There are times when the forum acts as it should - and then more times it devolves into 504 errors and all the various errors we have identified over the months/years that the site has been wonkey.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The principle of variable reinforcement makes it so hard to simply wash one's hands of these fora and never return.
After all, they might be working again in a few more hours; just like the slot machine has got to hit again and before long, right?
Flintlock may have the right idea regarding this situation
I have also been getting '403 Forbidden' errors
Working fine for me today.
It comes, and it goes...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Yes!! Coming and going!! Now has migrated to News Wire at time although trying to type anything in news wire unable to type normally. Wonder if he US is being hacked by Russia and China>????
blue streak 1Wonder if he US is being hacked by Russia and China>????
I think that's a daily occurance...
Or it's an old site that gets barely anything put into it?
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
It is still 504 ing.
I go to many sites - and only get 504's here
I agree. Trains managed to find the worst social media software and server in existence.
Way to go, guys!
Perhaps we should reconsider OM's offer to host?
All of us? <10 members?
Has the new owner indicated any intention of keeping all, or any of the forums in operation? I think it is noteworthy that Kalmbach has not offered any explanation for the technical problems with this forum, and no indication of an intent to repair these problems. It is as if they don't even know about the problems.
EuclidI think it is noteworthy that Kalmbach has not offered any explanation for the technical problems with this forum, and no indication of an intent to repair these problems. It is as if they don't even know about the problems.
Not true. A Kalmbach IT person posted some commentary about the forums and the problems associated with them some time ago, early in 2024 if I recall correctly. He acknowledged these forums run on old software that is no longer supported. He said the likely solution was to switch to a modern forum platform (like phpBB or similar). He solicited input about the need to transfer existing posts into a new system, or start the new system from scratch.
This person has not posted in some time, and may not even be with Kalmbach or the new owner at this point. But while it was still under Kalmbach ownership, somene there did know the forums were a problem and was at least scoping out potential solutions.
It would be a shame to lose the old content, and therein lies the rub. I've been involved in such transitions before and they are a royal pain.
adkrr64 Euclid I think it is noteworthy that Kalmbach has not offered any explanation for the technical problems with this forum, and no indication of an intent to repair these problems. It is as if they don't even know about the problems. Not true. A Kalmbach IT person posted some commentary about the forums and the problems associated with them some time ago, early in 2024 if I recall correctly. He acknowledged these forums run on old software that is no longer supported. He said the likely solution was to switch to a modern forum platform (like phpBB or similar). He solicited input about the need to transfer existing posts into a new system, or start the new system from scratch. This person has not posted in some time, and may not even be with Kalmbach or the new owner at this point. But while it was still under Kalmbach ownership, somene there did know the forums were a problem and was at least scoping out potential solutions.
Euclid I think it is noteworthy that Kalmbach has not offered any explanation for the technical problems with this forum, and no indication of an intent to repair these problems. It is as if they don't even know about the problems.
Looking at the Trains Forum this morning shows it is pretty moribund in terms of activity, even though it is working well.
Time to pull the plug?
Not sure if it is time to pull the plug as the website was being erratic a couple of minutes ago. It almost made it to a 504 timeout before responding - I minimized the waste of time by making use of browser tabs to read another website during the time to respond.
Edit (12 hours later): Website came up promptly, but wondering if I jinxed things by writing that....
At least it works some/most of the time.
Ham radio's "Logbook of the World" got hacked several weeks ago and still isn't back on-line. It's one of the tools hams use to keep track of their contacts. Dissatisfaction with management is much stronger there than it is here, trust me.
charlie hebdoLooking at the Trains Forum this morning shows it is pretty moribund in terms of activity, even though it is working well. Time to pull the plug?
It is working, but is far from well.
charlie hebdoLooking at the Trains Forum this morning shows it is pretty moribund in terms of activity, even though it is working well.
The lack of activity predates the current accessibility issues. As has been mentioned, a lot of the old timers have passed on or moved on. And most of them were very active. And users come and go on any forum.
Charlie HebdoTime to pull the plug?
tree68The lack of activity predates the current accessibility issues. As has been mentioned, a lot of the old timers have passed on or moved on. And most of them were very active. And users come and go on any forum.
Very true. The Trains fora are populated (in terms of posts) by a handful of old timers. I suspect the median age is north of 70, maybe well north.
charlie hebdo maybe well north.
Does 92 apply?
We could survey the dozen or so of us lingerers?
I'm 77.
I'll be 71 in August.
For what it's worth the current editor of "Classic Toy Trains" Rene Schweitzer says there's no plans to drop the various former Kalmbach Forums.
I'll be 70 in October.
I'm ~5 years too young to have any memories of mainline steam, but old enough to remember dozens of class 1's, pre-Amtrak passenger trains and loose car freight. There is generally less variety in the industry with the possible exception of comuter rail.
Dramatic changes in the industry pre-date my existence in this world, with one example of Lucius Beebe's Mixed Train Daily documenting aspects of railroading that was rapidly disappearing after the end of WW2.
Having said that, what got me hooked on reaading Trains was the article about the D&H high pressure experimentals in the June 1967 issue of Trains. I also get a kick out of reading the old issues of Trains in the magazine archives, e.g. the article on the East Broad Top written when it was still a going concern in 1941.
I'm 76.
(I look at that number and can't believe it actually applies to me.)
83
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
59, turning 60 in August
A few more yungens like Overmod and Zugmann and Tree plus elders Balt and Dave K.
A mere youth, I'm only 71. Incidentally, the only mainline steam that I remember was NKP 2-8-4's.
Still in the blaming the people who got let go stage. Eventually somebody will have to decide whether to punt the forums or pay for the fix.
Pro tip - remove any names that got let go when submitting their plan for approval by the new bosses.
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