SANTA FE

Easy to learn... but not easy to master. Very German-game feeling (struggle with limited resources) + the game is a direct descendant of Wildlife Adventure/Terra X/Expedition. If you can find 2 copies at a good price, buy it! ...if you can only find one, e-mail me 1st!!!! :)

FREIGHT TRAIN

Railroad switching yard theme... but really a rummy-like game with some very sweet twists. Very easy to learn... but don't play my wife! (I've only beat her once...) You draw from a center yard (where you can see the available cars) and work to collect the 'best' trains. (A similar game by the same designer is Get the Goods/Reibach & Co.).

In fact, I didn't realize till now that both of these games (Santa Fe & Freight Train) are Alan Moon games (wake up, Mark!) Alan's the designer of Elfenland, which just won the Spiel des Jahres 1998 (Game of the Year) in Germany. I recommend all three heartily.

STUFF

Try playing Rail Baron to $150,000 (with declaration at $100,000)... it shortens the game a bit without sacrificing the need for building a good rail network.