Installed Railroad Tycoon 2, got a bit of hankering. Decided to make screenshots, showing the features.
Picked a map and edited it so I could play it without AI companies. Removed the restriction that only connected rails can be built. I still will only lay tracks that I'm able to join to the existing network right away, it's just makes it easier to place things (like I can build a station first at the right place, then connect it to the tracks).
Set the settings.
I'll ignore the scenario's default goals. I'll just lay tracks as I wish, my goal is trying to make the connected settlements prosper as much as I can.
After I started the scenario I founded Krautchan Railways. Depending on the money the player has, he can invest as he wishes, and can change how much outside investors will add to the starting capital of the company. This also decides the ratio the shares are divided - now this does not matter much, since no AI players to buy up my company's share before I could do. Maybe I won't even do it, only for demonstration.