It's impossible to make a comprehensive guide here, but here's a few tips that should help.
Don't use electric engines. Use the 2-6-2 Prairie. Once the F3 A+B becomes available, use that.
Most of your money should be long distance express revenue. Stations need to cover at least 6 houses preferably 8+, the more the better. Track should have as few turns as possible unless where there are severe grades.
Reliable starting line is from Chicago to Cleveland, 3 turns. Issue a bond. Use single track with a section of double track in the middle, also place a small station for service in the middle, add water, sand initially. Try to get a Manager who reduces station cost. Use a Large Station at both ends, then if you have enough money, need enough for two Prairies left, build a Small Restaurant and Small Hotel in both. Send a Prairie from each end, they will pass on the center track. Best revenues are achieved if you micro-manage, stopping the game once each train arrives to adjust the consist to run at maximum capacity possible, but this should always be a profitable line.
Expansion should be to add more similar lines: long runs between pairs of cities of equal size. For example the next expansion will be to setup a similar run from Detroit to St. Louis.
Post edited March 17, 2017 by Scenic365
