diff --git a/simmenu.cc b/simmenu.cc
index 265e5e854..c2c855b1b 100644
--- a/simmenu.cc
+++ b/simmenu.cc
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
 #include "bauer/tunnelbauer.h"
 
 #include "descriptor/building_desc.h"
+#include "descriptor/bridge_desc.h"
+#include "descriptor/tunnel_desc.h"
+#include "descriptor/roadsign_desc.h"
+#include "descriptor/way_obj_desc.h"
 
 #include "boden/grund.h"
 #include "boden/wege/strasse.h"
@@ -125,6 +129,89 @@ tool_t *create_general_tool(int toolnr)
 	return tool;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Set the defaults of a newly created general tool.
+ *
+ * The tool_t pointer argument must be a valid tool object
+ * and it will be modified by this funciton.
+ */
+void set_defaults_general_tool(tool_t *tool, const char *param_str) {
+	if (  tool  ==  NULL  ) {
+		return;
+	}
+	uint16 id = tool->get_id();
+	id = id ^ GENERAL_TOOL;
+	if (param_str) {
+		switch (id) {
+		case TOOL_BUILD_WAY:
+			{
+				const way_desc_t *desc = way_builder_t::get_desc(param_str);
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder()) {
+					*tool = *(desc->get_builder());
+					return;
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		case TOOL_BUILD_BRIDGE:
+			{
+				const bridge_desc_t *desc = bridge_builder_t::get_desc(param_str);
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder()) {
+					*tool = *(desc->get_builder());
+					return;
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		case TOOL_BUILD_TUNNEL:
+			{
+				const tunnel_desc_t *desc = tunnel_builder_t::get_desc(param_str);
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder()) {
+					*tool = *(desc->get_builder());
+					return;
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		case TOOL_BUILD_ROADSIGN:
+			{
+				const roadsign_desc_t *desc = roadsign_t::find_desc(param_str);
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder()) {
+					*tool = *(desc->get_builder());
+					return;
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		case TOOL_BUILD_WAYOBJ:
+			{
+				const way_obj_desc_t *desc = wayobj_t::find_desc(param_str);
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder()) {
+					*tool = *(desc->get_builder());
+					return;
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+			// The following 3's descriptions are registered by hausbauer_t.
+		case TOOL_BUILD_DEPOT:
+		case TOOL_BUILD_STATION:
+		case TOOL_HEADQUARTER:
+			{
+				const building_desc_t *desc = hausbauer_t::get_desc(param_str);
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder()) {
+					*tool = *(desc->get_builder());
+					return;
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		default:
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	if (  id<tool_t::general_tool.get_count()  ) {
+		*tool=*(tool_t::general_tool[id]);
+	}
+	else {
+		dbg->error("set_defaults_general_tool()","cannot satisfy request for general_tool[%i]!",id);
+	}
+}
+
 tool_t *create_simple_tool(int toolnr)
 {
 	tool_t* tool = NULL;
@@ -232,6 +319,76 @@ tool_t *create_tool(int toolnr)
 	return tool;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Checks whether a tool is available in the current timeline.
+ *
+ * Note that this function would return true on error.
+ */
+bool check_tool_availability(const tool_t *tool, uint64 time) {
+	if (  tool  ==  NULL  ) {
+		return true;
+	}
+	uint16 id = tool->get_id();
+	id = id ^ GENERAL_TOOL;
+	if (tool->get_default_param()) {
+		switch (id) {
+		case TOOL_BUILD_WAY:
+			{
+				const way_desc_t *desc = way_builder_t::get_desc(tool->get_default_param());
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder() && desc->get_builder()->get_id() == tool->get_id()) {
+					return desc->is_available(time);
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		case TOOL_BUILD_BRIDGE:
+			{
+				const bridge_desc_t *desc = bridge_builder_t::get_desc(tool->get_default_param());
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder() && desc->get_builder()->get_id() == tool->get_id()) {
+					return desc->is_available(time);
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		case TOOL_BUILD_TUNNEL:
+			{
+				const tunnel_desc_t *desc = tunnel_builder_t::get_desc(tool->get_default_param());
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder() && desc->get_builder()->get_id() == tool->get_id()) {
+					return desc->is_available(time);
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		case TOOL_BUILD_ROADSIGN:
+			{
+				const roadsign_desc_t *desc = roadsign_t::find_desc(tool->get_default_param());
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder() && desc->get_builder()->get_id() == tool->get_id()) {
+					return desc->is_available(time);
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		case TOOL_BUILD_WAYOBJ:
+			{
+				const way_obj_desc_t *desc = wayobj_t::find_desc(tool->get_default_param());
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder() && desc->get_builder()->get_id() == tool->get_id()) {
+					return desc->is_available(time);
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+			// The following 3's descriptions are registered by hausbauer_t.
+		case TOOL_BUILD_DEPOT:
+		case TOOL_BUILD_STATION:
+		case TOOL_HEADQUARTER:
+			{
+				const building_desc_t *desc = hausbauer_t::get_desc(tool->get_default_param());
+				if (desc && desc->get_builder() && desc->get_builder()->get_id() == tool->get_id()) {
+					return desc->is_available(time);
+				}
+			}
+			break;
+		default:
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	return true;
+}
 
 static utf32 str_to_key( const char *str )
 {
@@ -536,7 +693,7 @@ void tool_t::read_menu(const std::string &objfilename)
 						// now create tool
 						addtool = create_general_tool( toolnr );
 						// copy defaults
-						*addtool = *(general_tool[toolnr]);
+						set_defaults_general_tool(addtool, param_str);
 
 						general_tool.append( addtool );
 					}
@@ -810,6 +967,9 @@ void toolbar_t::update(player_t *player)
 			if(  scen->is_scripted()  &&  !scen->is_tool_allowed(player, w->get_id(), w->get_waytype())) {
 				continue;
 			}
+			if ( !check_tool_availability(w,  welt->get_timeline_year_month()) ) {
+				continue;
+			}
 			// now add it to the toolbar gui
 			tool_selector->add_tool_selector( w );
 		}