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

[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

[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]

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

[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:)

[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.

[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]

[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.

[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

[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!

[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!

[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.

[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]

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]

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

[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!

[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.

[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

[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.

[nitroboy]

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

DAve

[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

[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....

[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]

[lionel2341]

Well said, Walt.


Ernie

[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

[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)

[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.

[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.

[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..

[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.)

[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.