On 12/14/2018 I found my TRAINS Account was 'inoperable'.
On Saturday AM; I e-mailed the C/S, and later called them.
Got the usual response; 'All is well!, temporary problem, and it will be OK in a short time'.[ SUUUURRREEEE!]
We've all gotten similar responses from the C/S, when faced with a performance issue in the past.
Anyway, I kept trying, I finally got a live person! After a BRIEF CONVERSATION, SHE was ubnable to make anything work, but she advised that Clambake was aware of the problem, and working on it ! All would be well, as soon as they were able to get their NEW Call Center on line. All would be Well! I had to ask her [ Her accent was definitely TEXAN, and nowhere near a Wisconsin one; where were they located? Her response was East Tex!]
I was very glad that she had not responded, on a raft in Bangladesh ! Oh, Well, New Year, and hopefully, all, will be well !
My point to this post: If I had had this problem....I'd bet that I was not alone, and other's as well, had had similar issues. Another NEW YEAR, and the IT and Sales Grimlins were at work, one mo' time.
I was pleased to note that when I had checked in this morning [12/29/2018]; I was pleased to get the macro to update my account, and change my password... I also saw that they had maintiained my previous start date, and count...
Those were cretainly better than some of the previous IT Upgrades.
So my question is: Was anyone else effected, and how long were they shut down? Enquiring minds, etc!
On or about 12/5 I was not able to log in to the Forum. Contacted CS the following Monday - nice conversation - no success. Mentioned that the Server had been moveed from Florida to Texas. E-mailed CS - did not get a response until about 10 days after I was alble to log in. The Wednesday following Monday I got CS on the phone again - together we walked through deleting cookies and various other 'magic' that was supposed to work - It Didn't. Next day loged in without issue. WTF????????? All in all I was 'locked out' for about 10 days.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I was unable to log-in for about a week or so earlier this month... I e-mailed 3 times and tried several things to get in. All it would do was let me type in my ID and Password, but then nothing happened except I'd be back to the home screen and not logged-in.
I would try to get in at least twice a day and one day, about noon, I was able to log-in.
I assume there was some update or hardware change that broke the database and it took a while to get it fixed.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
We've covered this 'anomaly' in a number of other threads, here and on the Classic Trains forum.
Part of the fun involved cutover to the new customer-service providers; one notable problem was that the online 'customer service' for the Web and forum concerns -- which largely involves nonsubscribers -- required valid subscription information to proceed. It took some time and care to find a workaround that would actually access current customer service.
Apparently Jones1945 did the 'magic' thing that fixed the problem for many of us, as he contacted a live person named "Penny" who said she would look into the specific problem, and was able to log in shortly thereafter. I was able to log in using a telephone at that same time, although I had to clear cookies on a Mac browser a day or two later to get on from one of my computers. (I did not experiment to see which cookie(s) of the many Kalmbach sets was the culprit)
I had the same problem of not being able to log in for a week. It would take the sign-in, but the forum page was still requesting log in, and it would not let me post. I called customer service and they walked me through deleting un-needed files, but that did not solve the problem. Then they told me they were having a recognition problem with the program and hoped to have it fixed in a day or so. About 1-2 days later, the problem had disappeared and it accepted my log-in.
I had similar issues for quite a while. My wife (the family I.T. specialist) re-set the password and now all is well. I am welcomed back to any of the magazines and never have to login to make comments, start a new topic etc.
Euclid I had the same problem of not being able to log in for a week. It would take the sign-in, but the forum page was still requesting log in, and it would not let me post. I called customer service and they walked me through deleting un-needed files, but that did not solve the problem. Then they told me they were having a recognition problem with the program and hoped to have it fixed in a day or so. About 1-2 days later, the problem had disappeared and it accepted my log-in.
I had suspected that I was not the only one to experience problems. I had experienced the problem with the sign-on screen, as well. Sign-in was accepted, and then, nada; back to the sign-in with the added message to contact C/S.
Calling C/S was no real help, the clerks were probably just reading a list of things to burn-time for the caller(?). "...Change browser, try multiple browsers, clear out cookies, turn it off/turn it back on [Reboot] etc..."
They were very nice, but after a couple of seconds, you felt like their hands were tied. Give the caller a glimmer of hope, and then move on. [Call back, in a couple of days when they are not taking calls?] It seems that the subscribers have lost anywhere from a couple of days to something around a week(?). While the 'Change' was being made(?)
The hard core posters, just took the snafu in stride; after all, for most it was not their first rodeo.
Maybe I am privileged? I had no trouble logging in to read posts and the News; I was unable to comment on the News, and when I wanted to respond to someone else's post I had to log in each time. Customer Service told me to delete my cookies--which I did with the help of my son, and have not had to log in again yet. Did IT have its hand in my cookie jar, stirring them around and riling them?
Johnny
I am remembering when McDonalds came out with the Quarter Pounder Hamburger. I went into the Oakbrook Terrace Micky D's and ordered one. Young man brought it to the counter, Got seated and bit into it. It bled. Took it back. Told YM that it was RAW. He told me, "Can't be, it done by computer!' I ask for a senior staffer, and got the same answer. Asked for manager. He came, saw, and then said "Sorry, we will bring you a new one shortly". And then he turned and dumped about six QP's into the garbage. Computers are dependent on the programers and the data. Boeing and Airlines had problems with 737 MAX's when a bad sensor thinks the plane is about to stall and forces the planes nose down. Over a hondred people died. When computers work, they are great but they (and we) are at mercy of those respomsible for the programs and inputs. At least No one died when the Train's computers messed up.
