gaijinalways

Still enjoying, now have connected to Constanople and I did get the Romania bonus as well. The economy is sluggish, but predicted to pick up. I probably need to redo more routes depending on where cargo/passengers is building up. I always love grabbing passengers, but I do find that cargo saves running some half empty trains or helps with holding you over during bad times. It's almost '63 now, and I have 5-6 trains running toward my goal of 24 trips. Anyone know about how long those runs take usually? The referenced guide is pretty general, that's why I was looking for other players' feedback. I also spent money building a bypass through Serbia for my Constanople to Paris trains as I figured that would speed up that part of the journey. I will probably try and get that route off my main tracks where ever I can depending on money of course. My debt is a little higher now, maybe 11-12 bonds, but manageable.

Was wondering if ayone had any tips as to when you should start shifting loads between Paris and Constanople and how long it takes to complete the 24 loads once you have track completed between those two points. In my current campaign, I have tracked all the way to Constana, so I still　need to buy rights in Bulgaria and the Ottoman empire. I noticed the prices for both regions has dropped slightly, so I was wondering if it is better to wait and build up some more income (currently in a recession, so I am trying to increase my cargo trains and networks). I floated some more bonds after moving through Austria-Hungary, so I am also carrying some debt now (maybe 8-9 bonds), most of it 5-6%, but that last two bonds are at 9%. A final note, only the Iron Duke is available for a train now (the best train during this era, fastest that is, but also the most expensive to run) in around 1860 or '61. I also noticed on a gamefaq guide http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/file/198394/20897 I should connect Romania too for extra money, something I have to check as I am not sure I have linked them in or not. Is there any time limit on doing that? Anyone have any suggestions? Thanx a lot in advance, GA

Thanx, I'll try that. I meant to earlier, but I forgot about it hoping he would dump some shares at some point. I liked playing around with the map seeing how high my PNW would go too, but it's nice to get the gold if you can.

Actually another question. So now I am stuck with the remaining AI company with 50% of the shares (me with the other 50%), my PNW is over 25m, so what to do? I waited a few years already, but the AI company doesn't seem to be in a hurry to float shares even though its stock is dropping now. I plan to blockade his stations by stopping a train on each, will this work in forcing the AI company into bankruptcy or into selling some stock?

Actually, you partly answered my question on the first go as to when you might buy the AI companies (you said earlier was better). As to milking the AI stations, I'm making good money doing it as they are near my other routes and I hope to drive the AI stock price down (I have done it in other campaigns). My PNW is high already and has topped 20 million, but after purchasing the first AI, it has dropped back to 17.5 million. But I have about 8-9 years to bring my value back up (as well as buying the other 1% in the remaining AI company, which may also reduce it a bit, but since a boom just started, it should be no problem). As to the industry question, whether this is a short game or not, I still, as mentioned before, have 8-9 years left, so I'd think the time would be enough to make some money on the industries I just purchased (I owned the factories already, bought the farms just now).

Maybe I didn't state my questions well enough. I have since taken over 1 AI company, and have 50% (almost) of the 2nd one, so just waiting for some more shares to be sold. I have starved AI companies before in other campaigns as my stations share the same cargo and passengers. I plan to make tracks around them and run trains in a circle eventually, unless I get that last 1% of the shares first. As I have seen before, by 'starving ' the AI, usuallu you will force him to issue bonds/shares, which eventually will get me what I want, namely their company for the gold. My original question was if I should have started buying shares in the AI companies sooner (it's maybe '46 now), but it seems to have worked out okay and the economy is picking up now. As to the farm industry question, no one has answered that.

I am recently playing the Ironseed campaign, and I was wondering about a few things. One, is it better to buy out the other AI companies earlier? Right now I am in the middle of a campaign with about 9 -10 years left. I wholly own my own company, but don't own any shares in the two AI companies. I have set up some stations to steal some of the AI cargo, hoping to depress their share prices. Should I have bought equal shares in all 3 companies earlier (or some other combination) to make a try for gold (where I need above 20 million PNW and no other companies)? On a related note, the economy thread might make me start this campaign again as I am currently in a recession, perhaps triggered by less building and buying of shares the last few years, though historically there was a recession at that time in Also, I am wondering now, the farm industries in Ireland have been hit with lowered productivity, but higher prices. I just bought some sheep farms and graineries (as well as the textile mill and bakery) near Dublin. Is this a good idea? Previously they didn't seem to be making money, but I am assuming now they should with the prices for farm goods having almost doubled.