36 of the 39 tiles show different parts of locomotives, passenger and freight carriages, and the other three are Conductor cards. The cards are of thick cardboard and are taller than they are wide. All tiles are shuffled together and placed face down. Players draw a hand of 5 cards in the 2-player game, or 3 cards in the 3 or 4-player version.
Players take it in turns to draw one card, and then must either lay one from their hand, or discard one to a discard pile. Train pieces must match together, but can be started from the middle of the carriage or engine. New locomotives or carriages can be started against a completed one, to form a longer train.
The game ends once a player has completed a locomotive and one or more carriages, and also has one of the conductor cards in their hand. Points are then awarded for completed locomotives and carriages, and conductors in the hand. Highest score wins.