This is STILL a great place!

KOOLjock1 posted:

The Grumpy Old Men that used to inhabit the prehistoric AOL train groups have now moved to Facebook. . . .

Jon

Not quite ALL of them have moved on, Jon. I'm here, along with a few other AOL vets. Those who were there will recall the early years of AOL discussion boards (long before my association with OGR). Those were, indeed, turbulent times, with anything goes and no-holds-barred dialog in the fledgling days of "social media." I can't even recall how many paid moderators AOL went through trying to keep things under control. You may recall my continuing online feud (in good fun from my perspective) with Neil Blumberg (on AOL as DahDah911). I believe I was TinplaterAl at the time. Neil was, and probably still is, a firm Lionel advocate. I used to have fun debating things from an MTH perspective.

There are, as I noted, some other AOL vets on this OGR forum. My good friend Ted Bertinger is one who comes immediately to mind.

I can honestly say that the AOL Friday evening gatherings at the York Meet were events not to be missed and they have never been surpassed. In the early years they were held outdoors, across from the Yellow Hall (grandstand). The food provided by AOL members was superb, and the door prizes donated by various manufacturers were equally superb. Best of all, online AOL "enemies" almost invariably became good friends when they met at those gatherings. My only regret is that I have not, to this day, ever had a chance to meet DahDah911 in person.

This is absolutely the best place   I wasnt here from day one but more like day 900   

Oh boy do I remember those days!  Amazing how much precious dial-up bandwidth was used! 

Jon

You can count me in as one of the AOL guys as well. For good or bad, it was the on-line meeting place for O gaugers.  Go TOOGS!

Charlie

Not an AOL guy, I joined here in 2008, still over 10 years ago. I have heard about other forums, then heard about what happens there and how they sometimes complain about OGR. That's enough to keep me away. This forum has enough discussions that need the OGR team to jump in and tamp down. This forum is well moderated, has strong sponsors, has a clear TOS, has an active membership and is continually looking to improve and keep up with changing social media.

Good place to be!

George

You really needed very thick skin to survive the AOL forum. Our TOOG group use to take a lot of heat but we survived and are still active today on Tony's private forum. Although a couple of the guys have passed on to the great train station in the sky and a couple got out of the train addiction. As Allan stated the Friday night buffet & beer was the hi-lite of the York gathering back then.

I wasn’t around for AOL but have been here for quite a while Two separate stints actually as I joined, left for a few years, and then came back for good.

What I do remember very well is registering on OGR smack in the middle of the TMCC versus DCS “wars.” DCS was in a testing phase as I recall and the release had been delayed. The forum was full of threads from both sides and for a new guy it alternated between entertainment and frustration as I was just trying to learn all I could. But that’s ancient history.

And here we are. Best place on the ‘Net for all things O gauge. Period.

Allan Miller posted:

KOOLjock1 posted:

The Grumpy Old Men that used to inhabit the prehistoric AOL train groups have now moved to Facebook. . . .

Jon

Not quite ALL of them have moved on, Jon. I'm here, along with a few other AOL vets. Those who were there will recall the early years of AOL discussion boards (long before my association with OGR). Those were, indeed, turbulent times, with anything goes and no-holds-barred dialog in the fledgling days of "social media." I can't even recall how many paid moderators AOL went through trying to keep things under control. You may recall my continuing online feud (in good fun from my perspective) with Neil Blumberg (on AOL as DahDah911). I believe I was TinplaterAl at the time. Neil was, and probably still is, a firm Lionel advocate. I used to have fun debating things from an MTH perspective.

There are, as I noted, some other AOL vets on this OGR forum. My good friend Ted Bertinger is one who comes immediately to mind.

I can honestly say that the AOL Friday evening gatherings at the York Meet were events not to be missed and they have never been surpassed. In the early years they were held outdoors, across from the Yellow Hall (grandstand). The food provided by AOL members was superb, and the door prizes donated by various manufacturers were equally superb. Best of all, online AOL "enemies" almost invariably became good friends when they met at those gatherings. My only regret is that I have not, to this day, ever had a chance to meet DahDah911 in person.

Allan, I remember when you joined here and promptly announced that you were going to invite the AOL board members to also join here.  I was very disappointed in that move, fearing that this forum would become a cesspool like the AOL board.  Happily that didn't happen and many of the original small OGR group are still here with the same or different screen names.

May 6, 2001 😳 - no way, that’s a long time ago 

Still here 👍🏼😊🚂

A more recent member by this groups standards (4 years), but by far the OGR is the best place to talk trains, etc., even with the recent forum moderation and rules tightening.

This is the closest to social media that I get. FB, TW, Insta, etc are of no interest to me.

Keep up the great work OGR!

August 3, 2000......where has the 20 years gone.......

