Welcome EVERYONE!!!! *****Please Read This First*****

[Big_Boy_4005]

As most of us are aware by now, The O Gauge Railroading forum operators have chosen to charge a fee for their service. Many of the people from that forum will be switching to this one.

To those joining us, beginners and experts alike, we the "REGULARS" say

[#welcome]WELCOME!!![#welcome]

We need your help to keep the forum from becoming cluttered with new arrival messages, so that train related topics don't all end up on "PAGE 42".[swg]

Please use this topic to introduce yourself or make opening remarks!!
Please do not start new topics, that are not train related, for that purpose!!

I used those large letters in hopes that everyone would see and read the message. I want this fourm to be as fun and educational for everyone in the future, as it has been in the past. This is a very democratic forum, and no member is "in charge", but if each new member posts a new topic saying "hello", you may not like the results.

I started this topic to try to head off what could be a problem in the next couple of months. I will try to make sure that this topic stays on page one, at least until the rush is over.

I would also like to suggest to those of you that have web pages, add them to your profile page.

It is wonderful to see all of the new people here, some have been members for a long time, (much longer than myself) but have been inactive on this forum.

This forum is quite different from the OGR forum, especially in the way it is constructed. We do not have all of the catagories to help organize things, which makes it difficult to find topics sometimes. Please search for topics before posting new ones, you may even find the answer that you are looking for. If you choose to post to an old topic it will move back to the top of the list.

I've said my piece, the floor is your's!! ENJOY

By the way, some of us are more "regular" than others[:)]

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the welcome, Elliot. Several of us OGR refugees have already posted on other threads, but you've got a good idea. From what I've seen, this looks like a good forum. I suspect there'll be quite a few more converts in the coming days.

[nblum]

Eliot, I've been mostly lurking for 2 + years. I'm more of toy train three railer than a hi-railer by a long shot. I'm also more of a rug layout guy, although I do like command control and high fidelity horns, whistles and bells. TMCC is my operating system of choice.

I've been meaning to ask, Eliot, aren't you the fellow who operated the huge train layout at the Mall of America for a while, Entertrainment? Wouldn't mind hearing more about that experience if you care to discuss it at this late date.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Yes I am Nblum, thanks for noticing. [swg] My "laundry" may still be a little too dirty to air in public, but I can tell it all, if you send me an email. I have told it that way to a few of the others around here.

[Anonymous]

OK, well, here goes. I have been a CTT subscriber off and on again for some time. I have been on the OGR Forum for quite some time, never subscribed to their magazine, and now I never will.

On the OGR Forum I was known as illinoiscentral, but someone here has already taken that, so I will go by ICRR here then.

I like Standard O and near scale trains, use TMCC, and run on the floor with tubular track.

[jkerklo]

Welcome OGR forum immigrants.

I have been contributing to both forums for a while and look forward to more action on this one.

I must, with regret, agree with those who have predicted the demise of the ORG forum. I like the OGR magazine, but there isn't much on the web site to get me to look at it.

The CTT site has a lot of value. (Please don't get ideas, CTT. I like your site, news, forum, and web cam. Would hate to give it up over a matter of principal.)

I subscribe to both magazines, and will continue.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[MartyE]

Hey Guys...I actually joined the forum here sometime ago but just started posting. I'm not throwing in the OGR towel yet. I figure I'll go it a year and make that decision then. But in the meantime still enjoy the company of those that have come here as well so thought I'd get involved.

Craignor...that finished room looks great! So thanks CTT for another avenue, looking forward to new friends and old.

[Craignor]

Thanks Marty.

See you at York.[:)]

[Jim Duda]

Perhaps a little off-topic, but a lot of us are using HPPhoto.com for an image host. I cannot get my pics to auto load and appear below text in thread posts on this forum. Would someone else who uses the HP site try to post a pic and see if it works? Maybe it's me...

Anyway, I do believe the traffic on this forum will increase exponentially...I'm ready!

Jim Duda

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am RAK402 overhere, but just RAK on the OGR Forum. I am not giving up on that one (I will pay for a subscription), but I wanted to see what was happening over here. This is the most activity i have seen here, so hopefully, that is a good sign.

