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What is Golden Spike Games?
Golden Spike Games is a small Utah-based publisher and fulfillment operation best known for producing and shipping the Deep Thought Games catalog of 18xx board games. If you've heard of titles like 1817 or 18MEX, those two are handled by All-Aboard Games instead; Golden Spike covers the rest of the DTG line.
What it actually does
Two distinct roles, and the difference matters:
- Direct (premium) orders. You can order most Deep Thought Games titles directly from Golden Spike. These are the same games DTG produced, with upgrades such as quad-fold boards.
- DTG fulfillment. Golden Spike has been filling Deep Thought Games' existing order queue since 2009. Deep Thought Games is no longer taking new orders, so this is a back-catalog service rather than an active storefront.
The practical consequence: direct orders get priority. Games sitting in the old DTG queue wait until direct orders are fulfilled, so queue customers can face long, unpredictable waits.
Who it's for
Experienced 18xx players who want specific DTG titles and are comfortable with a one-person, email-driven, made-in-batches operation. It is not a good fit if you need a firm ship date, a conventional checkout, or a large multi-game order quickly — the site's own news notes that the biggest orders (10+ games) are the last to be started.
How it compares
| Golden Spike Games | All-Aboard Games | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | DTG catalog fulfillment + direct orders | Handles 1817 and 18MEX |
| Ordering | Direct orders prioritized; DTG queue served later | Separate publisher/store |
| Pace | Batch production, queue-based | Not described here |
Pricing is a moving part rather than a fixed list: the site notes that DTG's prices were never adjusted, while Golden Spike's reflect rising material costs and haven't changed since direct orders began in 2014 — with the caveat that further adjustments may eventually be needed.
Next step
Before ordering, email to confirm whether the title you want is in stock, whether it's a direct order or a DTG queue order, and what the current price and lead time are. If you're attending a convention the owner plans to attend, ask about bringing games for pickup — the news section shows this has been offered for at least one event.
Which Deep Thought Games titles can I order directly from Golden Spike Games, and which are handled by All-Aboard Games?
Golden Spike Games handles direct orders for most of the Deep Thought Games catalog, but not all of it. According to its site, you can order every Deep Thought Games title directly from Golden Spike Games except 1817 and 18MEX. Those two are handled by All-Aboard Games.
A few practical points from the site:
- Golden Spike Games says the games are identical to past Deep Thought Games productions, with upgrades such as quad-fold boards.
- It has been helping fulfill Deep Thought Games orders since 2009 and does fulfillment for the Deep Thought Games queue.
- Deep Thought Games is not currently taking new orders.
- Golden Spike Games prioritizes its own direct, premium orders before working through the Deep Thought Games queue.
If you want 1817 or 18MEX, go to All-Aboard Games. For anything else in the catalog, order directly from Golden Spike Games.
How do Golden Spike Games prices and shipping options compare to the original Deep Thought Games catalog?
Golden Spike Games is the fulfillment operation for most of the Deep Thought Games (DTG) catalog, so the comparison is less "competitor versus competitor" and more "current seller versus the original publisher's old list." According to the site, DTG is no longer taking new orders, and Golden Spike handles direct orders for the whole catalog except 1817 and 18MEX (those are handled by All-Aboard Games).
Pricing
- DTG's listed prices were never adjusted over time, per the site.
- Golden Spike's prices reflect later increases in material costs; the site says its prices have not changed since direct orders began in 2014, though further adjustments may eventually be needed.
- Because DTG is not taking orders, its old prices function mainly as a historical reference point rather than a live alternative.
Shipping and delivery
- Golden Spike ships orders directly and posts status updates on its news page (for example, notes about being back to shipping and invoicing queued orders).
- The site mentions free delivery at TRAXX in Denver for customers who arrange it in advance by email.
- DTG queue orders are fulfilled by Golden Spike too, but the site states direct, premium orders are prioritized; DTG-queue games wait until those are done.
What this means in practice
If you want a DTG title other than 1817 or 18MEX, Golden Spike is effectively the route to buy it new. Expect to pay current material-cost-adjusted prices rather than the old DTG list, and expect timing to depend on the order queue. For 1817 and 18MEX, look to All-Aboard Games instead.