This Forum remains a great place to interact and learn. Before the Forum, I was a “lone wolf” model railroader.....since the Forum, I can honestly say that I have friends from all over the country......

The most important realization for me early on, was that all of these “online” people I was conversing with were people I actually “knew” so to speak.  Many of us quickly realized that we had been smiling at each other for years on end walking the halls at York and other train shows....model railroading then became a social experience.

Thank you to Myron for starting this: Rich working on it early on; and the whole OGR executive staff and sponsors for keeping it going  nearly 20 years later.

Peter

December 10th, 2016 for me. Still wet behind the ears as it were but I had been checking the forum out for about 6 or 7 months before joining.

It is one thing to pop your eyes on here(being a non-member) but it is far better to talk. Sure so much information is at your finger tips, but sometimes you really need to get into it and talk things through because you have no other way to get your questions answered.

Being the social media wanderers we have become, I can honestly say I have seen some really bad stuff(and by stuff, you know what I mean) on FB. I never got into AOL, but I know how extremely hostile FB was in their early years and it is sad to say it does still have some of that out there.

Only over here can you pull up a chair, sit on the sun porch(speaking figuratively) and enjoy some great relaxing conversation and learn something too boot. I don't think I would have ever attended York if it wasn't for this forum(and a nudge from my LTS). Needless to say, still learning everything that is in front of me. Someone remind me to update my picture, I should have something besides them darn sunglasses beaming back at the camera.

Nov 24, 2000 for me. So when exactly was "day 1"?

Although I resumed O gauge model railroading in 1997, I'm a relative newcomer (2016) to the OGR Forum. The measure of how much I like the Forum is that I am logged onto it whenever my computer is powered-up - which is almost all the time. (I don't use my phone for browsing.) My enjoyment of the hobby would not be the same if I were not a Forum member. Thanks to Alan and Allan...

MELGAR

There are a lot of truly good people here. And thanks to you folks, this became THE place to be on the web to talk about O Gauge trains many years ago.

There were a lot of bumps in the road early on. As Allan Miller and KoolJock have mentioned, those early years were tough. Many AOL members joined here and attempted to make this an extension of the AOL boards, with all the negative nonsense that went on there. We were constantly accused of "heavy-handed moderation" back then, because we would not allow negative and trolling posts to stand. But I was absolutely not going to allow the same kind of name-calling nonsense prevalent on AOL to take root here.

The end result was that we banned a few people (the infamous Neil Blumberg among them) who then went on and tried to start their own forum where they could continue their people-bashing ways. It failed, as have several others that have been attempted since then. They all failed because  they were founded on negativity, which is never sustainable.

This forum has become the best place on the web to talk about O Gauge Trains because of YOU and all the positive vibes that are always in play here. For that, I will always be grateful to you all.

I go way back on AOL but not concerning model railroading. I had purchased an Apple II computer and Apple had introduced Appleworks and used AOL to set up a platform for Appleworks users to learn more about Appleworks' many features. I am now using an iMac and Appleworks was rewritten to run on the Macintosh and has since been abandoned.

Those are some memories, it seems like half a life ago well I guess it was almost half a life ago for those of us in their forties.  Since we are on the nostalgia kick how many remember the OGR friday night chat room.  That would be dating some of us.  I think it was a high school kid, Lou if I remember right, that used to set it up.  Man he would be in his 30s now.  

Seriously still a great place to talk trains and make lifelong friends. 

I remember reading Myron's editorials about this new thing called the OGR forum...some 20 years ago...and signed up using my given name, thinking, well, that's my name. I wasn't hip to "screen names" nor AOL at the time. The forum quickly became a favorite at breaktime.

I remember Kookjock, Hans, Bocephus, Chuck, Larry Lajambe, and Bear as being frequent posters, although there were probably others, but those names read like a novel so they stick. There were good learning discussions back then...a fair amount about the relatively new aspect of O-gauge called "hi-rail" and "hi-rail" trains and layouts that were being produced and built. There were also some heated "Lionel vs. MTH" discussions as well. Technology was rapidly changing, trains sold one year were obsolete the next. Lionel shutting down MI facilities and moving overseas was a big topic.

One thing I liked about the "old days" of the forum was that it was slower paced. Maybe that's just my recollection...or that I am 20 years older

My displayed join date is May 27, 2001.  I actually joined I believe in August or September of 2000 but when I wanted to change my screen name the only way to do it was delete my account and rejoin. 

I remember Larry LaJambe and even visited his layout when I was in Canada for work.  Many fine folks on this forum for sure and many who have left us.  I was watching some Amazon Prime the other night and found MTH Great Layouts and watched the Tony Lash layout.  Made me wonder where Tony has been. 

