Mexican Train — The Layout
📋 What it is
Mexican Train starts from a central double "engine"; each player builds a personal train, plus one shared "Mexican" train anyone may use.
🗣️ Coach says
Mexican Train is a layout puzzle. A double in the middle is the engine, and trains of tiles branch out from it — one per player, plus a communal Mexican train. You normally play on your OWN train, but the shared one is open to all, so you weigh "build mine" against "block the shared line".
🧠 Memory hook
Central double = engine. Your own train + one shared Mexican train. Match onto a train’s open end.
😂 Giggle
Why did the score keeper love the ends?
Because when they added to 5, 10, or 15, points rolled in!
😲 Whoa!
Mexican Train became a family favourite because the shared train keeps everyone in the game even when their own train is stuck.
✅ Quick check: Whose train can EVERY player add to?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
The Mexican (shared) train.
Personal trains are usually private; the Mexican train is communal and open to all.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Sketch an engine double with three trains coming off it and mark which one is the shared Mexican train.