jay jay posted:Allan, speaking of Dr. Neil, he is still around and posts fairly often on another forum.
Unless I miss my guess, he still posts here under the screen name Landsteiner (medical connection: in 1900, Karl Landsteiner discovered that people have different blood types and developed the system still used today).
Until this thread I didn't know there was any other places to talk about O gauge trains. 
Seriously, this place is the best, hands down. 
This is the best forum. Hands Down. And it has been for quite a while now.
I have been here since June 2012 when I found O Gauge Railroading magazine in a grocery store of all places. I visited Dave Minarik's Mercer Junction the next weekend and dove into O gauge. So I was not on the AOL board, but was on several HO boards dating back to the late '90s and they were all rough and tumble; kind of like a lot of Facebook O gauge groups today.
Anyway, after all the train boards and groups I have been on, this OGR Forum is the best by far!!!! Excellent moderators and excellent members!!! I have made scads of friends here, and I never did that on any of the old HO boards. I'm so thankful for every one of you!!!
Yes this is the best forum hands down!!! Been here since 2011 and found this site thru trainlife from a forum member!!!
Rich Melvin posted: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.
These statements moved me! Thank you all again for providing this great place.
I came here for the trains. It's still the best place for that. Rich's post exemplified that feeling all over. I'm also grateful to have actually met some of the great people here too. I salute you! Keeping the reins tight is not always a fun job. I hope you are all blessed many times over and feel the joys of running such a great forum. The wisdom you have upheld over and over on direction, order, and ??? the rest of the things that made this forum so great.
There was a time I used to think I was an old ball.When I was a kid I got told trains were old fashion.And trucks,car and airplanes were the future.I would come back with saying things like."Yes a air plane can carry freight but sooner or later.Your gonna hit a weight limit.And a train can carry trucks and cars.I also told them every thing they have in their homes.Was on a freight train at some point."Later I still felt like an odd ball.That is until I was at a train store.And saw a magzine about o gauge trains.So I brought and one thing lead to another.And here I am finding out I am not an odd ball and its o.k. to like trains.
I joined 5/6/2001.
back then the most prolific poster was Bob Coniglio who posted some silly topics but then would make some very thoughtful ones.
i still remember poor Rich Melvin having to step-in and tell Bob to stop recommending using kerosene in smoke units.
there were some colorful characters in those days
Mack
Mack, I am very glad that you mentioned Bob Coniglio. Bob was the most prolific poster this forum ever had, and his posts were always interesting. He posted every day, often with multiple posts per day, for several years! His posts during our “formative years” have a lot to do with this forum still thriving today.
Bob is still around, but he’s not in the best of health. I hear from him every month or so via email.
The head butting here is nothing compared other sites I've read on over the years. I have quit using forums too. I let myself be chased off and regretted badly after (a life crisis had me off-kilter I guess) It's one of the reasons I keep coming around for more, it's more civil and the referee; active.. "Enemies"? No. More like " non-favorites" as they tend to get a little too loose with accusational or demeaning language which admittedly sets me off 
I think I started reading about 2009 and joined 2013.
I'm not realy a "joiner" online or off; I think have not yet joined ten sites total; so being fully accessible to all people for reading and seeing pictures is something I admired and appreciated greatly; it made me want to contribute here too. It would take some real earthshaking to ward or Pied Piper me away now.
My only regrets are when I have put a moderator to work from time to time 
.Moe!, Larry!..The cheese; the cheese! 
I just checked my “join date”. 20 years on July 7th! Time well spent.
Jon 
I joined May 11, 2001 and I did not actually own a computer at that time, but rather what was referred to as a "dummy terminal" supported by Microsoft. They supplied the hardware with a subscription. It was fun for several months until some insurmountable glitches caused me to purchase my first Dell laptop. Now I mostly post on my Android phone and occasionally on my Verizon tablet. My first screen handle was "Beowulf" and the second was "Multi-Gauge Art", due to my operating O, standard and LGB on multiple tracks on the same layout. The OGR Forum has always been a great gathering place to discuss this hobby, thanks to the diligent moderators over the years.
