Hobby is BETTER

I can imagine it.  We'd all be muddling around, trying to fix things with chewing gum, rubber bands and Elmers glue.  Thank heaven there are folks here that know what to do, how to do it properly, and willing to share all this knowledge with those of us who experience knowledge deficits.

Nick,

I had no idea about this forum until a friend started giving me his old OGR magazines. That was about five years ago. All my years in the hobby, I had no idea.

Things would be a LOT more difficult without it, that's for sure!

Practically quit in 2005, little help from my local train club ( the Staten Island Model Railroad Society) split from them formed a club of my ownin 2012 (Richmond County Model Railroad Club) , I was practically running on vapors till I "met" a lot of you online! My layout thanks you, my flagging interest thanks you and my wife thanks you (for keeping me out of her hair).

 

I agree the Hobby is better for our group contributions because of OGR and their talented staff! Booyah!

 

Mike Maurice

Definitely.  If it wasn't for discovering this Forum I might be sitting here staring at a few shelves of post war trains instead of having built a layout and been running trains! 

Now, I could not imagine the hobby without OGR forum and mag.  I've learned so much in the 5+ years I've been a member here.  I only wish I had found the forum sooner.

Two things I wish I had got on the internet sooner for:  eBay, and OGRForum.

I wouldn't have most of the trains that I do, and my train layout would not be nearly as nice as it is. Also, all of my trains would be sent out for even minor service.

 

Thank you everyone, and the staff at OGR

I would still be in HO home alone

Would not have found a fantastic bunch of guys like the Detroit 3 Railers.

Would not have found a fantastic bunch of guys like the OGR people.

Would not have learned about half the electronics I work with now.

Would not be able to network with questions, fixes and parts for my layout.

Would have lost the inspiration years ago with a half built layout.

Thanks guys.

My enjoyment of the hobby would not be the same.  Between all of the great advice, and support from forum members,  my layout is great.  My wife may think otherwise..... if I go to her one more time with..."there is a really great sale I read about on tbe forum" . :-)

I spend way too much time on the forum but love every minute of it. Thank you OGR forum sponsors, Rich, & Allan.

What I don't understand is why, in a hobby with a relative small user population, that there aren't more users here.  You'd think that EVERYONE serious about the hobby would be on here.  I know many in the hobby are older and less inclined to use the internet, but there are so many more people of all ages in the hobby.  Just spend some time on YouTube and you realize just how many layouts there are in this country.  I guess some people are in active clubs so get their train knowledge and social aspects from that and don't need to come here.

 

Besides the learning aspect of this forum, it also helps the hobby (but hurts our pocketbooks), by making us aware of trains, buildings, etc that we end up buying that we wouldn't otherwise.  Without this forum, I know I wouldn't spend as much as I have on this stuff.  What you don't know about, you don't buy.

 

 

Totally agree, but i would add one more: online auctions. i have purchased most of my trains through online auctions, 

I had seen this forum earlier but did not register right away until July 3. I looked at the user list today and sorted it by date registered and there have been several dozen users register since I did. Not sure if that meets your expectations but it seems like it is growing rapidly. I think a lot of people just read comments without commenting (lurk). 

I think there are a lot of folks that have not found this forum yet. As they find it I'm pretty sure they will start using it, or most will anyway. Also not everyone posts, some just learn by lurking. Not sure how many members there are, but would bet the number is pretty large. Just looked, 15,340, that is a lot. There were also over 1,000 guests, and I think that figure is for online now? 

This has made the hobby "social" for me.

A great place to learn.

 

Peter

One of these days I will post some detailed statistics for your guys so that the traffic on this forum/website is put into perspective.  Our advertisers here on the forum get a regular report of key tracking numbers so they know how busy we are.  We have millions of page views and millions of the banner ads being served every month and it is growing rapidly.  Over the last year or so the page views have nearly doubled.  Currently we have well over 15,000 registered members but from the number of page views, click through rates, and banner ads being served, it is obvious that perhaps several times that number are using our forum and are not registered....even though they are shopping here and enjoying the vast knowledge of our membership.  As I have said before, OGR owes a big thanks to all of its members and advertising supporters...

 

Alan

It's sort of like being in a GANG but you don't have to beat any one up and you won't get arrested. Yep, the OGR is FAR OUT MAN.

What about secret handshakes?  When I was bangin'....................

Bob, you have a real gift. Boy, to be able to go back I wonder what I could do with my life or would I do everything the same all over again.

Been on it since day 1 and have loved every minute. 

I been on from February this year and I can't get enough of you guys.I've become such a better hobbyest because of the members of the OGR.

You mean a side from all the money I'd have saved over the years because of waning interest without the help and great information provided by OGR and this forum. 

 

This comes to mind...

Without the OGR Forum...

 

 

With the help of the OGR forum...

 

 

Many years ago, an employee of my LHS introduced me to this Forum. One of the best referrals I have ever received.

 

Immediately, and I mean immediately, I made lasting train friends in the local area where I lived that I would never have met otherwise. That was just the beginning of making new train friends from the UK to Australia and everywhere in between. When you come right down to it, to me this is the biggest benefit of our Forum.

 

As far as the OGR family is concerned, they are not just providers, they are also friends. I am proud to call Rich, Ed, Jim, Allan and Alan friends that I would have never got to know better if it were not for OUR Forum.

I too am enjoying this hobby immensely. largely thanks to this forum. This is the first "go-to" place whenever I have a question.

I also see a big improvement in the hobby since I left it 15 years ago, especially the digital controls, miniturization of motors and LED lighting.

I like the forum because it offers valuable technical expertise, the joking is fun and clean, a healthy environment (no bullies), morale support, and it's just interesting to see and hear what others are doing in the hobby - things I would never have thought of alone or among a small group of friends. 

Totally agree with all the above.

This Forum is the best gathering of helpful knowledgeable people I have ever experienced.

I have been up and down in the hobby since joining back in Feb 2009. This Forum has always been a place to go and read about interesting train subjects.

I have learned a great deal and hopefully have helped a few along the way.

 

Now I just need to get in gear and build the new layout...

I have new motivation, My Imperial Railking Rio Grande Challenger finally came in.

Not My first Engine that says Rio Grande but Galloping Geese have their limits.

Its a great asset. Nice to share the hobby with others  plus there are a lot of very knowledgeable people on here that are great to ask for help..  There seems to be an answer to every question.lol

Back in the 90's a good friend of mine from Massachusetts gave

me some OGR Magazine's to read, that was it.  I have learned

a great deal from the Magazine, and the Forum.

 

This is the Forum that taught me how to use the then new TMCC.

Great Topic's, and good members are found here.  My trains, and

the Forum provide me with a temporary refuge from that outside

world.  

 

Many thanks,

 

Billy C 

leavingtracks (Alan),

 

I knew there were a lot of OGR forum members, but after looking last night there were 300+ members and 1000+ guests, I think that meant online at that time. The number of guests was a surprise (to me anyway). Seeing your statistics would be interesting.