Overmod Lithonia Operator Don't assume that if you're logged in here that the magazine site "knows" that. Because you won't be... and it won't "know". The two logins use the same name and password, and I suspect use the same back-end verification mechanism (if you're banned from one you're banned from any). But they use very different methods to track actual logins. That is a reason why you have to do what looks like "signing in again" when commenting on blogs. And probably why some attempts to 'sign out' don't completely work. All this is supposed to be one of the things fixed when 'stage 3' of the planned site revisions gets done.
Lithonia Operator Don't assume that if you're logged in here that the magazine site "knows" that.
Because you won't be... and it won't "know".
The two logins use the same name and password, and I suspect use the same back-end verification mechanism (if you're banned from one you're banned from any). But they use very different methods to track actual logins.
That is a reason why you have to do what looks like "signing in again" when commenting on blogs. And probably why some attempts to 'sign out' don't completely work.
All this is supposed to be one of the things fixed when 'stage 3' of the planned site revisions gets done.
I won't live long enough to see 'Trains' get the fix in!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Lithonia OperatorDon't assume that if you're logged in here that the magazine site "knows" that.
I subscribe to the magazine. So, if I'm logged in, I can read as many Newswire articles as I want to.
Now, even though I stay logged in to this forum, I can't seem to stay logged in to the magazine. Which I find odd.
Electro, maybe you just have to log in. Don't assume that if you're logged in here that the magazine site "knows" that.
Still in training.
I experinced the same "BUG". Or as I think it could be MARKETING OVERLOAD. I don't want the super Duper UNLIMITED access. I just want the TRAINS Newswire. I have been a subscriber since 1942 via my father and my own after leaving home. He missed the first months of 1941. We lived in Milwaukee back then and when we moved to Cincinnati in '43. he moved the issues he had and kept them all until he died in the late 1990's. I moved them to Illinois after mom died. A loyal subscriber that is not happy with the handling of the "UPGRADE".
The haves and the have nots amongst Trains subscribers...
Apparently Trains subscribers who don't pay for unlimted access (I just renewed Trains but have never had unlimited access as I don't have much need to access the archives) face a paywall with certain News Wire articles now. Like today (05.17.2021) under "Digest: Evacuation continues near Sibley, Iowa, derailment". I wanted to read one of the supporting articles (about the soon-to-be-built rail park in Winnipeg) but was confronted with
I'm not interested in a free trial. My work schedule would leave me with little time and energy to take full advantage.
Leo_AmesClearing cookies helped for a few weeks (No more invalid credentials when attempting to log-in), but now I just got this. "You have reached your limit of 8 articles this month." I really don't see renewing at the end of this year. The latest issue of Trains as I flipped through it looked like I could read it in 10 minutes since it was so flimsy (I won't judge the content since I have yet to spend those 10 minutes reading it). And apparently Kalmbach isn't going to fix their website.
"You have reached your limit of 8 articles this month."
I really don't see renewing at the end of this year. The latest issue of Trains as I flipped through it looked like I could read it in 10 minutes since it was so flimsy (I won't judge the content since I have yet to spend those 10 minutes reading it). And apparently Kalmbach isn't going to fix their website.
It hasn't worked 'properly' for the 17 years+ I have been participating - so why start now.
Clearing cookies helped for a few weeks (No more invalid credentials when attempting to log-in), but now I just got this.
Boils down to using http: instead of https:
Paid a bit of attention when logging on a few minutes ago, the https: is preserved until clicking on a thread, which just gives URL minus the preceding http(s)://. Loos like setting up the browser for https only would take care of that problem.
Erik_Mag I'm seeing the lock with a red slash through it with the forums (Firefox), hovering the mouse pointer over the lock symbol brings up bubble "connection not secure".
I'm seeing the lock with a red slash through it with the forums (Firefox), hovering the mouse pointer over the lock symbol brings up bubble "connection not secure".
That means the website does not have the SSL certificate, an encrypted connection. If you are sending information like credit card numbers, private information, etc., then a site would most likely have the certificate, and would begin with https.
On a forum like this, with no private information being transmitted, the https is not necessary. It is using http. Your browser will warn you that it is not secure, so you should not be providing bank numbers, credit card #s, etc.
It does not mean that the site is dangerous or unsafe.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
FanOfTheRailI understand what you are saying, but that is not my point. Http and https are indeed in use on the internet in general, but the Trains forum webpage is not using either of them.
The website is using them. They just don't appear there.
Here is what you see:
Here is the actual link, copied and pasted from this forum:
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/286947.aspx?page=5#3332555
blue streak 1Look what I dug up in old emails from Kalmbach. Hi, blue streak 1: Thanks for your note. It was my understanding that the forum experience would not change. I apologize for the inconvenience. I am working with our online department to address your issues listed above. Thank you for your patience. Ang Angela Pusztai-Pasternak Wed, Oct 1 2014 3:31 PM NOTE THE DATE 2014 So when will Kalmback ever learn
Hi, blue streak 1:
Thanks for your note. It was my understanding that the forum experience would not change. I apologize for the inconvenience. I am working with our online department to address your issues listed above.
Thank you for your patience.
