OGR Forum Refugee Roll Call

[Anonymous]

OGR is not going to make enough from the $18 fee to make the forum profitable. And it wouldn't be profitable even if all of the people who have left the forum had paid the fee. I know a lot of people don't believe that, but I think a lot of people just don't know what the costs are to keep a forum as busy as OGR's up & running.

The only people that know what the costs actually are are at OGR, and they're not telling. But Rich Melvin has posted a couple of things in the new Suggestion Box forum there indicating that the average throughput on the site is 60 Gigabytes per month, with over 130 million web pages served up. That's a very busy web site, folks.

At any rate, my opinion on the scale vs toy train thing is: It's your pike, do what you want on it, but make sure you're having fun.

At least, that's how this "ignorant idiot" feels about things.

Tony

[Frank in Steam]

Kent, you can rest assured, no abuse from me because of your preference for 'tinplate'. Please note my last sentence, I like all trains. I enjoy running the Lionel size trains of my youth and occasionally buy an off scale sized item that catches my eye. It does not mean that you won't get kidded by me, as I expect it in return. Also, as far as I am concerned, if its not 1:1 it is a toy train = meant to be (run) played with. Finally, I can appreciate a collection, but to me a collection is what I have accumulated to run.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't call it idiotic to pay for using a forum, but I wouldn't pay for it! It does seem like a double standard when they pay for articles, but charge people to contribute to the forum. The only reason I can figure for doing that is to make their website a profitable venture.... quite a change in philosophy, considering that most companies consider it a valuable sales and service tool. They can even increase the subscription and I will pay, but I won't pay to use their website.

FrankinSteam, I'm probably overly sensitive to the scale vs toy issue, but even I welcome hi-railer (scale) guys. I think we should just respect each other's choices, and recognize the value of both sides. When I left the OGR forum, it was because I saw thinly-veiled attacks on tinplate, and "It's only toys!" comments fired back in defense. And my presence there was not helping, since I made the mistake of re-opening and trying to discuss the issue. Man, that must have been like ripping a scab off a massive wound, the bad feelings just oozed all over.... I will never do that again! Now, I will only go to toy train friendly sites. I hope this is one.

Kent
PS Please note that I do not wi***o start any fights, and respect both sides of the Model Railroading Hobby.

[Anonymous]

Leonard:

Diagrua's choice of words were a little harsh. It's my opinion that he should have used the term
Lobotomized Zombies in place of ignorant and idiot.

All kidding aside, OGR sponsors a great Forum. Their decision to charge a membership fee was a bad decision made by good people.

None of us know for sure why they have decided to charge the free. One would think that if the magazine was making a decent profit then that would have more than covered all expenses related to hosting their Forum.

[Anonymous]

diagrua
It is interesting and revealing about you to hear the low regard you have for your fellow O-gaugers! At once the "ignorant" and "idiot" types as you classify them( for paying $18).

[NYSubway18]

I agree, a forum is nothing without it's members and their content. Just as a magazine would be nothing without it's writers. Now they charge for a magazine, but the writers are paid. Does this mean they will pay their posters for their content? [%-)]

[Anonymous]

I am here also, as always posting under my real name. I've been a member of the two forums for a while but will leave the "other" forum when the $18 charge goes into effect.
I predict that not many members will be ignorant enough to pay that forum for the privilidge of sharing their ideas, opinions, thoughts, technical expertise, layout photos and mini-articles on this hobby. We join a forum to help each other and gain knowledge on what others are doing. In essense the members ARE the forum and though our contributions we all benefit.. It is immoral to charge a fee for a discussion forum and IMO only an idiot would pay the fee.

[Frank in Steam]

Count me in . I will not trash OGR, I really like the mag; and I have subscribed to CTT as long as I have been back in the hobby. I have my reasons for not paying the fee for the OGR forum that I will address directly with Rich.

I trust that this dyed in the wool 3 rail,scale dimesnsioned steam head will be welcome here. My previous signature was as the train gourmand = no not eating them but enjoying all trains.

[Anonymous]

The Rock is also a member of the www.modeltrainjournal.com forum. It's a great place with a lot of familiar people from the OGR forum. No cliques or know-it-alls over there. Check it out and join us![;)]

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go as far as to use the word Refugee. Most of us who had parents who lived through the Great Depression know the value of a dollar, and I'm sure that's the reason for the exodus from the OGR Forum.

The OGR Forum is a great Forum, but sometimes good people make bad mistakes. Like the $18 Fee. I can't see shelling out $18 just for the privilege of posting on the Forum. And even though I would lay my hard earned money down and become a paid member there is no guaranty that the moderator will not delete my well intended threads. Besides it already has enough know-it-all's. www.modeltrainjournal.com

[Anonymous]

I am glad to see the Rock, and I just figured out that FJ and G (did I get that right?) is David V.... glad to see the Master of Train Creative Writing! I wonder how Thor is doing?

