Section 3: Setup
- Place the game board where every player can reach it.
- Each player chooses a color, takes 45 matching train cars, and places the matching scoring marker on the starting space of the scoring track.
- Shuffle the Train Car deck. Deal four Train Car cards face down to each player.
- Place the remaining Train Car deck face down beside the board. Turn over the top five cards and arrange them face up beside the deck.
- If three or more of the five face-up cards are Locomotives, discard all five cards and reveal five replacements. Repeat whenever this condition occurs during play.
- Place the longest continuous path bonus card near the board as a reminder.
- Shuffle the Destination Ticket deck and deal three tickets to each player.
- Each player secretly examines their three tickets and must keep at least two. A player may keep all three.
- Return rejected starting tickets to the bottom of the Destination Ticket deck. Place the remaining deck face down near the board.
Players do not reveal which Destination Tickets they kept. There is no hand-size limit for either Train Car cards or Destination Tickets.
Starting Player
Choose a starting player by mutual agreement, a random method, or a lighthearted travel-themed choice such as the player who most recently rode a train. Turns then proceed clockwise.
Setup Check
Before beginning, confirm that every player has four Train Car cards, at least two Destination Tickets, 45 train cars, and a scoring marker on the start of the scoring track. The display must contain five face-up Train Car cards and fewer than three face-up Locomotives.