Ang
7 year itch
Look what I dug up in old emails from Kalmbach.
blue streak 1Tried to reply to another thread. Got a 403 forbidden. Went to another post on same thread and reply worked .. ?? Explain that one ???
I have seen that one several times in the past.
Tried to reply to another thread. Got a 403 forbidden. Went to another post on same thread and reply worked .. ?? Explain that one ???
Actually, in Chrome, if you right click on the url in the box, you can toggle the full address. You are right, the forum is http, while the full site is https. I rarely visit other portions of the site, so I don't worry about it.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 FanOfTheRail Correct me if I'm wrong, but they aren't using http. At this point, most search engines even hide the http or https. I looked, though, and there is no http, the only domain prefix is 'cs'. Also, when will the 'new forum experience' be put into use? http and https are still very much in use. As you note, they're often hidden, but if you type in a website and include the http, it'll take you there. Kind of like the "1" at the beginning of a long distance phone number.
FanOfTheRail Correct me if I'm wrong, but they aren't using http. At this point, most search engines even hide the http or https. I looked, though, and there is no http, the only domain prefix is 'cs'. Also, when will the 'new forum experience' be put into use?
http and https are still very much in use. As you note, they're often hidden, but if you type in a website and include the http, it'll take you there. Kind of like the "1" at the beginning of a long distance phone number.
I understand what you are saying, but that is not my point. Http and https are indeed in use on the internet in general, but the Trains forum webpage is not using either of them. The Trains.com home webpages are using https, but the forum page is unsecured, I'm pretty sure. Double-click on the address bar, and you won't see either of them appear before the domain. Go to the Trains homepage and double-click, you will see 'https' appear before the domain. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
~FanOfTheRail
FanOfTheRailCorrect me if I'm wrong, but they aren't using http. At this point, most search engines even hide the http or https. I looked, though, and there is no http, the only domain prefix is 'cs'. Also, when will the 'new forum experience' be put into use?
Overmod FanOfTheRail Browsers even tell you specifically not to enter passwords on unsecure sites, so why is this website not secure? The 'not secure' is related to still using "http://" rather than "https://" in the link Kalmbach uses to connect. I expect this to be updated when the 'new Forum experience' gets here, but not before. It doesn't mean there is actual malicious exposure via malformed ads or whatever -- just that the secure hypertext-transfer protocol isn't being used.
FanOfTheRail Browsers even tell you specifically not to enter passwords on unsecure sites, so why is this website not secure?
The 'not secure' is related to still using "http://" rather than "https://" in the link Kalmbach uses to connect. I expect this to be updated when the 'new Forum experience' gets here, but not before. It doesn't mean there is actual malicious exposure via malformed ads or whatever -- just that the secure hypertext-transfer protocol isn't being used.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but they aren't using http. At this point, most search engines even hide the http or https. I looked, though, and there is no http, the only domain prefix is 'cs'. Also, when will the 'new forum experience' be put into use?
FanOfTheRailBrowsers even tell you specifically not to enter passwords on unsecure sites, so why is this website not secure?
If I try linking to a Trains Magazine reference directly from a Google search it gives me the big red 'you've exceeded your 8 article limit' immediately... even though I haven't read any articles via trains.com or accessed any Kalmbach feature but these forums. I think it may be possible to figure out where the glitches in changing their access-control system might be by looking at the way thinks keep breaking...
Something else, why isn't this website secure? Ever since they started showing ads on the website, the page says 'not secure'. I am concerned about this because if someone were to hack into your account, they would gain access to your e-mail address and possibly post inaproppriate/irrelevant content and get your account terminated. I apologize that this post isn't about railroading, but every single forum member could be at risk with this unsecured connection. Browsers even tell you specifically not to enter passwords on unsecure sites, so why is this website not secure?
I'm having the same exact issue and it is growing tiresome.
CW
MidlandMike I got stopped again by the 8 article limit. I cleared my cookies this time and after signing back in, got to look at NewsWire again. But there were a lot of NewsWire articles today, and after 8 articles got stopped again, and had to log in again. Are we going to have to sign in after every 8 articles?
I got stopped again by the 8 article limit. I cleared my cookies this time and after signing back in, got to look at NewsWire again. But there were a lot of NewsWire articles today, and after 8 articles got stopped again, and had to log in again. Are we going to have to sign in after every 8 articles?
adkrr64Is that a developer problem, or a browser problem?
The issue with Firefox and the forum software security updates is a very good example of the issue. I am assuming they will resolve this in stage 3, but it is not as simple an issue as it looks (or would be to resolve with small but critical decreases in Internet security...)
Note April 2021: in view of recent developments, for my own safety I replace my picture that showed myself with this one avatar picture.
.
Semper VaporoSara: Next time you start the sequence to get to the forum you want; once you get to that forum, click the "Save URL" icon in the browser to add it to your "Favorites".
I have dozens of sites in my bookmarks. The most used are across the top of the screen - mail, Trains, both Deshler YouTube cameras, several others. Others are listed under "other bookmarks." In fact, I created one folder within that folder for my on-line bill accounts. Makes life so much easier.
Sara: Next time you start the sequence to get to the forum you want; once you get to that forum, click the "Save URL" icon in the browser to add it to your "Favorites".
Then, next time, instead of starting where you presently do, use that saved URL to come directly to the forum... the page will have a button to Log-In. This will save some steps and you might skip that obnoxious advertisement.