I joined on 04aug15 after reading OGR for a couple of years, usually on links to topics mentioned on another forum. Although I am mainly a two-railer and trolley modeler with a smattering of On2½, I still enjoy reading the comments made in the other sub-forums. I have learned stuff from the three-rail sub-forum, applicable to my DC Central* floor layout. After reading some OGR issues at friend's home last year, last week I went and subscribed to the print and digital magazine. Now to receive my first edition.
*Dirty Carpet Central
I’ve been a member so long, when I started out all we talked about were wind-up trains. Just saying...
I thoroughly enjoy the forum (especially since things got electrified) and my sincere thanks to OGR and the admins for the fine job they do.
This is the only "blog" l get on, alhough l wish l could find one half as good for another hobby. Glad l missed AOL, and most of the grumpy old men, although one surfaces here occasionally. Also miss Lee Willis's postings and creations. Would like to thank the group for knowledge imparted, dumb questions answered, and for posted pictures of good modeling.
Rich Melvin posted:Mack, I am very glad that you mentioned Bob Coniglio. Bob was the most prolific poster this forum ever had, and his posts were always interesting. He posted every day, often with multiple posts per day, for several years! His posts during our “formative years” have a lot to do with this forum still thriving today.
Bob is still around, but he’s not in the best of health. I hear from him every month or so via email.
While Bob posted a lot of good things, sometimes like most of us there was a lot of nonsense posted as well. I would suspect a lot of what he would of posted back in the day would be deleted in today's forum.
I always remember his "Trains for kids" program. I turned in 3 kids and never got a train in return.
Wasn’t around during the AOL days, but have found it to be a great place over the years. Met lots of great guys, made some good friends, and gotten plenty of priceless help!
My forum date says 2009, I thought I was a couple of years earlier. I was not an AOL forum member but was active on Compuserve forums which seemed pretty civil. I remember the first "graphics" which today would be seen as primitive to say the least.
Now I just saw the name Pat Fusco. I bought a number of his kits and really enjoyed talking to him at Long Island train shows. Also used to see Ed Boyle all the time at Elmont. Nineties NY area train shows were a blast, but that is for another thread.
Miketg
Joined Nov 2000. Also an ex AOL member. Many good memories. Raz, Gaz, Sterling (RIP), etc. Viking Club dinners. You just needed to bring your own filter. Mine was honed by being in the active Army for 37 years. Thick skin and all that. Enjoy this forum and all the good info presented by the members.
Stumbled on this site and Joined Feb 2014. I was just getting involved with prewar O gauge and was searching for information/parts on a Lionel 253. This has to be one of the best sites ever. Every member has a wealth of information that is easily shared. Love the search button as I always use it before posting a question as it was probably already asked.
Thank you O gauge forum and big thank you to all the forum members!
There were some very good reviewers who posted in-depth reviews and videos of new products that I haven't seen in a while. ToyTrains1 comes to mind for MTH Premier products, and Super O Bob for Lionel scale steamers.
Question: What was the official starting date of this forum?
Wow … a lot of old timers, here. Cool.
For me, about 10 years ago I just happened to drive by Gryzboski's Trains when I was in Pennsylvania. I went in and was blown away by this new Legacy stuff they had running. Walked out of there with 2 new AC6000 engines. They told me that I should go to the OGR forum to get up to speed with modern O scale model railroading.
And, now, that I'm transitioning to 2-rail, learning much from the very informative posts in that forum.
I joined under the nickname "Boomer" in 2001. I've gone by my actual name starting in 2019. I've made LOTS of friends on the forum. Many of whom I've met in person. I've made many terrific buys on the forum buy-sell.
Ricky
I have been in the hobby since 1953, a Lionel lover, (toy and three rail scale) and have been following OGR for many years, even called the magazine and spoke with Myron Biggar to subscribe and he hooked me up, then, I purchased most all of his VHS Videos, and the first one I watched was Marty Fitzhenry’s Wonderful model railroad, and he had passenger trains. I miss Marty. Either way, I joined the forum in 2008, the very best thing I ever did pertaining to the enjoyment of model railroading. This truly is the Place. Fun people, lots of Knowledge on all aspects of the Hobby. Thank you “ The OGR Staff”, your the Best. Happy Railroading.
Rich Melvin posted: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.
You know what else Rich which is true for many things? You get out what you put into it. I learned that a long time ago like probably everyone else who has ever tried making or doing something they wanted done right. If you slack here and there, things won't be as great if you took the time and effort to make it great.
