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

[Anonymous]

I joined this site last year when I first started getting into toy trains after having my then 3 year old son rekindle my interest. The activity level here was fairly low at times, so there wasn't much to read. A post from Roger Bielen about the OGR forum got me to try there and I got hooked.

The wealth of information available on the OGR Forum is amazing. Just reading past posts on the TMCC Forum taught me many invaluable things, so I was completely ready when I finally did get my TMCC set. And I met a lot of nice people over there and felt that there was an openness & willingness to accept new comers & answer questions.

My experiences have been so different from the people who say they felt left out on the OGR forum. I intend to stay on that forum & give the subscription thing a shot. While I agree that there might have been better ways for OGR to structure the fees, still, I don't think $18 for a year is bad. But that's just me.

Anyway, I'll be checking in here more often from now on.

Tony

[nitroboy]

Thanks for the warm welcome! It looks as if most of OGR are already here.

DAve

[MartyE]

Hey Tony

Yep I'm going give it a shot too. It's hard to judge what might become of it until you give it a try. If nothing else I will still get to talk and contribute to another good forum. In the meantime I also re found this and the model train journal forum as well so that I can keep up with those who decided to leave.

Glad to see everyone is finding a home.

[Bob Bubeck]

Hello everyone!

I have been involved in the hobby of toy trains and model railroading for over 50 years. I have been a subscriber to CTT since 1993. The first love of my toy train life is American Flyer S gauge and I am the author of TM's Guide to American Flyer S Gauge. For the fun of it, I operate two layouts -- the first is postwar vintage Gilbert AF -- the second is a 3-rail layout done in the prewar style. The latter permits the operation of both O and Standard gauge, and it is TMMC capable. I am an active member of the Glancy Trains Modular RR club, which is based in the Detroit area (www.glancytrains.com). Our group has put together a marvelous site (under the direction of Dan Machesky), which I encourage you to visit.

In addition to hunting for, operating, and fixing Flyer, I have become very enamored of the new "scale" offerings from the majors in 3-rail O gauge. In a way, I look upon many of the new trains from Atlas, K-line, Lionel, MTH, 3rd Rail, etc. (in alphabetical order) with their improved attention to scale proportions and detail as a vindication of the philosophy of A. C. Gilbert. I have posted reviews of new equipment in other cyber-venues from time to time, and I hope to do so here as well.

Best regards to all,

Bob Bubeck
TCA
NASG
TTOS

[willpick]

I had forgotten that I had joined this forum back in 2002, as a backup to the OGR Forum.
It was pretty slow then, I can see that it won't be now. I have not subscribed to the OGR forum yet, I will be doing so, but not until I have to. This I my silent protest- I am sad that the OGR Publishing group felt that a usage fee was necessary, but after a day of thoughtful refection, I understand their perceptions,and their reasons. So I will be participating more here, but I will continue to support OGR and its' forum.

[Anonymous]

It's great to see all of you guys joining us here! I hope you all have a lot of fun here on the CTT fourms!

[Anonymous]

Many thanks for the welcome... It's nice to see so many familiar names here...

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the welcome! I'm glad to see other OGR people here as well[:)].

On a CTT magazine related note, I've been working on a 031 version of the coal trestle layout featured in the last 4 issues. It's coming along well, and as soon as I figure out how to post pictures, I'll put up some pics.

Once again, great to be here!

[Anonymous]

Just tried to see if I remembered my screen name and password [:)] Yep, I made it in. I see some familiar names here and hopefully this forum will thrive also.

[Anonymous]

Well said Elliot! I just hope the CLIQUES from OGR don't try that here. If they do, I hope Neil ends it like Melvin wouldn't. That being said, welocme you new guys and please no name calling just because someone doesn't agree with you. It's been real nice here and we'd like to keep it that way. Do I sound leary? Yeah--I left OGR because of the cliques.

[Dr. John]

Thank you for the welcome!

I really don't consider myself a "refuge" from the OGR forum, rather, I like to think I'm expanding my horizons. I still think OGR is a great forum, but I am not sure I will pay the fee.

As for me, I collect O gauge pre-war and modern era along with some S gauge American Flyer and more recent offerings. I am between layouts, and with a daughter entering college in the fall, I will probably thin, not add to my collection in the near future. [:(]

I still want to remain connected with the hobby as much as possible, that'w why I enjoy these forums!

[butleryard]

HI! I am also a refugee from the OGR forum. Over there I am known as Yardmaster, but somebody has that name here already.
Just stopped by to see what is going on here! Nice to see familiar names here.
Yes I did pay my fee there, but wanted to see where everybody was going. I'll stay there for the year to see what happens for the good or bad.
I'm not going to bash any forum or user. Everybody has the right to their own opinions and their own decisions. Thats what this country is all about!