Overmod Apparently Jones1945 did the 'magic' thing that fixed the problem for many of us, as he contacted a live person named "Penny" who said she would look into the specific problem, and was able to log in shortly thereafter. I was able to log in using a telephone at that same time, although I had to clear cookies on a Mac browser a day or two later to get on from one of my computers. (I did not experiment to see which cookie(s) of the many Kalmbach sets was the culprit)
Thanks, Overmod. I am very lucky that I found Penny to follow up the log-in-glitch. I believe many forum members also contacted them for this problem. I wish transparency of Kalmbach will be further increased if such technical difficulties happen again, so people won't need to keep trying to log in or waiting in vain.
Jones 3D Modeling Club https://www.youtube.com/Jones3DModelingClub
Was having the same non log in issues, I removed four "trains" cookies and it now works fine. Windows 7 with Firefox
They must have everything working again, first time able to log in in about a month without issues, at least on my phone.........
Randy Vos
"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings
"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV
rrbrewer Was having the same non log in issues, I removed four "trains" cookies and it now works fine. Windows 7 with Firefox
My PC is the same, and my phone is Android with Chrome. Same results on both.
Couldn't login for about a week in December, well before Christmas. No issues since then. Clearing cookies/history did nothing for me.
I didn't do anything, just was magically able to log in again one day.
Amen to the bit about this being far from the first Kalmbach IT rodeo!
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
After 3 weeks or so of getting 'an error occurred during logon' message, I finally emailed their support desk and discovered today that I now get a 'credentials' error. I figured they changed my password, so I tried to change it back. Unfortunately, under the current version of Firefox, the 'click here' to reset your password did nothing. I had to go to Internet Explorer and reset my password. Now all's well.
Finally, I can reply to various threads such as this one. And with Firefox, too!
You guys are "lucky," and I use the the advisedly. I had a computer and e-mail change and had to start all over again. The story's on my Profile.
Groan.
Flintlock76 You guys are "lucky," and I use the the advisedly. I had a computer and e-mail change and had to start all over again. The story's on my Profile. Groan.
Wondered where you got off to.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
more SNAFU. This site has a 404 message whenever try to link to contact trains with reader tip or any other contact link.
Uh-huh. Just got a "404" when I tried to read the "Newswire" Amtrak tunnel story.
I can wait.
I got caught in the trap when changing my email address for my account, got the subcriber access to the News Wire without much trouble, but the forum software said I needed to create a new screen name - it blocked trying to use my old screen name and even then dumped me out on an error for the last four weeks when trying to create a new screen name. Finally worked today.
- Erik (formerly "erikem")
Wayne,
I'm curious as to how long it took for you to get out of moderation.
The "Flintlock76" is close enough to your old user name that at first I didn't realize it was a new name - that dawned on me when reading STCO's reply to you on another thread.
- Erik
blue streak 1more SNAFU. This site has a 404 message whenever try to link to contact trains with reader tip or any other contact link.
As of late this morning
http://trn.trains.com/magazine/contact
came up properly, and a quick random check of some of the links there had them all resolving to content.
The 'Customer Service Center' is still expecting subscriber credentials before allowing you to contact anyone at customer service; I am not sure the old 'default' customer service URL maps through to the new folks in Texas. Hopefully this will be resolved within the next days or weeks. I find it a good sign that functionality is returning when it has been reported to Kalmbach as crippled.
You bet Overmod! Functionality restored.
Well HOT DAMN! Looks who's back!
And thank goodness for that, the place ain't been the same without you!
Pardon the language, I'm fighting a head cold. A dose of Vicks DayQuil and two shots of Makers Mark 112 proof bourbon. Got a little bit of a buzz on.
I'm blushing Wayne. Thank you.
...sounds as if you know well how to handle a head cold.
Whenever I get to go Stateside bourbon just fits .. tastes better and richer and more meaningful on its home turf.
Same problem here. Lost access after the new year and no amount of password resets worked. Logged a ticket on CS, no respone, no fix. Was reading the post here and by auto-magic (a technical team from 35+ years in corporate IT) I logged on without any issue!
Excellent Mr. seppburgh2! Welcome back. Wonder how many others are lost in the wilderness.
Kalmbach should post a sticky thread with the correct new link. It's an easy fix but you can't fix what you don't know about. The old non functional log in links are everywhere on the sites. Hope others find this.
Called 3 days, on hold long time, finally used call back option but never got the call. Think they are swamped.
MiningmanExcellent Mr. seppburgh2! Welcome back. Wonder how many others are lost in the wilderness.
Sorry. I'm still here.
Anyone gutsy enough to use Princess Luna as an avatar has nothing to be sorry about!
For me, this website has moved from being the most difficult to use to being the easiest. I log in automatically when using the same computer, even in the restrictive-internet Yeshiva (still cannot get Imgur, preventing picture posting there, ditto some larg-file posted photos don't show), and when I use another computer at a wi-fi locaton, no problem loggin in. Congratulations Klambach. Worth the interem problems. And hearfelt thanks.
I wish addrssing my own mailboxes on boith Yahoo and gmail would be so simple always. Someetimes it is, sometimes difficulties can be overcme, somtimes I have to wait to reload Firefox at a wi-fi location or just log in there.
The strange thing is, if I go on the website using Google I'm logged on (I'm NOT logging off again!) but if I use Microsoft Excel I have to log on each time. I don't have any problems logging on with Excel, it just doesn't "stick."
Since I use Google most of the time anyway it's no big deal, but it is strange.
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