2 RAIL 2R FORUM IDENTIFICATION

@Simon Winter posted:

2 RAIL or 2R     I just left a discussion that was meant to be about 2 rail track radius (as opposed to 3 rail track, which is described by DIAMETER like O72. The problem is, many forumites enter discussions from the sidebar to the right of the topic, and the discussion was soon taken over by posts about 3 rail track, even though prior posts were about track RADIUS.

The simple solution to this is to type 2R or 2 RAIL as the first characters in your title (if you are starting the topic) and the Body of your post. Then everyone should be aware of the forum they are posting in.

Hopefully

Simon

That has been my complaint about the "sidebar", i.e. "RECENT POSTS", in that it gives absolutely NO INFORMATION as to what forum the subject discussion in on. Way too many folks simply don't bother to pay attention about which forum the discussion is on.

@Hot Water posted:

Way too many folks simply don't bother to pay attention about which forum the discussion is on.

Way too many folks simply don't bother to pay attention.

Very true.

2R   And NONE of you fine folks managed to type those 2 lousy characters!

Simon

So a 2R diameter discussion is right out?

Sorry I couldn't help myself.  However, agreed that the side bar creates challenges when you don't know what forum the topic is posted in. 

@Simon Winter posted:

2R   And NONE of you fine folks managed to type those 2 lousy characters!

Simon

Why bother? Since I rarely ever use that "sidebar" thing, I'm posting/responding to a discussion on the "2-RAIL SCALE MODEL TRAINS" Forum.

2R  We all (hopefully) LOL know where we are posting, but there are some who think they have to expound on every topic out there, regardless if they have a clue about the subject or not. I'm up for any suggestions you folks might have if you think you have something better, but I think it has to be simple/easy or it won't work.

Simon

Maybe the BEST way is to be sure 2R or Two Rail, are the first characters of your post title. THAT shows up on the side bar!

For some strange reason, I don't really mind 3 railers posting here.  If it bothers you, there is always the tattle-tail button.  "Moderators" go nuts when alerted to this sort of thing.  They will fix it and chastise.

@bob2 posted:

For some strange reason, I don't really mind 3 railers posting here.  If it bothers you, there is always the tattle-tail button.  "Moderators" go nuts when alerted to this sort of thing.  They will fix it and chastise.

2R

I have nothing against 3 railers posting here if their comments are on topic, but if they want to talk about 3 rail stuff, there are forums for that. Maybe you should crack open the Webster and look up:       courtesy

How about I start posting pie recipes in your topics?

Simon   apple or blueberry?

Shouldn't this post be under the "Forum Suggestion Box" category. I think it's the last category listed on the forums page.

@B rad posted:

Shouldn't this post be under the "Forum Suggestion Box" category. I think it's the last category listed on the forums page.

Sorry forgot to put 2R.

After a bit of thought, I think the easiest answer is to make "2 Rail" the first thing in your topic title. That solves the "Side Bar" issue which I think is the heart of the problem. The rest is up to you.

Simon

B rad:  I didn't see your post, as I was typing my last one, but I think since it pertains specifically to THIS from, it is more likely to be seen here, and I think 2 Rail as the start of the topic is the answer because it puts 2 Rail on the side bar, which I believe is the root of the problem. The issue is NOT about who is posting here, but about keeping things on topic.

Thanks,

Simon

I don't care if you post apple pie recipes.  I have the skill to skip posts and topics I don't care about.  But again, you have the magic button that summons the cops.

@bob2 posted:

I don't care if you post apple pie recipes.  I have the skill to skip posts and topics I don't care about.  But again, you have the magic button that summons the cops.

That's your remedy. Mine is to eliminate the need to do anything. I'm trying to eliminate the problem, not anger people.....well, mostly

@Simon Winter posted:

How about I start posting pie recipes in your topics?

Simon   apple or blueberry?

Blueberry, please!  On 2 rails, please......

I am multilingual, speaking 2-rail, 3 rail, and toy train (my first language). On matters of radius I Include the 3 rail equivalent. My posts don't seem to generate any consternation.

@AGHRMatt posted:

I am multilingual, speaking 2-rail, 3 rail, and toy train (my first language). On matters of radius I Include the 3 rail equivalent. My posts don't seem to generate any consternation.

The perfect opportunity to confront you about the "great 2 rail/3 rail unification" that you have been promising us these past several years, but have yet to have delivered!      Sorry Matt, couldn't resist!

Simon

@mwb posted:

Blueberry, please!  On 2 rails, please......

Too late.....I tossed it at Bob!

Simon

@Simon Winter posted:

The perfect opportunity to confront you about the "great 2 rail/3 rail unification" that you have been promising us these past several years, but have yet to have delivered!      Sorry Matt, couldn't resist!

Simon

Yeah. Never happened as I had predicted, though the MTH 3/2 equipment was a step in the right direction. From a technical standpoint, it wasn't really that difficult to implement but no one wanted to run with it (I even have the graphic of how to do it).

