connection to the existing network required
  • Régie des Postes (RdP) — 70 F, revenue 15 F — lets its owning company place a "+20" marker on any city or town: from then on, every time one of that company's trains passes through it, the location is worth 20 F more, forever
  • All privates close, at the latest, once the first 5-train is bought

List of corporations

  • Chemins de Fer de l'État Belge (B) — home at H6
  • Grande Compagnie du Luxembourg (GCL) — home at I9
  • Chemin de Fer du Nord (Nord) — home at I3
  • Noord-Brabantsch-Duitsche Spoorweg-Maatschappij (NBDS) — home at E11
  • Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg Maatschappij (HSM) — home at D6
  • Noord-Friesche Locaal (NFL) — home at A9
  • Maatschappij tot Exploitie van de Staats-Spoorwegen (MESS) — doesn't exist at the start of the game: it's born once the first 6-train is bought, formed from leftover shares of other companies; it has no home of its own, an effectively unlimited train limit, and can borrow an 8-train or Diesel whenever it's left without a train

Game-specific mechanics

  • Corporate loans of 100 F each, at 10% interest per loan; the maximum number of simultaneous loans a company can hold equals its number of shares held by players; available up through phase 6, at which point any outstanding loans must be repaid
  • Nationalization: buying the first 6-train removes tokens from the map and spins up the MESS, absorbing leftover shares from other companies
  • Destinations: each regular company has an assigned destination hex; connecting its network there while still in escrow immediately releases all of its held capital
  • Fixed certificate limit (20/13/10 depending on whether there are 2, 3, or 4 players), never recalculated after nationalization
  • Ports (Harwich, Dover, Paris) that pay no revenue of their own: they add +20 F (green phase) or +30 F (brown phase) to a route with at least two other stops

Emergency sell

Essentially the 1830 baseline, with one restriction borrowed from 1856: a corporation forced to buy a train can only buy it from the bank, never from another company's holdings. Otherwise the sequence is unchanged — treasury, then the president's personal cash, then a forced sale of the president's shares in any corporation, exempt from the normal restrictions, with bankruptcy as the backstop.

Comparison with 1830

1. Built on 1856's engine, not 1830's
1830 covers the northeastern USA for 2-6 players. 1836Jr56 shares the same Netherlands-and-Belgium map as its sibling 1836Jr30 and the same 2-4 player range, but instead of being built on 1830's system, it's literally built on 1856's rules engine: staged capitalization, loans and nationalization are all present from the start, none of which happens in its 1830-based twin.

2. Three-stage capitalization, not full from the start
In 1830 a company floats at 60% sold and always receives 100% of par value immediately. In 1836Jr56, exactly as in 1856, a company only needs 20% sold to start operating (with capital held in "escrow"), then moves through an incremental capitalization stage, and only reaches full capitalization (100%) in a later phase of the game. Its twin, 1836Jr30, keeps 1830's immediate, full capitalization instead.

3. Nationalization: the MESS, a direct heir of 1856's CGR
This mechanic doesn't exist in 1830 at all. When the first type-6 train is bought, a nationalization event fires that removes tokens from the map and spins up a new state company, the MESS (Maatschappij tot Exploitie van de Staats-Spoorwegen), formed from leftover shares of other companies. It's exactly the same concept as 1856's CGR, just with a Dutch name and setting.

4. Corporate loans, absent from 1830 and from 1836Jr30
Companies in 1836Jr56 can take out loans of 100 F each, at 10% interest, up to a maximum equal to their number of shares held by players. This resource, absent from both 1830 and its 1830-based twin, gets cut off once phase 6 arrives: from that point on, outstanding loans must be repaid and no new ones can be taken.

5. Only four privates, two fewer than 1830, 1856, and 1836Jr30
1830 has six privates, and 1856 also has six (same as 1836Jr30). 1836Jr56 cuts that down to four, going further than the reduction already made in its 1830-based sibling.

6. Régie des Postes: a private that leaves a permanent mark on the map
This private, exclusive to 1836Jr56, lets its owning company place a "+20" marker on any city or town: from that point on, every time one of that company's trains passes through it, the location is worth 20 F more, forever. Nothing like this exists among 1830's six privates.

7. A fixed certificate limit, not dynamic like in 1856
In 1856 the certificate limit is recalculated after nationalization, based on how many companies remain in play. In 1836Jr56 that limit stays fixed (20/13/10 depending on whether there are 2, 3, or 4 players) regardless of whether nationalization has already happened — a deliberate simplification compared to 1856 that 1830, having no nationalization at all, doesn't even need.

8. 1856's trains, with an optional switch to pick a Diesel instead of the type-8 train
1836Jr56's train prices (100/225/350/550/700/1,000 F for types 2 through 8) are exactly 1856's, not 1830's. By default the game ends with the type-8 train, just like 1856; but an optional rule replaces it with a 1,100 F Diesel with a 350 F trade-in discount per old train — the same discount as the 8-train itself, not 1830's 300 F — meant to offer a more familiar ending for groups coming from 1830 or 1836Jr30.

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