I have made many valuable friendships here that I will forever be appreciative of.  Like Rich says the people are what makes this forum.  We may have a difference of opinion, tick each other off every now and then but what family doesn't?  What I never made here is an enemy.  At least to my knowledge. 

AOL was cool.

KOOLjock1 posted:

It's not like everyone has a LHS to go to anymore.

Yeah, but was the local hobby shop really that good a source of info? How many grizzled old store owners would just spew out anything they thought, whether they knew it or not? Or how about the many hobby shops that were run like a club house and customers were often totally ignored? Heck, I once had to wave my hand in front of the face of one hobby shop employee when I was trying to buy something! I've heard all kinds of insane and silly things from 'that guy behind the counter' at hobby shops all over the country over the years...

But as for here, yeah, I really like this forum. I'm not a 3-rail guy but I like the vibe here and there's plenty of good O scale info batted around in here to make it well worth my time!

12/11/00 for me.

I remember talking with other Forumites and OGR Elders at that time about the anticipation of receiving the new and preordered MTH Mel's Diner, and how we could smell the chilli cooking and such. My family and friends could care less about this stuff, so this was a great place to meet, share and associate with others that speak the same language.

Many good times over the years with everyone, without this place I would have never joined TCA, gone to York, and met many other trainheads.

Thanks to all involved in coming up with this place and making it better and better as the years go on.

Craignor posted:

12/11/00 for me.

I remember talking with other Forumites and OGR Elders

You had to drag the "Elders" into this.  LOL!

Been here for 10 years ! HANDS DOWN the best Forum. I'm here to stay ! 

Thanks , Alex

MartyE posted:

Craignor posted:

12/11/00 for me.

I remember talking with other Forumites and OGR Elders

You had to drag the "Elders" into this.  LOL!

I didn't mention the COFs though.

The Grumpy Old Men that used to inhabit the prehistoric AOL train group

Guess I qualify as one as I started out on Prodigy, then moved over to AOL where we slinged dirt at folks. Allan Miller had 2 screen names, the real Allan and some grump posting under a slightly different Allen Miller. Allan and I go back to the beginning of that forum and we always reminence of those days at York.

The AOL dinners were the best. Never will forget Mike Newcomer aka Mytrains telling us stories that we laughed so hard, my eyes teared up!

Allan, Dahdah911 did actually come to York and the dinner as I have proof in photos of him. He was such a staunch Lionel supporter and always spoke with words out of a dictionary made for the super brilliant folks. Always had nothing positive about MTH. Tony Lash would always come back at him. 

And who could not forget Pat Fusco aka Trex with his Steel Bridges. We used to go at it on the boards and I remember the handshake at Nassau Hobbies when we smoked the peace pipe and Dick Maddox was right there to confirm it. Pat and I became friends after that. Just let him rest in peace, he was a good guy after all.

Regardless, this forum is the best for getting information and answering questions. Hands down, the best!

April 2001. The best group of folks in our hobby are right here. 

I agree with the above.  In addition to the excellent user-provided content, I also think this forum has the easiest to use interface and is the most visually pleasing of all of them.  Someone above mentioned a peace pipe. If I could change one thing about the forum it would be an amnesty day or peace pipe or whatever that would cause some of the great former members (Lee Willis, Brian PTC, et al) to migrate back over here. I don’t know anything at all about why they are no longer here - and it’s certainly none of my business - but, I always enjoyed their contributions.   

I signed on in March of 2001 but lurked several months before that just to get a feel for the place.  It didn’t take too long for me to figure out there was more than just a wealth of information here on anything that was toy/model train related-it was and still is a treasure trove for all anyone needs to know about the industry.  Most of everything I have learned about pre and post war train repair I have learned on this forum.  There is a tremendous amount of institutionalized knowledge here and virtually all of it is dispensed with class and grace.  Swords are crossed from time to time but life would be pretty boring if we all agreed all the time.  The great thing about these periodic disagreements is that we all learn from them. There is always some gem to pick up in even the most heated of disagreements.  Been here for almost twenty years and would like to make it another twenty-yeah right.😜😜😜

I joined this Forum in Nov. 2017. I was never involved in any on line forum before then. 

I find this Forum to be so good, I have no interest in belonging to, or even visiting, any other on-line forum.

This Forum has enriched my life by providing comraderie, friendship, connecting with others with whom I have interests in common, valuable knowledge and information about our hobby, and a creative outlet to post topics, comments, photos and videos. Arnold

I started on the AOL Board in the mid-90's, using my computer at work, because I didn't have a connection at home. Never posted much, because I was bedazzled by the arguing there over things that I thought were inconsequential, especially since this is supposed to be a hobby (right?). Attended the AOL Train Gang dinner at the Viking Club in November, 2001, and got the nice K-Line boxcar and met some nice people.