[Anonymous]

Yippee!!! The Rock is here too!!![#welcome][#welcome]

[Anonymous]

I agree with you, Rock! CTT is getting better, but OGR is the best still. I won't let my subscription lapse until they go 90 percent or more Hirail.

[Anonymous]

The Rock is no refugee from the OGR forum! Although he isn't thrilled by the $18.00 fee, he's not on this forum to trash OGR or it's owners.

Santa Fe Kent, The Rock agrees with you that OGR seems to focus more on the hi rail rivet counters. However, both OGR and CTT are fine magazines and he'll continue to subscribe to both.

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

I left the OGR forum months ago, and found that I had more time and more fun working on my little layout. I finally decided to try this site today. I think I will post on occasion here.

I am NOT looking to start any fights, but I did get tired of dealing with the scale vs toy thing there. As an ex-HO scale modeler, I really don't care to even think about scale ever again. I hope that does not become a problem here too.

It is my belief that OGR will be forced to become a Hi-rail mag, as scale modeling and non-scale toy trains have just never mixed very well, at least in my experience. Others say that is not correct, but if true, why are there OGR refugees here?

Okay, I got that of my chest. And I'm glad to know that there are still toy train fans out there.

Long live 3-rails, manly couplers, and the Lionel name!

Santa Fe Kent

[Anonymous]

First post on CTT. I've been a subscriber of CTT and OGR since 1989 and enjoy both mags. I spend about one to one and a half hours a night on train forums,OGR,Aol/Lionel/MTH. I guess I will be pushing two hours per night now.[:D]

[chorst01]

I'm here and come 05/31 I not there unless they provide some break for mag subscribers.
--chh

[NYSubway18]

Hey all,

Was away from the OGR board for a while, and just found out about the new $18 fee. [:(!] When I was posting a lot it might have been worth it, although I never would have even gotten started there if there was a fee - too bad for newbies, and dealers as this will hurt getting newcomers to the hobby, which already has a problem attracting new members.

I'm on the fence about whether I'll stay at OGR after 5/31, but with my job change last June, my house, and the thought of actually playing with my trains, my posting is severly down, and this may be just the wake-up call I need to get off my butt and do more. [;)] Just found this place so let see how it is here before making any lasting decisions. [V]

Now, the main question - to see if there are any subway fans here...[?]

Chris C. Shaffer

[garyseven]

David Vergun

Since when did you become a Major (two star) General?!?[bow]

[Anonymous]

I see Dr. John has joined us.

pax[#welcome]

[Anonymous]

I see my good friends coming here. The best forum of all.

[:)]pax

[Anonymous]

It's good indeed to see familiar names on board here. This looks like a good place to get and share information. One thing I like is that it doesn't have information overload. I have limited time to devote to discussing trains, so a concise board is more helpful to me.

My son and I visited the VIrginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke earlier this week, while in the area visiting family. I shot some digital video, but only took film stills, so when I get those processed I'll post a few if they're any good.

[Anonymous]

Hi I'm a newbie here too,Only posted a few times on OGR but all replys were very helpfull.I get a lot of my questions and problems solved by looking at other posts.Heard about this site and desided to see what all it can offer. Glad to have two good forums to go to.I Have A modern-Era TMCC layout. Glad to be aboard. Orail

[FJ and G]

Hi BobC.

Are you a refugee, then, or are you trying to lure us back? If a refugee, then welcome. Well, welcome anyway.

[Anonymous]

Bob C,

Only 2 posts! That would make you a freshman...

[CSXJOE]

I'll try here for a while.

[Anonymous]

I think that things will stabilize over at the OGR site and that it will weather the storm, so to speak.

Bob C.

[Anonymous]

I think that things will stabilize over at the OGR site and that it will weather the storm, so to speak.

Bob C.

[Anonymous]

Tony, don't pay any attention to Chris. He's been kicked off more forums than he can count.

[Anonymous]

I am another that started posting on this forum before I found OGR. My posting here has not been as prolific as on OGR since then.

I never got the impression that the standards forum was there trying to tell me how to run or design my layout. I thought it was there for the guys that are into Hi-rail to work out standards that could be given to the manfufacturers of hi-rail stuff so it would all play together. On the other hand, I could be wrong.

Far as I know, I'm not a hi-rail guy. I want to try scenicing & such, but I'm not going to count rivets or make sure that every figure & building is exactly 1/48 th scale & has a prototype. Life's too short to worry about that stuff. And anyway, it's my pike & I'll do as I d*mn please, thank you very much.

Heck my new scale k-line Mikado is pulling a bunch of "traditional sized" freight cars right now. Looks fine to me!

I intend to visit both forums, at least for the foreseaable future. If the OGR forum becomes a dead zone, I won't renew my membership.

And Chris? Regarding anyone who "struts around like their **** don't stink," there are jerks everywhere. Why should this forum (or GRR) be any different?

Tony