[Anonymous]

I am happy to be hear and look forward to talking about model RRing. My Layout is based on the Hudson River Valley and if i am using the pic poster correctly hear is a photo. JIM

[ChiefEagles]

Welcome. I hang around here to get smarts from the experts that are here. They have helped me a lot. Thanks to Elliot for layout help. Played trains years ago [until the mid 80's and then moved] and now getting back into as the kids are gone and I have several spare rooms [one will be the train room]. Glad to have more heads to pick infor from.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the welcome. I didn't post much over there but plan on being an active member here.

[cbojanower]

I am one of those coming here after deciding not to pay for OGR forum. I have been along time CTT suscriber (Since the 4 issues per year days) , in fact I own every issue from the Premiere issue to the latest one.

I am in the colloecting phase right now, have 2 young kids and a new house that needs alot of finish work, doing a layout is something that has had to be set aside for now. However I do work alot on a 1:1 scale layout at the Heber Valley RR. :)

[johnnyc]

I just found this forum and registered today . Seems like a good place with good people . It's a good change from OGR . [^] johnnyc

[Anonymous]

The Newbies have requested that I represent them in this new realm. Just think of all the fresh answers to my stupid Newbie questions!!!
[%-)]

[macdannyk1]

Well, I too am fleeing from the OGR board. Having to pay to post is like having to pay to vote...but enough of that crap. I have been highly active in O Gauge model railroading since 1996, when me mum in law gave me a gift certificate to a hobby shop. Went from conventional Lionel operation to Lionel TMCC operation and have now taken the plunge into MTH DCS/Proto2. FUN! :)

[Phil1361]

Wow! Thanks for the warm welcome. I joined this forum some time ago and I think this is my first post. My name on the OGR Forum is Hudson J1e. I think what they are doing will hurt them more than help them in the long run. I believe they will lose half or more of their members. Although, I haven't yet decided if I will join I am against it by principal. One thing that may cause me to go against my principals is that I really enjoyed the Forum meets at York. I will miss them if I decide not to join.

It is nice to see some familiar names here.

Anyway, for those that don't know me I am a Hi-Railer who took it one step further into 2-Rail. I want everything the Hi-Railer has except the third rail. I run 2-Rail TMCC and I am trying to be one of the first modelrs with 2-Rail DCS! I enjoy working with the electronics.

Please, do not think I insult people who like the third rail. I don't. I believe this hobby is an expression of art that comes from within. There is no right or wrong. There is no difference between myself and a guy who runs O27 trains on the carpet. Right now I have a 3-Rail layout built for my nefu and in the coming months I plan to build a 2-Rail switching layout similar to one in Model Railroad Planning 2004. When the basement is done I plan on a full-fledged 2-Rail layout about 12' X 40'. By the way, I subscribe to both CTT and OGR and have since 1997. Each magazine is good in its own right and I feel they complement each other.

I am also interested in prototypical operation and may check the MR part of this site.

I'm glad to be aboard!

Happy Railroading
Phil

[eZAK]

I've been here before as eZAK61.
Mostly lurker.

I'm back now as eZAK to reflect the same name I used on OGR.

Does this forum have a moderator?

What 'Rules' are in place to keep things from getting out of hand?

Thanks everyone.

[waltrapp]

I posted this on another thread before I saw this one. Sorry to repeat:

Some of you know that I've been on both forums for a long time. I post on both (my most recent post on this forum was about 3 weeks ago - about K-Line switches vs. Lionel O27 ones but I have answered a few questions too for others).

I don't like the bashing of the OGR forum that you ex-members are doing. I read the same negative comments here from the same people as I did over there. It seems like certain disgruntles want to bash and bash. Just post here and forget about venting and bad-mouthing.

I'm not sure what I'll do in regard to OGR. I'm not interested in posting albums and avatars and participating in Acela chats, but I do post and learn much on that forum. If you didn't know, they have a forum exclusive for TMCC and another for DCS. MTH POINTS TO THE OGR FORUM FROM THEIR PROTOSOUND 2 SITE!!!!! That's how good that site is. And many of the 'answerers' on that forum are in direct and daily contact with the DEVELOPERS of MTH. Not too shabby.

So if you object to the fee (which I too am against BTW) don't use that to try to point out how crappy the OGR forum is. That's really not fair.

I realize I'm sticking my neck out a bit here by saying these things. I don't plan on being the defender of the cause in any way. I just don't think the bashing going on here was fair.

I will continue to post here as I have been doing since almost its inception. What I decide to do over there I don't know. I do know that I enjoy the OGR gathering at York - where else can a regular joe like me get the big-time players (reps from the various train companies, Brady e.g.) in the game to talk directly to you and answer your questions?

