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Well It Took Me All Week...

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Well It Took Me All Week...
Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, April 26, 2024 5:00 PM

But I FINALLY got onto the Forum!  Looks like I'm the first one back in.  Has anyone else had problems?  I was starting to wonder if the Forum had been cancelled forever as I had no issues with any other part of the website. 

Anyway, I'm hoping whatever the problem was it's been fixed. 

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Posted by kblester on Friday, April 26, 2024 7:34 PM

I thought the light was off for good. Someone spill grits on the charger? We need Fifedog to check loose connections.

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, April 26, 2024 9:20 PM

OK so it wasn't just me.  I've heard from Pennytrains she had problems as well. 

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Saturday, April 27, 2024 8:04 AM

I just got back in this morning. I don't think these outages bode well for this site.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, April 27, 2024 3:59 PM

Northwoods Flyer

I just got back in this morning. I don't think these outages bode well for this site.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

 

I hear you!  The thing is IF they want to discontinue the various Forums as a business decision (they're a courtesy, not a given after all) I could understand that.  All I'd ask for is a little "heads-up" so we can make our goodbyes.  Crying

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Posted by chatanuga on Saturday, April 27, 2024 8:11 PM

I've never seen this site get this bad.  Repeatedly getting 504 gateway time out messages.  Having to refresh pages about 4 or 5 times to get them to load.  Cleared my browsers.  I work in IT and have done everything I can on my end.  Getting really disappointing not to be able to get on here when I want.

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Posted by pennytrains on Saturday, April 27, 2024 9:34 PM

Let's see if this time is the charm Wink

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Posted by pennytrains on Saturday, April 27, 2024 9:39 PM

Yay!  but I'm still getting time out messages I have to reload Sad

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, April 28, 2024 8:31 AM

chatanuga
I work in IT and have done everything I can on my end. 

Well if an IT pro like yourself is having issues then you KNOW it's not on your end!

The thing is while all the chaos was ongoing at this website I was having absolutely NO problems with any other 'site I visit so I knew bloody well it wasn't me.   

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Posted by pennytrains on Friday, May 10, 2024 6:13 PM

It's been happening again to me for the last several days Sad

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Saturday, May 11, 2024 8:07 AM

So the planets alligned today.  Nice to be here even if it may not be for long.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:32 AM

Yeah, I got on last night, came in through the back door so to speak, the "Trains" mag website. 

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Posted by smokey1 on Sunday, May 12, 2024 8:28 AM

I thought it was down for good until the new company did something.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, May 12, 2024 8:46 AM

smokey1

I thought it was down for good until the new company did something.

 

I'm not so sure.  Certainly the sale's been made but changes in policy and operating procedures typically don't happen overnight. I'm still in the "wait and see" mode and expecting announcements which I'm sure are coming. 

The last time I company I retired from was purchased the word was "business as usual" until we were informed otherwise, which took several weeks. 

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Posted by 8ntruck on Sunday, May 12, 2024 8:04 PM

I agree with Flintlock.  The new management policies are probably some weeks away from full implementation.  Somehow, I don't think fixing the forum is on the top of the list of things to do.

Been several days since I was able to log on.

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Posted by Bob Keller on Monday, May 13, 2024 6:48 PM

I believe the magazines have to be out of the Kalmbach building by the end of June (they are searching for new office space).

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Posted by pennytrains on Monday, May 13, 2024 7:48 PM

So that leaves American Snowmobiler and who else?

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Posted by Bob Keller on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 6:27 AM

I think Snow Mo was sold to amother firm a few years ago. Discover is the last title and they expect it to be sold shortly. Kalmbach sold their building, so they have a deadline to exit as well.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 1:52 PM

Bob Keller
Kalmbach sold their building, so they have a deadline to exit as well.

Wow!  This sounds like a Kalmbach "Going out of business!" sale in all but name!

But then, the same happened to Carstens Publications (Railfan & Railroad, Model Railroad Craftsmans, et al) several years back and those titles are stronger now than ever. Their purchase by White River put new life into them.

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Posted by stuartmit on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 3:40 PM

So what will be the future of Kalmbach? What is left that will continue in operation? 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 4:16 PM

stuartmit

So what will be the future of Kalmbach? What is left that will continue in operation? 

 

Man, that's going to be a real "Wait and see." Obviously though Firecrown sees value in the Kalmbach magazines or they wouldn't have bought them.  I'm hoping the staffers come with the magazines!  

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Posted by MidlandMike on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 8:16 PM

Somebody posted in the Model RR Forum a linked article saying that the buyer plans to keep all employees.

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Posted by stuartmit on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 5:50 AM

But my question goes beyond the magazines; once they are transferred to the new owner, what is left as a business for Kalmbach? Will the corporation continue or will the cash, raised by sales of its various businesses, be distributed to the stockholders and the corporation will cease to exist?

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Posted by Bob Keller on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 6:43 AM

My impression from the letter I received was it would be liquidated and closed after the future of Discover was resolved. The company did have a good track record for investment, so I could seen it becoming some sort of private investment firm, but I really doubt that will happen.

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 9:21 AM

MidlandMike

Somebody posted in the Model RR Forum a linked article saying that the buyer plans to keep all employees.

 

  Well I would hope so!  Certainly I'm an outsider looking in but in my opinion Kalmbach's problems didn't originate on the "factory floor," they came from the " C Suites." Kind of like a lot of other businesses that have found themselves in trouble in the past decade or so, "Red Lobster" being the latest. 

The list of former Kalmbach magazines have a great stable of employees, the best thing Firecrown can do is let 'em go through their paces undisturbed. 

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Posted by pennytrains on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 9:15 PM

Sounds like sage advice to me Bow

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, May 16, 2024 12:03 PM

Thanks Becky!  

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