I, too, refuse to do business with any company whose advertising I find objectionable.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Sara TWhat I am not so enthusiastic about is: when I have opened the site and I want to choose 'trains.com' and then the forums. All of a sudden this big fat red advertising!!! pops up and covers everything. I first have to delete this and then can I choose a forum, or almost, because before I can click on it - woosh - it dashes away and I have to bring it back.
There is really nothing 'bad' about this, because Kalmbach initially set up 'trains.com' as a forum, but also one for Trains Magazine separately (it was trainsmag.com, as I remember) and the latter became more popularly accepted and then became the dominant 'place' for posting. For a while I still went over from time to time to see if something interesting had been (mis)posted on trains.com and would invite the poster to crosspost on trainsmag.com to get better answers or more 'eyeballs' on the discussion.
At some point Kalmbach themselves put up a note in the description of the trains.com forum, saying (paraphrased) "this is not the Trains Magazine forums -- railroad discussions ought to happen over there" and apparently reserving the trains.com forum for discussing things about the magazine itself, or the general setup of the Kalmbach 'internet presence'. All they are really doing is finally getting around to using their valuable domain name "trains.com" for more valuable purposes -- and I see nothing particularly wrong in their using that particular domain to actively promoting their $6.99 does-it-all offer for the associated 'portal service' they want to promote.
Naturally, they want to announce this transition as memorably as possible, and they have chosen to do it with that big red popup for people who select the "www.trains.com" URL.
One relatively easy way to get around having to put up with that (or with what I suspect will be directed advertising to anyone who comes to have cookies set to that particular URL in their browser after visiting!) is to go to the forums here directly via a Google search. I do this by default because I dislike clicking through their menus to find things, and I use a range of devices and browsers some of which do not work well with Kalmbach pages. I find that using "trains forum" as a Google search term produces the forums for Trains Magazine, Model Railroader, and Classic Trains within the first four entries (the other being a direct link to 'General Discussion' on the Trains Magazine forum) -- this may be the result of a 'trained' algorithm, but I recommend that you try it, and repeat the search and selection of the 'right answer' URLs presented in the Google results, until you have 'optimized your copy of the search engine' to give you the forum links you want at the top of the first page that opens on any device you're "signed into".
I don't know if you have set up a 'Google signin' to coordinate your search history, etc. across multiple devices, which may simplify how this would work, but I do find that it works even when accessing the forums from random devices (such as login from phone or computer store 'demos' with wireless access, or public computers like those in libraries here).
In Kalmbach's defense: they now have considerable experience in different 'community' platforms, and have been through at least three complete back-end provider changes (it may be many more than that; I only know by peripheral message generation and a little market searching for the products that produced them). In addition, they have gone through what appears to be management shakeup, not at all for the best, and are having to 'find their way' just as Yahoo did ... hopefully much better, or at least commercially more successfully, than Yahoo did.
You might find it informative, as I did, to Google Kalmbach Media around January 2018, when they conducted a sort of 'media blitz' in the trade press about their 'then' plans for leveraging the enthusiast communities. You can find later hints here and there about their strategy; for example they won an award last fall for a promotional effort associated with another Kalmbach community (astronomy) and in trade-press accounts listed the various groups, including tech support, that had carried on that effort.
For the record, I think $6.99 for what they're offering is not out of line; the problem is entirely with 'customer relationship management' and the particular perceptions of those who are only at Kalmbach sites for participation in free forums. And it is (at least, it is to me) a severe, and growing, and alarming problem.
What I am not so enthusiastic about is: when I have opened the site and I want to choose 'trains.com' and then the forums. All of a sudden this big fat red advertising!!! pops up and covers everything. I first have to delete this and then can I choose a forum, or almost, because before I can click on it - woosh - it dashes away and I have to bring it back.
That sucks! Oh, just before anybody tells me "This is a commercial site and they need to do some advertising" I tell you that this way I will never answer to that big red plate in any other way but to click it off. So where is the advertising effect?
Sara
Santa Fe Fan Leo Ames I had same problem with signing in. Customer service responded with suggestion to clearing the broweser history/cookies for "all time" and using alternate browser. i cleared history and used same browser, and have not had any troble since.
Leo Ames
I had same problem with signing in. Customer service responded with suggestion to clearing the broweser history/cookies for "all time" and using alternate browser. i cleared history and used same browser, and have not had any troble since.
I followed the instructions that you mentioned, cleared my history, opened a different browser, created yet another new pw, and logged into NewsWire with no problem. Santa Fe Fan, I thank you and the CS rep you talked to.
Lithonia Operator Leo_Ames Not even being able to log-in sure makes one want to rush out and subscribe to their expensive premium digital service... Why would you say that?
Leo_Ames Not even being able to log-in sure makes one want to rush out and subscribe to their expensive premium digital service...
Why would you say that?
Yep - nothing quite like defective 'cheap service' to entice one to convert to 'more expensive service' form the same organization that can not make cheap work. [/sarcasm]
What a marketing plan!
Leo_AmesNot even being able to log-in sure makes one want to rush out and subscribe to their expensive premium digital service...
Still no luck here and customer service hasn't yet bothered to respond to my support ticket.
