We need more input !!!

[Anonymous]

We need more input !!!!
We need more subscribers to this site to offer questions, opinions, reminiscences, stories, oddball comments....anything !!!There are more subscibers here than at any other model railroad internet locations...let's hear from you !

[Anonymous]

Mike, remember this is vacation season and the hobby does slow quit a bit in the warm months...............Jamie

[Algonquin]

Hi Mike,

I generally review the forums daily. Specifically the Collectable Toy Train and Model Railroading ones. I do find valuable information here from others and I post when I have a specific question or can provide help to others questions.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Anonymous]

Hi Mike!
It seems that this forum gets a little less activity because people have trouble with the speed of loading it and the somewhat inconvient format of having to page back or so on to navigate the site.
The altasrr.com forum was just shut down for two weeks while the company took a summer vacation, and there are already three pages of topics in the HO forum less than two days after it reopened.
I think if this site were faster loading, it might get more activity.
At one time, there was talk of restructuring the forum to accompli***his.
Anyone at Trains.com have an update?
Eric from Doylestown

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of people like to use the model railroading forums for reference. I find myself checking the forum everyday or two for well over a year now. I'll post if I can give some input on a subject. I checked out the Atlas forums a month ago, right before they shut down and I feel they are pretty hyperactive. I got the impression that some the people posting over there spend more time on the net then on their hobby. I just couldn't keep up. I like the pace and the info on this website more. I use the Atlas website mainly to check out what's coming up next on their new releases from their home page, that's about it. In my humble opinion, I feel there seems to be alot more useful info here about what I like from some serious modelers, and I just enjoy it more.
Keep postin, Pete

[Anonymous]

I noticed the same thing that Eric did about the Atlas forum. The way that the Atlas site and the Gauge for that matter are a lot more user friendly than this site. I have noticed that many of the regulars who have posted on this site are posting more frequently on Atlas & the Gauge. easier access, and the ability to embed pictured in messages seem to be the big factors drawing users to the other sites and presumably away from this one. If the site were revamped, I have no doubt that it would become the pe-eminent site overnight.

[BRAKIE]

Indeed.This forum can be so slow that I can get a cup of coffee and come back.I know it is NOT my computer.I have a speedball computer and cable hook up.For the record this was the frist forum I joined.I am usually on atlas and RR-L.I have posted on the guage from time to time.I dropped 3 others due to flames and lack of postings.
A observation.A forum is only what the members put into it.I have noticed on most forums it is the same modelers answering the questions.

Question:Don't you have a idea,a better answer or a comment? How about a opinion? Surely you found a better way of doing something why not comment?

[Anonymous]

This forum need to be set up for the convenience of people. The current format isn't conducive to getting folks to stick around. Compare the busy forums, such as O Gauge Railroading's, Atlas's, The Gauge and Railroad-Line. If you would format this forum like them, it would have a better chance.

[Anonymous]

If this site wants more input, it's going to have to update, & get with the program...there are too many other forums out there that are leaving this one eating their dust.
In the time it takes me to read through, & post a reply to JUST ONE topic on this site, I can browse through all the active threads, & post replies to several on the other sites.
One of the responders here said something about some people spending more tome on the net than on their hobby...let me tell you something...if you're taking the time to read through, & respond to too many of the topics here, you DEFINITELY aren't leaving yourself much time to work on the layout! And that's a shame. So many times I see something on here that grabs my interest, but I simply don't want to take the time to go through all that clicking, & loading that it takes to read, & respond! You can't scroll through the various threads, you can't edit your posts, you can't post links, or attach photos...
Wake up trains.com!
You may have the most registred users, but they're increasingly spending more of their time at other, more user-friendly sites. (myself included)
I wish someone in administration here would listen...I'd hate to see this forum die of old age!

[dknelson]

I am compelled to agree with those who complain about the slow speed of this site, and the general clumsiness of it. A bit of rethinking is in order. I suspect the Rochelle webcam explains the high number of registered users because the Forums are mostly the same guys (and a lady or two) talking to each other
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with the above. After visiting a bunch of other rr forums, I found them far more user friendly. Also the load time far faster. If you look at these other sites you will not find all of those headers an banners etc. Thats what takes up so much time, waiting for the page to fill. Tim

[Anonymous]

Mike, I'm hardly a regular visitor here, but I would like to visit more often (maybe now that I've managed to make more progress on my layout I'll have something to say). However, I have to agree with others here about the problems with this forum system. Just as one example, I read your message before logging in. Then, I had to login to reply to your message. After logging in, it would have been nice if the software transferred me directly to this reply dialog. Instead, it dumped me back at the very top of the forum list and I had to drill down again to find this message.

The minimum changes I think this forum needs are:

1) A way to indicate you want to see -all- the messages on a topic at the same time. Why do you have to click on each message individually? Most message threads are short enough that it makes more sense to download the whole thread at once.

2) A way to eliminate the menu bar to the left, so the forum can fill the width of your screen.

I think a few simple changes could make this forum system a lot easier to use.

My $.02
Stan

[douginut]

What kind of input?
Stories of living along the Chicago L and the NOrth Shore Line?
Of later in life living across the street from a Union Pacific branch line?
of years of N-Track club silliness (good silly)?
Of battling to get a great club to focus more on promotion of the hobby and less upon a bunch of guys playing with their trains? (also good)
Of being a vocal supporter of light rail in two cities and the observations of the battles thereof?
Of enjoying a hobby that can be expensive but having to operate on a budget?
Like that?
Oh and by the way this site is INCREDIBLY slow and I am connected through a T-1

Doug

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would like to see this site loading faster as well, but I don't have the computer skills to know what that would take. I have one recommendation for y'all who like to visit often. After you read this, click on 'Discussion List' and then select 'Favorites' menu and then 'Add to Favorites.' This way, you can jump directly to the Model Railroading bulletin board without going through the four or five other screens. I did this about six months ago and I probably wouldn't be here if I hadn't. Skipping those first four or five pages has to be worth ten minutes a day for me.

Enjoy - Ed

[Anonymous]

Here is my 2 cents worth. At work I have a T-1 connection and the page loads faster than many other pages. At home I have a 56k and have no problems with the page loading considering 56k is MUCH slower than a T-1. If you ask me I think Trains.com is a great page. My only problem is with when you have to log in while viewing the thread lists.

Terry(Texas)