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How did you find the O Gauge Forum and how long did you lurk and read before actually joining ?  I came across the OGF in the early 2000s through a google or yahoo search for something TMCC related and did find an answer.  I was still working hard making a living and though I put a link on my desktop I usually ended up on the forum through a search of some type.  It was nearly seventeen years before I actually joined but still I felt like I knew many on the forum after reading their posts for years.          j

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Not a simple answer on this one for me. I started over on the Kalmbach forums, because I subscribed to three of their magazines. I also had a subscription to OGR.

I think I had some technical questions, that the guys over there couldn't answer, so I joined over here, though for many years I wasn't very active. Then a whole series of events happened, including a bout with skin cancer, which caused me to take five years away from trains. When I came back, I made the full on switch to this forum, and never looked back.

One of the biggest advantages here is, you don't have to have your photos hosted elsewhere on the web, you can upload them directly.

 Stumbled on it looking for a way to trigger new sounds without full command control. Gun Runner, Dale M, Dale H, Poppa Steve, Ace, Overland, Electroliner, and NQDY Nichole made the reading here very worthwhile to me.

  The photos being viewable without a requirement to join was also a big factor.  I'm somewhat an anti-exclusive person.. i.e. exclusive/ private, isn't often how I like things; I'm big on sharing.

  I was on a manufacturer's forum for a few years before I found OGRF, but after a new member (likely a closed Atlas Forum member looking for a new home... to wreck) began trolling me daily on my "toys", critiquing my builds like normal modeling. Ha!, I don't even measure half the time; so too easy a rip. I like my folk art look because it isn't cookie cutter. Anything is welcome here, from an inch long plastic wind-up to scale Y or BigBoy (I didnt say they could manage the 0-27...but they are welcome to suck up a main looking good.)

  I quit that site to avoid a deepening battle, but always deeply regretted compromising my position just to avoid the battle. Mostly because he just picked a new victim, and that really upset me. But also because I let a "rivet counter" ruin MY fun. (their work was the awful stuff too. To scale, sure, but some monkeys paint better and my bird could've aligned things straighter )

 That same R.Counting attitude kept me from going to train shows, joining a club, etc. for 40 years. I went to a few train shows, and visited layouts with Gramps as a kid, but stopped because I didn't like the attitudes even then.

 Today I'm no longer nearly as dissuaded from calling things as I see them and you won't catch me editing much either; only a mistake in advice gets changed now (though I try not to step on our hosts toes and God knows it would save me some embarrassment to do some deletions. The insomnia sig. line isn't really a joke, neither are some incoherent posts from being awake for 4-6 days...but it's real, and deletion a "lie".)

 Confrontation was really the last straw after failure of the site to comment on the safety aspects of phasing two transformers to be used together. (after sticking thier nose into the subject, then mail contact, and then agreeing OFFSITE; it was asked again for the readers sakes. It went without answer though we know it got read by management. I referenced with a link too, but it was deleted..."some hero". I guess my days were actually going to be numbered after that anyhow. Not much out there to excuse a safety concern get ignored 

  In the end I'm much more at home here anyhow. Reigns are looser for sure, but it's not total anarchy either; I like the balance overall, and the people.

.... and the pictures

Myron Biggar and Fred Dole saw my work at a TCA Meet @York, PA and asked if I had a layout. When I told them I did, Fred asked to be able to see it. Subsequently, we invited him to the house, which resulted in OGR Run 163's presentation of the original layout; then, Run 168. I had been buying the magazine all along, even since it had a slightly different name, and have enjoyed it religiously ever since.

As soon as I became aware of the Forum, thru the magazine, I came on ready to learn, share, and to socialize, and it certainly has been a pleasure in each of those aspects, all along the way.

FrankM

Last edited by Moonson

I saw it in OGR magazine. I lurked for awhile. Then I saw that someone posted about a big layout in New Jersey. There was another guy from Staten Island who was interested in going to see the layout in New Jersey. I contacted him and we set a date. I picked him up and he had the directions to the club. We went to the club every Wednesday after that. That was in 2004. His name was Ben ( bluelinec4). We have been good friends ever since

Jim D. 

Wife bought me a Lionel Railsounds Set one year for Christmas...boom...hooked on O gauge. Started mucking around online and I found OGR right away.

I still recall that the TMCC versus DCS wars were going hot and heavy at that time. DCS hadn't been released yet but was coming soon.

At the time it was all Greek to me.

 

 

 

Last edited by johnstrains

I had a very good friend (he knows who he is) from our local train club after me for about a year to chck out the site. when I finally did chck it out I entered a profile immediately and have NOT been disappointed. The reason it took over a year to eventually chck it out is because me and computers don't get along.

its mostly beyond me and I can really do without all the technology. sometimes it gives me a headache, virtually!! I have to get off and take some asprin because of the headaches. other than that it has become a good tool to keep in touch and try to help others and purchase the occasional train or two.

I had just recently relocated after retiring, joined this club, and kept hearing about the forum from other members. I started by reading specific threads, and after received good advice, some snarky ones, and saw how the forum is made for everyone, began interacting more.

GJR, GGG, Stan, Adriatic have all given excellent support and made many improvements I use daily on my home layout as well as have introduced at the club layout.

I found it in January 2015 when I started designing my tinplate layout. I was searching the web for info on O-72 switches, and before I knew it I had more info than I ever knew existed. Joining this and other forums has led to meeting some terrific people, and I'm very glad for that as it has added a completely new social aspect to collecting and operating toy trains. 

 

John

Joined in December 2016. Found the site via watching a YouTube video. I was just getting back into trains again and had lots of questions, mostly DCS. Barry was my savior and I joined immediately. Am SOOO happy with all the help and everyone mostly is like an old friend. Subscribed to all the mags including OGR. Where would we be today without this forum would be a better question LOL.

Last edited by CurtisH

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