Not even being able to log-in sure makes one want to rush out and subscribe to their expensive premium digital service...
MidlandMike I get it again on Google Chrome on both my Windows laptop and Android smartphone. I skipped a day rather than try to change my password.
I get it again on Google Chrome on both my Windows laptop and Android smartphone. I skipped a day rather than try to change my password.
Tried another tweaked pw on Chrome on my laptop. Still not getting in.
motor It is a good thing I cannot hire some one to shoot IT. Still cannot log in even when site sent me a email to reset GRR____________RRRRRRRRRRR IE 10.1 MidlandMike I can get to NewsWire now. Lucky you. Three password resets in the last 2 minutes and I still can't get to NewsWire.
It is a good thing I cannot hire some one to shoot IT. Still cannot log in even when site sent me a email to reset GRR____________RRRRRRRRRRR
IE 10.1
MidlandMike I can get to NewsWire now.
I can get to NewsWire now.
Lucky you.
Three password resets in the last 2 minutes and I still can't get to NewsWire.
motor It is a good thing I cannot hire some one to shoot IT. Still cannot log in even when site sent me a email to reset GRR____________RRRRRRRRRRR MidlandMike I can get to NewsWire now. Lucky you. Three password resets in the last 2 minutes and I still can't get to NewsWire.
Yes. I was incorrect. Newswire is still free. (I don't know if that's because I am a print subsciber, or not.)
Last night on this forum, each time I posted anything (a new post or just a comment in a thread), I'd have to log in again. That was on my phone. Each time I checked "remember me," but that didn't help. Maybe that's been resolved now. I'm not on my phone right now.
Would they dare charge print subscribers for access to the Newswire? And start doing so arbitrarily, without notice, in the middle of an agreed subscription term?
There are words for that sort of "business" practice, none of which are particularly positive, quite a few of which are, fortunately for their originators at Kalmbach Media, not family-friendly enough to give here. Let's hope this is just a temporary Bangalore glitch like the access confusion.
So a print subscription doesn't get me full fledged access to the Newswire now?
I hate to say it, but maybe it's time. The issues are so flimsy these days and lacking in much of the content that I traditionally subscribed for. A substantial part of why I was keeping up the tradition in the last few years was because it also provided access to the Newswire.
I hope Classic Trains stays healthy. I haven't detected any degradation over there and will happily continue to subscribe as long as that continues.
Not even sure I want to try out Trains Unlimited. Access to the Model Railroader, Classic Toy Trains, and their Garden Railways online archives would be interesting (I own their DVD collections for Trains and Classic Trains). But what good does it do me when 24 hours later I still can't even log-in here outside of the forum.
BaltACD My print subscription is all the funds they are going to get out of me. Antagonizing me about the number of 'looks' at something does not make me a happy camper.
My print subscription is all the funds they are going to get out of me. Antagonizing me about the number of 'looks' at something does not make me a happy camper.
As a long time (since Jan 1970) Trains subscriber, I thought it was a nice perk to have access to the Newswire and would have been upset if that access was curtailed. Having sprung for the unlimited membershp, I get the unfettered access to the Newswire, but still would expect to get it with the print subscription.
I have a new computer which I first fired up last night and had run into problems with the logins on one part of the site not working on other parts of the site - had to do two or three different logins to get things working right.
Lithonia OperatorAt seems like at first, after the change, News articles didn't count against your monthly allotment, only feature stories. But now News stories seem to count also. Mainly what they are accomplishing in regards to me is chasing me away from their digital content. So I'll miss ads for stuff they wish to sell me. Most of what the Unlimited membership offers is stuff I don't care about. To me it's not worth the bucks to get the remainder.
Mainly what they are accomplishing in regards to me is chasing me away from their digital content. So I'll miss ads for stuff they wish to sell me.
Most of what the Unlimited membership offers is stuff I don't care about. To me it's not worth the bucks to get the remainder.
At seems like at first, after the change, News articles didn't count against your monthly allotment, only feature stories. But now News stories seem to count also.
What's annoying me at the moment is the "Events" section isn't on-line yet and it's been over a month since the flip!
Come on Kalmbach, I've got something to put in there! How long does it take?
BaltACD I clicked one of today's articles (progress report on Brighline's extention and got "You have reached your limit of 8 articles this month". And I subscribe to Trains and CT. Leo_Ames Having a strange issue today. I'm logged in here at the forum, but getting an error about my credentials outside of the forum when attempting to log-in such as when trying to view the Newswire. While I am logged into the forum. I am getting 'You have X free articles left' when accessing things like News - and I haven't even opened any of the articles 'IN' the News.
I clicked one of today's articles (progress report on Brighline's extention and got "You have reached your limit of 8 articles this month". And I subscribe to Trains and CT.
Leo_Ames Having a strange issue today. I'm logged in here at the forum, but getting an error about my credentials outside of the forum when attempting to log-in such as when trying to view the Newswire.
While I am logged into the forum.
I am getting 'You have X free articles left' when accessing things like News - and I haven't even opened any of the articles 'IN' the News.
Me as well.