Next step: check Golden Spike's Pricing & Shipping and Place an Order pages for current figures and ordering instructions, and check the news section for shipping status before committing to a timeline.
How can I get games delivered in person at TRAXX or other events instead of paying for shipping?
Yes — Golden Spike Games explicitly offers event pickup when the owner is attending a convention. The site's own news notes say he planned to attend TRAXX in Denver and would bring games for free delivery if you email him with "for TRAXX delivery" in the subject line. That is the clearest published example of avoiding shipping costs.
How to arrange it
- Email before the event and put the event name and "delivery" in the subject, as the site describes for TRAXX.
- Confirm the order first, since direct orders are made and fulfilled in sequence.
- Ask what the pickup window and meeting point will be; convention halls are large and the schedule is tight.
- Get a written confirmation that your specific games will be in the car, especially multi-game orders.
Which route fits you
| Situation | Better choice |
|---|---|
| You already attend the convention | Request event pickup and skip shipping |
| You live near Utah or can combine a trip | Ask about local pickup instead |
| No event is on the schedule | Pay shipping or wait for the next announced convention |
| Large order with long build time | Confirm timing before booking travel |
Practical trade-offs
Event pickup saves shipping and removes the risk of damage in transit, and you meet the person who made the game. The catch is that it only works when a convention is actually on the calendar, and your order has to be finished in time. The news page is the place to watch: it lists convention plans, shipping pauses and queue updates, so check it before you commit to travel.
Next step
Email with your order details and ask which upcoming events he expects to attend, then decide whether the trip is worth it for the games you want. If no event is near you, ask about the current queue and shipping cost before ordering.
What is the current order queue and shipping status for Deep Thought Games backlog orders?
Golden Spike Games is working through the Deep Thought Games backlog itself and reports that it has games ready to ship for all but two orders in its queue. Those two remaining orders are the largest ones (10+ games each), which had not yet been started as of the most recent update. If you already have an order in the queue, the stated expectation is an invoice within about a week.
The key distinction is between two order streams:
- Direct, premium orders placed with Golden Spike Games are fulfilled first.
- Backlog orders inherited from Deep Thought Games wait until those direct orders are done. Deep Thought Games is not taking new orders, and Golden Spike Games handles all DTG fulfillment.
This matters if you are deciding where to buy. Golden Spike Games covers most of the Deep Thought Games catalog but not 1817 or 18MEX; those are handled by All-Aboard Games. If you want a title that Golden Spike does offer, buying directly puts you in the faster stream rather than the older DTG queue.
A practical next step: if you have a backlog order, watch for the invoice rather than emailing for a status update, since the owner has said he answers emails around travel and shipping breaks. If you are buying now, confirm current availability and price directly, because material costs have risen and price adjustments have been flagged as likely once the backlog clears.
How do I place an expedited order and what are the terms and payment steps?
Golden Spike Games handles expedited, direct orders for most of the Deep Thought Games catalog — everything except 1817 and 18MEX, which are offered by All-Aboard Games. The games are the same titles Deep Thought Games produced, with upgrades such as quad-fold boards. Deep Thought Games is not taking new orders, and Golden Spike Games fulfills the existing DTG queue only after its own direct, premium orders are done.
H3 How to place an expedited order
- Email Golden Spike Games with your order request.
- If you want games brought to an event for free delivery, put a clear subject line such as "for TRAXX delivery" and name the event. The site notes this arrangement for TRAXX in Denver.
- Wait for an invoice. Recent news says orders in the queue should receive an invoice within about a week, with very large orders (10+ games) started later.
H3 Terms and payment steps
- Direct orders are treated as premium orders and are fulfilled before the older Deep Thought Games queue.
- Prices reflect adjustments for rising material costs; they have not changed since direct orders began in 2014, but further adjustment may be needed.
- Payment is by invoice, so the practical flow is: email your request, receive an invoice, then pay according to that invoice. The page does not spell out accepted payment methods, so confirm them when you receive the invoice.
H3 Practical decision criteria
- Choose expedited direct ordering if you want the games sooner and are willing to pay current pricing.
- Expect longer waits if your order is very large or if you are relying on the older DTG queue.
- If you need 1817 or 18MEX, order from All-Aboard Games instead.
Next step: email your list of games and quantities, state whether you want event delivery, and ask for the current invoice total and accepted payment methods before committing.
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