I started lurking here in 2000, but registered here after the terrorist attack because I felt a need to be more "connected", in a lot of ways. My joinder date is December 10, 2001. I have had a good time since.

Allan, speaking of Dr. Neil, he is still around and posts fairly often on another forum. Funny story about him: about 20 years ago, I was going through some very old magazines (Model Trains, I believe), and found a letter to the editor from a young man of the same name, in Brooklyn, that, to me, sounded like it might have been written by him. I contacted him through AOL, gave him the published address of the young man, and sure enough, it was him. He had forgotten he had written the letter. In any event, I sent him a copy, and he was very appreciative.

Anyway, I enjoy OGR Forum, and although I also read other forums and am a member of some FB groups (gasp!), I always enjoy coming here.

Been here since 09/19/01 I don’t post much but check-in at least once a day. I can’t imagine going to another train site. Youz guys are the best.

Does anyone besides Rich remember all the drama from a guy who used the name Hans Zimmer among others? 
Brad

Been here since 2009,  when I stumbled on here almost literally. Been amazed at the depth of knowledge, but even more importantly, that this place has grown in so many ways, the amount of knowledge on here and the passion is amazing. Okay, it can be dangerous at times, there are people missing digits after calling a multi unit a lashup and they hadn't taken away Rich's survival knife he always kept sharp for just such a purpose, but other  than that even if arguments got heated the passion was just amazing to see. It has helped keep me in the hobby when I didn't have time to be anything but armchair, now that  I am in the process of building a layout, it is invaluable (for example, I didn't know Lionel was going to have a docksider with LC+ on it, my favorite kind of engine with command control, wow..now just need a plymouth diesel with LC or Legacy and I will be really happy). 

One of the things I really learned on here was that there are so many approaches to this hobby and  many in the same boat I am. You read the magazine and see these amazing layouts,  you see the videos and such, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed and think if you aren't Tony Lash  or Norm Charbonneau or the like, it isn't worth doing anything, but so many have modest layouts, can't afford a huge collection, but enjoy it as much as the 'big  guys', something I'll fall into for the most part (try having a son who is a very dedicated, talented and serious classical musician just getting started into the professional world of it. Actually, I am glad I can't build a huge layout, already overwhelmed with my tiny slice of heaven. I even like that the board has all these sponsors, makes finding things really easy, I don't even have to use Google to find them, they pop out at me when I come on here

BradF posted:

Does anyone besides Rich remember all the drama from a guy who used the name Hans Zimmer among others? 
Brad

Yes! Wasn't he the guy that would get booted and would come back under a new name/account? The writing style would give it away. Or am I totally geezing on this?

"This is STILL a great place"

It sure is, I'm very happy that I've found a home here.

I, too, was an original AOL group member  and gotta see if I can find photos (FILM pictures-remember them?) from the York Fairground meetings near the chicken coops. From there I'm guessing that several of you will remember me (and Dagwood Bumstead) from the old Yahoo news groups. I found my way here about 6 months ago.

johnstrains posted:

BradF posted:

Does anyone besides Rich remember all the drama from a guy who used the name Hans Zimmer among others? 
Brad

Yes! Wasn't he the guy that would get booted and would come back under a new name/account? The writing style would give it away. Or am I totally geezing on this?

Yeah that’s the guy.

Brad

Love it here- even if you're lucky enough to have a plethora of LHS or trainstores around you or have 4-5 friends near by with whom you can have layout sessions, when I'm on this forum I feel like I'mat a train show interacting with people who have a passion for the same thing I do- trains- whether it be scale, traditional, standard, tinplate, an MTH building, a Lionel 254E,, an S Scale post war Flyer New Haven, plastic soldiers, a metal track crew, scenery, treees, techniques, etc... it's great to have this forum for on-going dialogue. I feel bad sometimes because I feel I don't contribute as much material(whether pics or info) as others. However, I have noticed that I have been able to knowledgeably comment more and more on TMCC, DCS, fastrack, etc... since I joined and my collection has grown. Sometimes I feel really stupid posting pictures such as this one in "Buy Anything Coll Lately threads":

Why do I feel stupid? I feel like some people might take as"what a pile of.." or others might seem I'm coming off as boastful. That said, when I see people post pictures of 1 train, 1 accessory, or 10 of each- the picture itself sparksa question or a new item of interest for me or the description might answer a question. This forum has a lot to offer all of us and for that I am grateful.

Vox.  The complete package!

August 7, 2002 Here. 

I’m also a former AOL board member (kmacle01) and remember the Lionel and MTH board fireworks.

I joined as someone mentioned it on the AOL boards. I’m glad I did! This site has been a wealth of info over the years. I’ve enjoyed reading posts and finding out about new products.

I stop here at least once a day. One of these days I’ll make it to York.

Ken