The rules follow below; just look them over and feel free to ask if you have any questions. At the request of several people, I've included short and long versions of the guidelines.... if you do decide to join us, and you aren't clear about something, please take a moment to read the longer rules below the yellow soundbites below.
SHORT RULES:
The Trade train is a fast, fun game that allows you to trade a deck you don't need for a deck you do by setting up a series of Stations at which Tarot decks are offered and chosen. 
- Each player is a "Station" we will visit on the trip for a set period of time, according to a randomly assigned order.
- You may choose your deck at any time.
- First player to choose a deck at a Station moves us to the next Station.
- For Regular trade trains, the Station order is determined by preassigned random order.
- For Bullet trade trains, the person who chooses a deck immediately becomes the next station to offer.
- You will only offer when we reach your "Station."
- Any kind of deck is fair game.
- Riders may join the Regular Train during the ride (until the last 3 stations), but will not pick til the next offering/Station. Bullet Trains are locked down before departure.
- You must complete a trade to keep your chosen deck.
- Everyone who trades a deck will pick a deck. It's a win/win.
- Each player must have fun.
It is that easy. As others can attest, these trains are fun, hilarious, and exciting.
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LONG RULES:
ITINERARY: From the sign up list of riders, we will generate a random order of Stations. This itinerary will determine the order in which you will post your decks to trade. But
you can CHOOSE at any time. This itinerary will be posted at the top of the thread along with a record all of the completed trades...
SPEED OF THE TRAIN: We spend 24 hours maximum at each station (i.e. person listing decks) before moving on to the next station. If/when someone picks a deck, the next person/station can list as fast as they want. So you have to stay on your toes and in theory we could go through the whole train in an afternoon.
OFFERING DECKS: You may list as many as you like, but but will only trade one. Everyone who trades a deck will get to choose a deck. Any type of deck is suitable: Majors-only, Pip decks, Oracles, Sets, along with full 78 card decks are welcome. You may change your decks as often and as fast as you like while the train is at your station. And remember, offering a better selection encourages every station to offer a better selection themselves to insure they'll place a deck. It's a win/win!
SELECTING A DECK: You can choose your deck at any time from any rider, but once you have chosen you may not choose again. If you choose a deck you must trade a deck to close your deal. This is a chance to expand our horizons for the cost of post.
NO TAKERS?: Feel free to tweak your offerings during the allotted hours of your station. If no one chooses any of your decks within the alotted hrs the train moves on to the next person/station below you on the itinerary. You will have a chance to list new trades later as when the list reaches the bottom it will go through a second time, starting at the top with the first person who has not had a deck picked from his list.
KEEPING IT FRESH / KEEPING IT NEW: Remember: the quality of each offering dictates the quality of every other trade... The train is only as snazzy as we make it. In order to keep the landscape surprising and to insure the train moves at a reasonable speed, please board the train ready to shake up your offerings. If there are no takers within the first 6 hours, consider changing your offerings. We encourage everyone to list at least 2 decks that are not repeats from the previous train. If a deck has not found a home on the previous train(s), its likely that people already own it or don't care to. If you list an offering identical to the previous train, and a trade is not made, we will move on after 12 hrs.
UNCOMPLETED TRADES: What If someone picks a deck, but the person that listed their choice fails to choose a deck for themselves? Unfortunately then the person that picked that deck would lose that deck. This sure will add some butterfly style excitement. At this point that person that lost their first choice would have a opportunity to re-choose in the second go-a-round.
FINISHING YOUR RIDE: After you have listed, traded away a deck, and accepted a deck you are off the train, but feel free to participate in the chatter. After you finish a trade please leave your decks posted for at least another 24 hrs so all those aboard can browse what they missed...
END OF THE LINE: No decks will be sent until all trades in the chain are complete or the train finishes two laps. This insures no one will be left out and also gives train members something to look forward to/worry about in the days ahead.
TALK: In-game chatter is highly encouraged!
YOU CAN'T LOSE!: You only give a deck if you get one. If after the second round you have not managed a trade you are off of the train, nothing lost or gained, unless you accepted a deck, you would lose that, And that train member would re-list.
JOINING THE TRAIN: You can sign up starting now. Also, anyone may join the Train at any time before the train reaches the THIRD TO LAST person of the FIRST ROUND. Then the train closes: no more tickets.
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The internal workings for those who care: The itinerary of offerings will be randomized blindly. I've asked another rider to send me a mixed list of numbers equal to the number of people on the train.
Even more boring internal workings: With just 20 riders we have 1 048 576 combination's of deck combination's in all at just one deck. With a average of 3 or 4 decks being listed each the number is huge. To be in matched pairs takes it to 190 opportunities. SO with just 20 players we have collectively 190 opportunities to make a trade, imagine the numbers as we add cars to this train
That, and stuffing books I don't need so much (not tarot) behind books I do! (they're very wide shelves)
