Many players are unsure whether Locomotives can be drawn as a second card or if they must be taken immediately when seen face-up.
According to the Days of Wonder Official Rulebook, Locomotives are multi-coloured wild cards that can be used in any set of cards when claiming a route.
Locomotives are multi-coloured cards that function as wild cards, meaning they can be used in place of any colour Train Card when claiming a route. However, special rules apply during the drawing phase: if a player selects a face-up Locomotive card, it must be the only card they pick that turn. If a Locomotive is turned over as a replacement for a first card drawn, or if a Locomotive is available face-up but was not picked as the first card, it cannot be selected as a second card. Additionally, if three of the five face-up cards are Locomotives, all five are immediately discarded and replaced with five new cards.
Step-by-Step
Identify the required colour and number of cards for a route.
Select the necessary coloured Train Car cards from your hand.
Substitute any required colour with a Locomotive wild card.
Place the cards face-up next to the deck and place your plastic trains on the route spaces.
Example Play Situation
Alice wants to claim a blue route that is three spaces long. She plays two blue cards and one Locomotive card to complete the set. Bob then draws a face-up Locomotive, which means he can only take that one card this turn.
Common Misconceptions
Thinking a Locomotive can be taken as a second card if it appears as a replacement card.
Assuming Locomotives can only be used for specific colours.
Believing you can draw two cards if the first card you pick is a face-up Locomotive.
Quick Reference
You Can
You Cannot
Use Locomotives as wild cards for any colour set
Take a second card if you pick a face-up Locomotive
Discard all five face-up cards if three are Locomotives
Select a Locomotive as a second card if it appears as a replacement card
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official rule for Locomotive cards in Ticket to Ride?
Locomotives are multi-coloured wild cards used to complete any colour set when claiming a route.
Can I draw two cards if I pick a face-up Locomotive?
No, if you pick a face-up Locomotive, it is the only card you may pick that turn.
What happens if there are three Locomotives face-up?
All five face-up cards are immediately discarded and replaced with five new ones.
Can Locomotives be used for Ferry Routes?
Yes, Locomotives are vital to claiming Ferry Routes in certain editions.
David Noah is a board game rules specialist and content creator who writes clear, dispute‑free guides for modern tabletop games. On this site, he focuses on answering the exact rules questions players argue about at the table, using official rulebooks, expansions, and tournament rulings as his primary sources. His goal is to turn confusing edge cases into simple, step‑by‑step explanations so you can spend less time debating and more time playing.