[Anonymous]

Like my friend Will, I have been registered over here for a while, but not really posted until now.

I am trying this out as well as one other forum and am thankful for the access to this resource.

My interests range from Hi-Rail to Standard Gauge. I just plain like trains.

When I am not engauged in covert operations in a certain Southern California suburb, I am a hobo.

San Diegan

[Anonymous]

I feel like I'm in the same house, but...in...a... different room. I hear familiar voices. I see some of the same images. I even sense some of the same attitude and humor. A little irreverance, a smattering of polite jibbing, a great wealth of knowledge and a lot of passion for model trains, whatever their iteration.
Sadly, I couldn't bring my "B&O/best&only" shingle with me.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by alt117

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

Wow, thanks! I think you are the first person that I'm aware of that bought the How To video. Unlike the I Love Toy Trains series, that How To Build A Toy Train Layout video is not one of Tom's best sellers. [:D]

[Richard A]

Hello and thanks for the welcome. I am still a member of the OGR Forum and will subscribe there for the next year to check out how things go. I see value to both forums now, so will try to participate in both. I am "SP Bear" on the other forum.

Once all the dust settles over this subscription flap, I hope we can all get back to trains. Diversity is the spice of life, I believe, and no one has a monopoly on the "only way to do things".

BTW, I am in the pre-layout phase (sigh...), but am collecting O-27 and O-31 Lionel (Post War), MTH, Lionel and Atlas O. Love the 1950's era and have a "box car" fetish [:D]. Have a nice collection of Atlas O reefers, but am not really into reefer madness.

I look forward to good company and good conversation.

[Anonymous]

old ogr name: acid
ctt name: acid

I'm a 25 year old 3rd year medical student. I've got a rinky dinky around the wall layout that I'll post pictures of someday. Had 1000+ posts on the ogr forum and enjoyed it but feel that they are nailing their own coffin. I have seen many wonderful forums go down in a flame of glory b/c of any charge. I look forward to getting to know this ctt forum!!


and for the ctt mods, CTT will be getting a renew check, "the other" group won't:)

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

I've read all of your comments today on this thread as well as several other related threads. I'm pleased that many of you felt that this site would be an appropriate place to talk about trains. I hope the folks that have been here all along will see the new arrivals as a benefit rather than a threat. I know many of the new people joining personally, and they're good guys.

There are a couple of housekeeping points I'd like to make:

-- There's no real "administrator" of the CTT forum. I'm the editor of CTT, but I am not the chief guy in charge of this forum. Instead, the forum is a shared responsibility between the CTT editorial staff and another Kalmbach Publishing Co. employee named Erik Bergstrom (he goes by Bergie on this forum). Erik is in charge of trains.com, the umbrella website where the Kalmbach train-related magazines (Model Railroader, Trains, Garden Railways, Classic Trains, and CTT) all "live."

-- No one has the title of "moderator" either. We expect everyone to be respectful and moderate themselves. The CTT staff already has a full workload, and none of us wishes to spend extra time sending out emails asking people to behave appropriately. My rule of thumb as far as behavior goes is this: We shouldn't be embarassed to have our wives or mothers read the CTT forum.

-- CTT is not structured like O Gauge Railroading magazine. I don't have the same responsibilities that Rich Melvin does and vice versa. It's the same with the other members of the CTT staff and the OGR staff, so it will be confusing if you try to compare how CTT and the CTT forum works with past experiences on the OGR forum. If you have any questions, just email me directly at [e-mail]. If it's a technical question, I may not be able to answer it myself and I will forward it to Erik.

-- To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever been kicked out for posting something inappropriate on the CTT forum, but there have been a few people that have posted things on the Model Railroader section of the forum that caused Erik to ban them from the MR forum, which, in effect, bans them from the other Kalmbach forums, too.

-- The CTT staff makes posts on the forum once in a while, but the forum isn't about us, it's about you. If you've got a burning question about anything please just email me or one of the other staff members directly. I'll see that the response gets posted if it's something that everyone would benefit from reading.

-- There are some paid ads on the CTT website, mostly from CTT magazine advertisers, but they don't fully cover the cost of operating the website and the forum.

I hope this answers some of your questions. If you've got more, just ask.

Thanks,
Neil Besougloff
editor, CTT

[dk99358]

I popped in and out of here different times but never registered or stayed long. I think the OGR fee is wrong and will be leaving there. I'm also on the TCA toytrain list.