MidlandMike make that 3 persons Leo_Ames Having a strange issue today. I'm logged in here at the forum, but getting an error about my credentials outside of the forum when attempting to log-in such as when trying to view the Newswire. Having same problem.
make that 3 persons
Having a strange issue today. I'm logged in here at the forum, but getting an error about my credentials outside of the forum when attempting to log-in such as when trying to view the Newswire.
Having same problem.
make that this person as well
[/quote]
Yep... it is all buggered up today. I can no longer log-in with my Trains subscription credentials as well.
Leo_AmesHaving a strange issue today. I'm logged in here at the forum, but getting an error about my credentials outside of the forum when attempting to log-in such as when trying to view the Newswire.
charlie hebdoReversion is not going to happen. Lump it or leave it.
Lump it or leave it.
Will just leave sticky brown lumps.
Yours works - mine doesn't HERE.
See if this works :)
rdamonBalt can bring back the animated signatures now!!
I used to have animated train signatures, but some of the less progressive members complained because they were still using dial-up internet service providers. So, I acquiesced ....and changed to a static picture, and then yet others still complained about the picture.
Now they've killed Mr Potatohead, and are putting Pepe LePew out of a job. What next?
Reversion is not going to happen.
He means the whitewater cat. And the people having trouble crossing the chasm. And the little stick figures going up and down.
rdamon Convicted One On a positive note, the new streamlined inyerface appears to load much faster than the old. In times past when browsing with my laptop from a heavily loaded wifi hotspot, the lag could be insufferable. I have noticed a big improvement since the new. Balt can bring back the animated signatures now!!
Convicted One On a positive note, the new streamlined inyerface appears to load much faster than the old. In times past when browsing with my laptop from a heavily loaded wifi hotspot, the lag could be insufferable. I have noticed a big improvement since the new.
On a positive note, the new streamlined inyerface appears to load much faster than the old. In times past when browsing with my laptop from a heavily loaded wifi hotspot, the lag could be insufferable. I have noticed a big improvement since the new.
Balt can bring back the animated signatures now!!
Animation is beyond my control.
SeeYou190I am sure the final version will be fine. What we are seeing now is in all likelihood transitional. -Kevin
-Kevin
Kalmbach IT has been transitioning for the 18 years I have participated in this forum, they have yet to master any level of their transition. No level of the transition has ever ended up 'fine'.
I am sure the final version will be fine. What we are seeing now is in all likelihood transitional.
Living the dream.
Lithonia OperatorNot on my phone. The are in a stack on the left, with bullets.
This is likely to be typical of mobile devices for some time. Kalmbach for a while started redesigning their site features around the then-up-and-coming age of small smart mobile devices (after the iPhone was introduced) and some of the early compromises we've been suffering since were driven by the need to optimize content around what would display on such devices. In the years since the strategy change that I think started around early 2018, Kalmbach announced they were doing a complete U-turn and not supporting or writing for mobile devices at all. I have no present idea what their plans for mobile support of forums in stage 3 might be, and certainly no one from Kalmbach seems particularly eager either to tell us or comment on the ongoing issues.
I expect nothing concerning phones -- not the link boxes, not the PM and profile viewing bugs, not the weird error-handling code deflictions, not the formatting issues -- to be addressed before the stage 3 changes are rolled out ... probably in typical Bangalore style by just cutting over at an undisclosed time and 'letting the users find the bugs for them'. I remain what Tom Lehrer said concerning how I wait for this to take place.
tree68 The link boxes for the various publications now line up properly across the top of the screen. Progress!
The link boxes for the various publications now line up properly across the top of the screen. Progress!
Not on my phone. The are in a stack on the left, with bullets. The word "Trains" appears twice, and the second one is just to the left of the stack, sandwiched between two of the bulllets, the ones for Classic Trains and Garden Railways.
They should least do the Newswire Part of the site, I can't read the newswire like before all these dumb boxes.
At 9:32 on an iPhone the buttons pointed to the right things, including the one-year-old Frailey comments. I am not sure if retaining the Big Boy and Journey to Promontory blogs as 2/5 of the choices -- also a year since anything new was added to them -- is a great leap forward even if selected from snazzy buttons.
NOTE TO EDITORS- All three of the blog buttons, including Observation Tower and Train of Thought, lead to the CT blog Mileposts.
BaltACD The hallmark of Kalmbach IT has been fix one thing and break three others.
The hallmark of Kalmbach IT has been fix one thing and break three others.
Let's be fair - that's usually the case no matter who.
I'm convinced that the software developers monitor what features the users use most, then eliminate or bury them in the next release.
I miss the old "covered wagons" especially. And I don't care what ANYBODY says, nothing will ever roll out of Muncie that'll match an FM Trainmaster.
conrailman Trains need to bring back the old site Now??
Trains need to bring back the old site Now??
Yeah, that's not going to happen.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
I got an e-mail from Juniatha, neither she nor Sara T can use Private Message or post pictures now.
WHAT is going on?
Oh Nooo, the rulers!!! On the back of the lightweight wood ones (probably cost a dime) I would scribe elaborate railroad track diagrams with a ballpoint pen and trace train movements. That must have been around fifth grade, when we were allowed to use the new-fangled pens and put away the fountain ones.
Sometimes I would proudly bring in the heavy bronze ruler that our family's hardware business would give to the big accounts. "Who, me?". Sister Laetitia impulsively picked it up and then it came down Whanggg on my knuckles.