@AGHRMatt posted:

Yeah. Never happened as I had predicted, though the MTH 3/2 equipment was a step in the right direction. From a technical standpoint, it wasn't really that difficult to implement but no one wanted to run with it (I even have the graphic of how to do it).

I think sooner or later with the improvements in  battery technology, your prognostication will prove correct, and ZERO rail will be the rule of the day because they'll run without any rails. (Actually they do now.) RCBP will be my power choice unless they come out with something like dilithium crystals! LOL It will certainly be interesting

Simon

@Simon Winter posted:

I think sooner or later with the improvements in  battery technology, your prognostication will prove correct, and ZERO rail will be the rule of the day because they'll run without any rails. (Actually they do now.) RCBP will be my power choice unless they come out with something like dilithium crystals! LOL It will certainly be interesting

Simon

The AirWire 900 actually delivers most of that promise by sending DCC commands to a DCC board from a radio receiver driven from battery or track voltage. I was looking into that as an option for some of my conventional 3-rail locomotives. It's a bit pricey as you still need to add a DCC decoder and sound to the mix.

Well, I certainly agree with all that, including the blueberry pancakes.  My prediction was BPRC by 2015, since Radio Shack knew how to do it for model cars and trucks for $35, including the car, in 2010.  Alas, wrong again!

@bob2 posted:

Well, I certainly agree with all that, including the blueberry pancakes.

Only if the blueberries are fresh,

Look, I hate to be the sour apple or blueberry (YEECH!) in this pie, but as much as I like reading about and learning about 2-rail model railroading, we are on a primarily 3-rail magazine forum.  This is a 2-rail sub-forum of a 3-rail sponsored forum, and we have to accept that 3-railers (of which I am also one) will comment, regardless of their knowledge base.  This is even more likely when the topic(s) are radii / diameters of track and the engines that will run on either.

Moderators do their best to keep topics on track or in the "correct" location, but as I'm sure we've all seen, not all topics are easily positioned by forum title, and not all topics are easily separable by subject matter.

Chuck

I thought we were talking about pie.

If we are talking about Raspberry Pi, then we are completely in the wrong set of forums although it might fit under one of the command forums as you could likely create your own command system with it if you understood how to program it.

On a side note that is even more off topic, growing up with a grandmother who made pies instead of cakes in central PA, apple pie was considered the bottom of the pile when it came to good fruit pies.  A good black raspberry pie was always at the top.

These old Pennsylvania Dutch recipes also typically require three 4" radius pie plates as opposed to the more common two 4.5" radius pie plates. 

@PRR1950 posted:

Look, I hate to be the sour apple or blueberry (YEECH!) in this pie, but as much as I like reading about and learning about 2-rail model railroading, we are on a primarily 3-rail magazine forum.  This is a 2-rail sub-forum of a 3-rail sponsored forum, and we have to accept that 3-railers (of which I am also one) will comment, regardless of their knowledge base.  This is even more likely when the topic(s) are radii / diameters of track and the engines that will run on either.

Moderators do their best to keep topics on track or in the "correct" location, but as I'm sure we've all seen, not all topics are easily positioned by forum title, and not all topics are easily separable by subject matter.

Chuck

Chuck,  You obviously missed the point of this topic, which was to better inform forum members what subforum they are posting to, and how to overcome the ambiguity of the "Recent Posts" side bar. Nowhere did it state that certain forum members be barred from a topic, only that the topic should be Identified so that an intelligent discussion could proceed.  The only thing you state that is relevant is highlighted. Thanks to OGR for sponsoring this subforum.

Simon

Jonathan,  Pie, regardless of the type is a lot more tasty than Pi!

Simon

@GG1 4877 posted:

On a side note that is even more off topic, growing up with a grandmother who made pies instead of cakes in central PA, apple pie was considered the bottom of the pile when it came to good fruit pies.  A good black raspberry pie was always at the top.

Being from south-central PA originally, good black raspberry pie is always near the top!  

Except if you happen to be over in Adams Co. where apples rule.

A BIG piece of Dutch apple with a scoop of vanilla is hard to resist. Dang, now I'm hungry!

Simon

@mwb posted:

Being from south-central PA originally, good black raspberry pie is always near the top!  

Except if you happen to be over in Adams Co. where apples rule.

Only if they are Summer Rambos.  Best baking apples in the world.

I prefer custard pie myself…😁

Rhubarb this week.

I am starting to think this topic should've been prefixed with PIE

Brendna

Simon started it.  If nobody hits the forum police button we can drift anywhere we want.  What fun!

Funny how things get off topic.

Simon, read your original post and see where we are now talking about pies...

That's what makes this forum so great.

2 rail and 3 rail peeps talking about pies....

Just don't bring up fruit cake recipes. Loved my grandma, but I hate those things.....

Brad

To those posting about 'Pie' or 'Pi', I love it.  ROFL

Dan Weinhold

This is kind of twisted, but maybe Lionel should come out with a pie transporter! There appears to be a huge affinity for pie in these parts! Anyone for a Mrs. Smiths?

Simon