I set up a Christmas layout (its still up this year-AMAZING!) and am very slowly working on a larger, more permanent layout in my attic. I like operating accessories a lot and don't care if a car or engine existed in real life. If I like something, I buy and run it. I think I've got a standard gauge bug in me too but so far it hasn't flared up too bad.

Dale

[Anonymous]

I SUBSCRIBE TO BOTH MAGAZINES & USED TO BELONG TO BOTH FORUMS BUT I NOW FIND THE $18 PENALITY DISTASTEFUL & REFUSE TO PAY IT.THE TIME I USED TO SPEND ON THAT OTHER FORUM WILL NOW BE PUT TO USE WORKING ON MY LAYOUT. ENOUGH SAID,LETS ENJOY THIS FORUM BUY THE WAY MY NAME ON THE OTHER FORUM WAS BLUEGOOSE ON THIS FORUM I AM TRIPLEX

[etoytrains]

Hello everyone,

Looking forward to learning from the model railroad community. Being on a rock in the middle of the Pacific does not expose one to a lot of information when it comes to O-Gauge trains or model railroading for that matter. The CTT and OGR Forums provide "real time" questions and answers, something that I can't get here.

Thanks CTT for the FREE forum.

PS: I am a MULTI-YEAR subscriber to both CTT and OGR :-)

[Anonymous]

Hey Dale,

That standard gauge bug bites hard!! The problem with it is it takes ALOT of space to lay some track. I have one loop right now and I am adding another. Personnally I like the sight and sounds of the old tinplate rattling around the layout as much as the new tmcc engines with all the sounds and smoke.

[jonadel]

Good morning everyone and thanks for the welcome.

I'm recently retired and have finally finished about 98% of room one which leads to room two and hopefully room two will be finished about a year from now. It's been about 14 months of building and wiring and it truly has been fun. I had noticed a gorge article in CTT and decided I wanted to add that to my layout so I did. I also sent Neil a thank you note for that article and lo and behold I saw my thank you in a subsequent issue.

The album address at the bottom of this letter will give you a better idea of what we've been doing in our spare time.

Jon

http://jands.logicalgeek.com/albums.php

[Anonymous]

Hey, acid,

I was surprised to read that you're in med school. I have a daughter that's a med student (second year) and I know how intense that is, at least as much as I can know from observing. Congratulations on maintaining an interest outside of med school, which can be so draining. You must have a lot of energy!

[dk99358]

Gomez,

My front room has 9 foot ceilings. I've been toying with the idea of a high shelf layout above the doors and windows. Add a couple of small stations, maybe some lights and I'd be in business. Plan B is a second layout in the attic where there is lots of room. Gotta love big old farmhouses!

Dale

[johnsgg1]

I look forward to receiving good information on this forum. Lately most of the posts on the OGR furum didn't interest me. But that is more me than the forum.

I collect and operate PRR by Lionel. I've just started my layout and it'll be pure tinplate in the tradition of the department store layouts of the 50-60s. Lots of tubular track, Lionel accessories and plasticville. I want something the grandkids can play with and enjoy, the logs, barrels, culverts, coal etc. It'll also bring out the kid in me I'm sure.

I'll operate command and conventional using TMCC with the new ZW.

[Anonymous]

Hi Everybody -

Thanks for the welcome! As you can see, I have been registered for a long time, but haven't posted until now. I was a fairly active member of the OGR forum and may pay to continue, but haven't decided yet.

I recently retired and have a 13 1/2 foot X 22 1/2 foot layout up and running. I use TMCC and DCS and am in the Hi-Railer camp, but do not look down on anyone that isn't. I have been very active in N, HO and S in the past and started out with my first Lionel set as a boy in the early 50's, which I still have. I fondly remember my first Lionel layout which was a loop of track with no switches and a large Plasticville town in the center. I love working on scenery and buildings and love to scratch build structures. The new realism, sound and command control is what brought me back to my roots in O gauge. Plus, with my trifocals, the larger scale is easier on the eyes.

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone,

I am also a new visitor from the "other board". Just live a few miles away from jonadel who posted above. My layout is still a "work in progress" but I am making progress. Looks like a great Forum!



My Model Railroad Layout Page
My Model Railroad Links Page

Steve

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone,

I have also been registered here for awhile, just checking out the latest and greatest. I was TA&GHry on the OGR board. I am a hirailer and I am currently working on my 3rd hirail layout.

Regards,

Tom

[Anonymous]

Howdy folks...
Yet another OGR forum member....
Once ya see my signature, you'll know who I am.

Ed