The other sound I remember was that of the brass tipped wooden yardstick hitting the behind of corduroy pants; a peculiar combination of whistle and whoosh.
I survived.
Rick
rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.
Lab The news page is totally unusable with my iPad I have 3 columns with 1 or 2 letters per row
The news page is totally unusable with my iPad I have 3 columns with 1 or 2 letters per row
rdamon Convicted One p.s. I just sent an e-mail to your grade school spelling teacher, congratulating her for the fine mess she made for us..
Convicted One p.s. I just sent an e-mail to your grade school spelling teacher, congratulating her for the fine mess she made for us..
WOW! You had Ol' Lady Knucklerapper, too?
Convicted Onep.s. I just sent an e-mail to your grade school spelling teacher, congratulating her for the fine mess she made for us..
I thought I just felt an angel with a ruler hit my knuckles
We need change, even if it's somewhat stressful. A brain not subjected to stress and change is missing opportunities to learn and to remain young. A brain that isn't forced to contend with novelty turns to mush. Ask me how I no.
rdamonbut still no spelchek
Oddly, spell check works on person to person messaging, but not on the forum itself, suggesting that spell check might be turned-off intentionally for the forums. Perhaps a performance related issue?
p.s. I just sent an e-mail to your grade school spelling teacher, congratulating her for the fine mess she made for us..
I have taken to using the spell check that is available within Windows 10.
One of the things I like and respect George Hamlin for is that he reads and responds to the comments to his blog. I belong to another organization where the moderator always responds to comments about the nuts and bolts of the site. That would be a good idea here.
but still no spelchek
Convicted One BaltACD From my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header. I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other. So Balt, Has this "bunched up" style error been corrected for you today? I'm getting it rendered properly in all 3 browsers now.
BaltACD From my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header. I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other.
So Balt,
Has this "bunched up" style error been corrected for you today? I'm getting it rendered properly in all 3 browsers now.
It has been rendering properly since the day AFTER I made that post.
BaltACDFrom my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header. I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other.
Lithonia OperatorSame here. But it's only $5 more. Whattayagunnado?
P O your existing customers - what a great way to expand business! NOT!
Same here. But it's only $5 more. Whattayagunnado?
As a print subscriber I resent being extorted to become a digital subscriber.
Ehh, I'm kinda-sorta getting used to it, exploring all the nooks and crannies.
Shock of the new I suppose. The thing is, I just HATE learning to swim by being thrown into the deep end of the pool, know what I mean?
The digest idea was bad enough and now these big boxes. I'd like each news item listed from newest to oldest on one page with a "more" feature for "even older".
This Website is complete Joke of a site.
What exists TODAY March 5, 2021 is not progress from what existed March 3, 2021.
LabThe news page is totally unusable with my iPad I have 3 columns with 1 or 2 letters per row
Yeah, that definitely needs work. A simple one column layout would be far better.
B&O6522I hate the new design. I can't believe this but Im about ready to tell Kalmbach good bye and cancel all my subscriptions after many years. I used to be able to click on scroll down through the news items and then click on the ones that interest me. Then they went to the "digests" which required you to click on it to find out what is in. Now it's a bunch of boxes. No concern for what the customer wants just take it or leave it. They have learned well from the rail industry.
Many enterprises have turned to red ink and dust when invoking pay to play.
I hate the new design. I can't believe this but Im about ready to tell Kalmbach good bye and cancel all my subscriptions after many years. I used to be able to click on scroll down through the news items and then click on the ones that interest me. Then they went to the "digests" which required you to click on it to find out what is in. Now it's a bunch of boxes. No concern for what the customer wants just take it or leave it. They have learned well from the rail industry.
I really like the new design for both the online Trains and the online Classic Trains.
But here's my problem. What's most important to me is the two print magazines. I see where Kalmbach will now force me to but the digi Trains in order to get the print editions. So there's $50. Then $30 for CT. So I'm already in for $80.
As for online, I sometimes look at the Newswire, I enjoy the forums, and I have often found reading one or two The Way It Was stories is a nice thing to do in bed at night before nodding off.
Well, it appears that from now on I won't have access to old TWIW stories without doing the Unlimited thing. The forum and Newswire is free. So I'd be paying an additional $88 just for TWIW online. I don't have much interest in all the other special content, nor do I have the time, really. Between what I now do, plus reading RR books, railfanning, and all of my other time- and money-consuming interests, I can't justify another $88 to Kalmbach. In fact, there's a chance I'll drop Trains and just get CT, which I enjoy more.
However, for someone who wants to take advantage of a lot of the special content, the price seems fair to me.
conrailman Bring Back the Old Website Now. It was more easy too get too things. Now its harder too find. This New Websites S***. I concur.This is atrocious. Did anyone at Kalmbach (1) review the changes and (2) do -any- customer surveys? Bring Back the old model!
Bring Back the Old Website Now. It was more easy too get too things. Now its harder too find. This New Websites S***.
I concur.This is atrocious. Did anyone at Kalmbach (1) review the changes and (2) do -any- customer surveys? Bring Back the old model!
rdamonDoes that mean that Balt can bring back the animations?
I am not in control of that.
Does that mean that Balt can bring back the animations?
BaltACD Jerking knees can cause injury, even when they are warranted.