- undecided Walt

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the welcome, I as some of the others have migrated over from the ogr forum. Ogr happened to be the first one I tried but I refuse to pay to post words so now I am here. I don't post pictures( don't really know how) but I do collect and run my toy trains, both standard and o gauge. Once I figure out how to update my profile here I will.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Thanks for the welcome, Big Boy. [:)]

I just received, as a gift, a subscription to CTT and will no longer need to purchase from the newsstand. [8D] I have enjoyed the magazine for several years and often refer back to past issues for new ideas in constructing and wiring my layout. As the layout expands, I will need for new ideas and therefore my reason for joining this forum. (After seeing K-Lines fisherman on the bridge pier in action, it has to be worked into future growth.)

[restoman]

Thank you Big Boy and Hello everyone! I am Restoman. A relitivley new forum member. I am the current president of the historic Edgerton Model railroad club in Rochester NY. I am also a restorer of antique toys and electric trains. I specialize in Lionel , Ives, and American Flyer Pre War. I am currently reconstructing my 25'x25' "0" gauge ( not scale) layout in my home. I respect everyones choice of scale and their means of modeling it. ( although I have to admit I'm a stickler when it comes to scenery and detail) Everyone Chill , Just have fun and try to promote the hobby, especially our young because they will determine the future of the hobby..

[Anonymous]

It's interesting to me about perceptions of the CTT and OGR forums. I initially posted in here about Frank Ellison and 182 magnetic crane repair issues, and BOTH times I got better responses in the OGR forum. So, I swung over there.
Now I read how THIS forum is more in tune with postwar trains. Interesting.
I must admit over the last several months that the 'scale' guys have invaded the OGR forum, and I haven't had much interest in all the sharp tongues lashing back and forth. Rich has had to be in there WAY too often recently, IMHO.
Be that as it may, CTT administrators will continue to read the OGR forum (since reading is still free), and OGR folks will be reading here.
Either way, my profile is there for all to read.

[4kitties]

Hi all, I was prrnut on the OGR forum. I only made a few postings there but only because I was lazy.[8)] I've been registered on this forum for awhile. I'm looking forward to being more active here.

[Phil1361]

Walt I agree with you. There is no need to bash OGR. They put out a great magazine and have a great forum. I feel it is just plain wrong to charge for text posting and although I am still on the fence I probably will not join. I also feel that they are going to lose 1/2 to maybe even 2/3 of their members and if that happens most of those people over the course of the year will realize it isn't worth it to pay for text posting and probably a bunch more will not renew next year. Like I said even though I could care less about the photo albums and the special events I would pay the $18 just to support OGR. I wi***hem luck.

Happy Railroading
Phil (Hudson J1e)

[Anonymous]

After seeing EnterTrainment on the TM video, my son and I were ready to make the trip from Cali to MN. Sorry it didn't work out. And I built my first layout following the TM How to Build video.

Walt, how much do you think MTH pays for the forum over there? Not enough, if anything.

I've been in Ogauge about 4 years. I didn't have trains as a kid, I was a slot car guy. My son got me hooked watching the I Love Toy Trains videos over and over. Now I spend more time at it than he does.

Al T

[lionel2341]

Well said, Walt.


Ernie

[Kooljock1]

Walt,

You're absolutely right in that there's no reason to bash OGR or the OGR Forum Members. I joined that forum the very first week, and have posted and read fairly prolifically. I appreciate what Rich and Fred and Jim et.al. have done for this hobby. And I've subscribed to CTT since issue #2, and OGR since 1991. And I'll continue to do so.

But what is an on-line forum, but for it's members? I know band-width is costly, and don't think I'm not grateful for OGR's support, but it's the members I enjoy interacting with. And many of those are now here. A forum is not the magazine. It's you and MartyE, and Alan Miller, and Chris-the-train-Kid, and Brianel etc...

What will I do on June first? I'll probably decide May 31st around 11 PM. But if it's like The Century Club deadline, I'll probably forget and get locked out. But there'll always be CTT

Thank you all for being here!

Jon [8D]

[Anonymous]

Howdy all,

My layout is nothing to write home about, a 18x8 wanna - be Hi-rail layout. Trains are nothing too spectacular I run Lionel TMCC. I like the older stuff, steam and first generation diesels....