Way back in 2017 I had messaged you about a few broken pages that I always looked at even though they hadn't been commented on in a bit. You got back to me and sent it along to get fixed and Wala, back to enjoying what was broken. Simple pleasures as these are really what makes life grand, and having someone who cares as much or more about the same thing is a treat in of itself. Thanks again Rich 
I was on the AOL boards for awhile and found out it was populated with idiot's, and morons and who just liked to argue and who liked denigrating anybody who didn't agree with them. It was nothing more than a cess pool imo. I finally left and though some asked me to join the AOL get togethers at York, there was just too many people I did not like or even cared to talk to.
Then OGR came along--a breath of fresh air
DAVE
I joined OGR Nov '99, then the whole thing got deleted by OGR by mistake and then rejoined late 2000. Of course this all by my memory so bear with me.😁
Dave
My official start date here was Jan. 2001. I do miss the AOL boards for the camadarie we did have there. Believe it or not. The core AOL group meets twice a year for dinner at York and any of the ex-AOL folks can always join us as well for Thursday or Friday night dinner there. Made a lot of friends from that forum and we still keep in contact with each other. So... there was a positive to the blood-bath that occurred regularly there! LOL!
Here since May 2nd 2001. Learned an awful lot from here. I can say unequivocally that this forum made my participation in this great hobby so much more enjoyable with all the information, reviews, tips and tricks. I’ve been very lucky with my purchases but there are a few that benefited from the knowledge base here: the ZW-C that needed an upgraded part from Lionel and K-Line Collectors Club GG-1 with the backward wiring are two that immediately come to mind. And of course all the cool people on this forum that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the years, if only fleetingly. Still enjoying the fun. So here’s to us.....and to people like us! BigRail
bluelinec4 posted:Question: What was the official starting date of this forum?
Around May 2000......but I may be off a few months.
Peter
I just looked it up. I joined on December 31, 2013.
Doesn't seem like that long ago, but it'd be just about the time I realized I was finally going to build a layout and I'd already known it was going to be in O scale (though On30).
It's been well worth the time since then!
Putnam Division posted:bluelinec4 posted:Question: What was the official starting date of this forum?
Around May 2000......but I may be off a few months.
Good question, Ben.
Peter, you may be right about May of 2000, but I think it was earlier than that. The original OGR Forum was hosted on a little Cobalt server that I owned. It was installed in a rack at a local ISP in Poland, Ohio.
The forum took off fast and quickly overwhelmed that small server. That's when we moved to "Eve" which was the first true forum where proper records were kept and members had actual profiles.
My old forum records are long gone from two computers ago, but it sticks in my mind that the birth of this forum on my little Cobalt server happened around 1998.
david1 posted:I was on the AOL boards for awhile and found out it was populated with idiot's, and morons and who just liked to argue and who liked denigrating anybody who didn't agree with them. It was nothing more than a cess pool imo. I finally left and though some asked me to join the AOL get togethers at York, there was just too many people I did not like or even cared to talk to.
Then OGR came along--a breath of fresh air
DAVE
I joined OGR Nov '99, then the whole thing got deleted by OGR by mistake and then rejoined late 2000. Of course this all by my memory so bear with me.😁
Dave
We weren't all idiots, morons or argumentative Dave
What’s AOL stand for, I’m sure OGR is o guage Railroading. Guess I need to learn computer lingo. Thank You
leapinlarry posted:What’s AOL stand for, I’m sure OGR is o guage Railroading. Guess I need to learn computer lingo. Thank You
America On Line
leapinlarry posted:What’s AOL stand for, I’m sure OGR is o guage Railroading. Guess I need to learn computer lingo. Thank You
AOL stood for "America On Line", although it soon earned other names using the same acronym.
leapinlarry posted:What’s AOL stand for, I’m sure OGR is o guage Railroading. Guess I need to learn computer lingo. Thank You
I was wondering the same thing
Never used the Aol Boards because I never wanted to be anywhere a few posters were T Rex for one
I can't believe it'll be 10 years (11/16/2020) this year on OGR. Time flies and so does the money out of my wallet!
Joined a few months after kooljock I know nothing of the AOL boards back then, know nothing of the FB boards now. I post on other O gauge forums but have no plans on leaving OGR.
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