Jerking knees can cause injury, even when they are warranted.
Ha Ha Ha! Now I can post whatever I want to, and not have to worry about critics challenging me with "What has that got to do with railroading?" Not all change is bad
Of course there may be unanticipated perks within the new format, enhanced support for cascading style sheets being just one possibility. Always a good idea to withhold knee jerk reaction, and instead allow sufficient opportunity to investigate, and then make an informed opinion, once all variables are accounted for..
Give it a chance.
Even huge tech companies like Microsoft have issues when they roll out new products.
I'm starting to warm up to the new look
Overmod BaltACD The 'Trains' forum and the 'Classic Trains' forum as well as the 'Trains.com' forum and Model Railroader are all different from each other. WTF? They evolved separately using common tools that were not consistently change-managed 'across the organization' -- often with a variety of different mods and policies over time. All this is supposed to be changing by the end of spring... I got a pop-up a couple of minutes ago which contains the following contact information: Customer Service e-mail: customerservice@trainsunlimited.info Customer Service telephone (M-F 7a-6p; Sat 7a-5p Central): (866) 926-1494 Questions about 'anything' via e-mail: questions@trains.com
BaltACD The 'Trains' forum and the 'Classic Trains' forum as well as the 'Trains.com' forum and Model Railroader are all different from each other. WTF?
They evolved separately using common tools that were not consistently change-managed 'across the organization' -- often with a variety of different mods and policies over time. All this is supposed to be changing by the end of spring...
I got a pop-up a couple of minutes ago which contains the following contact information:
Customer Service e-mail:
customerservice@trainsunlimited.info
Customer Service telephone (M-F 7a-6p; Sat 7a-5p Central):
(866) 926-1494
Questions about 'anything' via e-mail:
questions@trains.com
All of which is the problems that Kalmbach IT has created by not keeping all their products at the same level of update.
BaltACDThe 'Trains' forum and the 'Classic Trains' forum as well as the 'Trains.com' forum and Model Railroader are all different from each other. WTF?
adkrr64 BaltACD When I was involved in computer oprations - my boss would have fired me if the applications I put in service operated differently on different computers/applications. I'm not sure it is always the web site developer's issue. Browsers are constantly updating themselves, and sometimes these updates break things on previously functional sites. I manage a web based application where I work, and about a month ago, one of its features suddenly stopped working in Firefox, but at least for now, that same feature works fine in other browsers. Is that a developer problem, or a browser problem? The other complication is that nowadays, web developers are expected setup their web sites to dynamically adapt to the device that is displaying them. That way things are always appropriately sized and readable, whether you are viewing it on vertically oriented phone screen or a horixontally oriented wide screen display connected to a desktop tower. I'm guessing that is largely what is driving the updates to Trains's web sites.
BaltACD
When I was involved in computer oprations - my boss would have fired me if the applications I put in service operated differently on different computers/applications.
I'm not sure it is always the web site developer's issue. Browsers are constantly updating themselves, and sometimes these updates break things on previously functional sites. I manage a web based application where I work, and about a month ago, one of its features suddenly stopped working in Firefox, but at least for now, that same feature works fine in other browsers. Is that a developer problem, or a browser problem?
The other complication is that nowadays, web developers are expected setup their web sites to dynamically adapt to the device that is displaying them. That way things are always appropriately sized and readable, whether you are viewing it on vertically oriented phone screen or a horixontally oriented wide screen display connected to a desktop tower. I'm guessing that is largely what is driving the updates to Trains's web sites.
I am running Windows 10 and using Chrome for my browser. Neither is a 'low volume' unique situation.
The 'Trains' forum and the 'Classic Trains' forum as well as the 'Trains.com' forum and Model Railroader are all different from each other. WTF?
BaltACDWhen I was involved in computer oprations - my boss would have fired me if the applications I put in service operated differently on different computers/applications.
I agree the new site is a bit of an uh oh, I paid for a subscription to trains under a deal that said I would get online subscriber benefits for life, but I can only look at 8 articles a month. That is messed up in my opinion. New can be better, but this isn't better.
No chance they'll bring back the old website.
I hope they bring back the old Website.
rixflixI much preferred the old compact format. This one's got too much wide open space and consequent scrolling mileage.
Try turning off your ad blocker. I'll bet those empty spaces will fill right up, after you do.
I've been a subscriber for years, but now I can't login for the newswire, but surprised I can post here. Go figure.
Convicted One BaltACD From my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header. I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other. Interesting, I get the same thing when accessing through Chromium, but when I access through Firefox, the page appears to render properly. The page also seems to render properly when accessing through the very obsolete Knonqueror browser. In total fairness, I am constantly getting nagged that my Chromium browser is out of date and that I need to update it, so it's possible that it would render properly under Chromium if I updated, but I won't. Just for comparison, here is what I get under each: Chromium Firefox Konqueror I actually like the new look. Cleaner, more modern, straightforward approach, without all that gaudy red header. For the record, a "pay only" access model doesn't bother me. I find that in a "pay only" environment that the troublemakers who seem to participate only to irritate the other members tend to tone it down when faced with getting a paid membership cancelled for bad behavior. FWIW
Interesting, I get the same thing when accessing through Chromium, but when I access through Firefox, the page appears to render properly. The page also seems to render properly when accessing through the very obsolete Knonqueror browser. In total fairness, I am constantly getting nagged that my Chromium browser is out of date and that I need to update it, so it's possible that it would render properly under Chromium if I updated, but I won't.
Just for comparison, here is what I get under each:
Chromium
Firefox
Konqueror
I actually like the new look. Cleaner, more modern, straightforward approach, without all that gaudy red header.
For the record, a "pay only" access model doesn't bother me. I find that in a "pay only" environment that the troublemakers who seem to participate only to irritate the other members tend to tone it down when faced with getting a paid membership cancelled for bad behavior.
FWIW
Kalmbach IT - says it all
Ulrich Give it a chance maybe.. nobody likes change..
Give it a chance maybe.. nobody likes change..
If I want change I'll reach in my left pocket!
It looks like the regular stuff is still there, you have to scroll down to the bottom of the webpage (past the commercials) to find it.
I found the Forum by clicking on "Community," that's how the "Classic Toy Trains" Forum worked.
Yeah, gonna take some getting used to.
If I had only one wish for this site, I'd really, REALLY, REALLY wish that Kalmbach would quit buying their fonts from Google.
When this site is runing slow, it gets REALLY frustrating waiting on the page to load while watching that "waiting for fonts.googleapi.whatever" message in the lower left corner.
Plus, with the way it's set up, the "fonts by google" delivery package is intrusive behavior, just another way for them to sneak onto your platform and collect metrics from all of us.
I really like the new look. CT changed for the better also, graphically.
On Safari I get that logo jumble at upper right. But in Google Chrome, I get what CO is getting in Firefox.
Lithonia OperatorYou'll see that a print-only subscription to Train seems to no longer be available. The print edition is now a $5 add-on to the digi edition; it would appear to me that maybe they're trying to kill off the print edition.
I think that a lot of content creators have taken notice of how "dealing from the cloud" has worked out for companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Adobe. Helping them reduce costs while at the same time stringing up their customers for a line of ongoing payments instead of a one time purchase.
Personally, I think that $20+ dollars per month "forever" is too much for Photoshop, especially after finding I am just as happy with Gimp. YMMV
Interesting, I get the same thing when accessing through Chromium, but when I access through Firefox, the page appears to render properly. The page also seems to render properly when accessing through the very obsolete Konqueror browser. In total fairness, I am constantly getting nagged that my Chromium browser is out of date and that I need to update it, so it's possible that it would render properly under Chromium if I updated, but I won't.
Lithonia OperatorWill these forums soon fall behind a paywall? Will only the "unlimiteds" get to use the forums?
I find a number of sites moving to a members only model. Sports Illustrated (si.com) just did this. They typically give you a couple of free articles then cut you off.
If it keeps the content quality high and eliminates the ads and clickbait, I'm OK with the idea of paying for online content. I find such sites much more enjoyable and usable.
As for the new site layout, I'm good with it so far. It look better on the iPad.
Lithonia OperatorI have never known: is the digital edition exactly the same as the print one, content-wise?
I don't know about the Newswire articles, but as far as I can see, the digital edition is the exact same as the printed one.
I find this interesting. If you go to this page: https://www.trains.com/trn/subscription-plans/
You'll see that a print-only subscription to Train seems to no longer be available. The print edition is now a $5 add-on to the digi edition; it would appear to me that maybe they're trying to kill off the print edition.
I have never known: is the digital edition exactly the same as the print one, content-wise?
If I go to the Train mag website now, I can read Newswire articles. But if I click on a feature story, it will let me read it, but tells me how many more free articles I get. Are those feature articles the same articles that are in the print mag I will soon get in the mail? Or are they "special" content which, after my (now) four more looks, will thereafter be availiable only to the "Unlimiteds?"
I'm, like, confused.
From my perspective - in calling up the Forum, I don't get the large 'Trains' header. I get a number of entries concatonated over top each other.
I've got that too. And quite oddly, the little logo to the left of the bookmark is now the logo for the Washington Post. I deleted that bookmark, made a new one; same deal, the WaPo logo. ???
Well... I'm going to take the other side.
I like the new look. Much cleaner, and for me, much easier to see what's what.
I'll give it a chance. I do like the graphic look of it a lot. Technically, it will probably need some de-bugging, but that's to be expected.
What I don't get is:
What will still be free, if one doesn't do the "unlimited membership?"
If one subscribes to the print versions of both Trains and CT (as I do), does that earn any credit toward the cost of the unlimited membership?
Will these forums soon fall behind a paywall? Will only the "unlimiteds" get to use the forums?
How much duplication will there be between the print and digital content?
I am going to try to research this better. But my quick glance left me confused as to what the big picture is. What the actual business model is, and what the options are.
If anyone has figured this out, please fill the rest of us in.
My druthers would be to have exactly the amount of access I have now; but I don't know if that's going to be possible for long.
I don't like the News Wire Part of the website. If its broken don't Fix it. The Old site was alot better.
Kalmbach IT strikes again.
conrailman Bring Back the Old Website Now. It was more easy too get too things. Now its harder too find. This New Websites S***.
I concur, but then I didn't like it the last time the website changed either.
I suppose I'll get used to it.
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