Local and area club listings

Motion to approve

yes i think it would be a great idea!

Alan

Yes, please. For the same reasons that you cited.

TRRR

I'll second that motion.

Sure, why not?

Yes

Jerry

Could look like this, under each headline, would be the names of each state.

Gary - Draft Copy

• Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway - Click on artwork to enlarge

I think it's a good idea. I vote yes!

You've already started it.

Just modify this post to say you will accept emails with club information, and then catalog it in the first post.

Done.  No special forum, categories, etc needed.

Of course, it does mean significant work for you to go through all the emails people send you and organize it into a meaningful form.  A simple Excel file with filters to break down by state would seem to be a valid starting point.

As to the demographic area of Philly and the surrounding area anywhere close in NJ, it's surprisingly sparse in terms of clubs with a home base layout type situation to the best of my knowledge.

(NJ Highrailers doesn't count as "close" to Philly, since it's around a 2 hour + drive for most people in this area - though it is of course AWESOME!  I've never been to North Penn, but it does sound nice as well.)

The key to ALL clubs with large permanent layouts is finding a large enough space available for an amount of money that can be considered Hobby spending by the members.  I don't have any answers for that. 

-Dave

I vote yes.

Tom

If it's possible I vote yes. And since OGR is becoming my all scales website include other scale clubs in there too. I do not believe my local area has an O gauge club unless I travel 2 hours.

Never say never, that's Rich's job if he should choose to do so. I don't think he's as rigid to change as some of you portray him to be. If he sees it as positive and worthwhile for the OGR board and a way to grow our hobby he might initiate it. After all, who would have envisioned or thought there'd one day be a hong forum? All Rich might need do is establish an area/local club forum and let OGR members do the rest by posting info on it about clubs in regions/areas they belong to, have visited, or are aware of. No extensive research needed by Rich or moderators.

I vote YES! As being a member of both NJHR Patterson, NJ & NPOG Lansdale, PA it also good to know others in the area! Or when traveling, where we might be able to stop in and visit.

I'll second.

When I receive questions from visitors to the club's layout I will suggest that they visit www.railserve.net but it would be much more convenient for someone to go to a single source without having to sort thru the amount of info at railserve.

I think it's a good idea.

ogaugeguy,

If by any chance Rich goes along with the idea. The format that trainroomgary put together looks like it would work.

                          Nice work, Gary! 

A good place to start would be the TCA. Each year the national convention is hosted in a different state, and numerous club layouts have been featured. A list may exist from these conventions. There are also listings of clubs on the web. A base list can be established with input from forum members for clubs not listed elsewhere.

Don 

Not everyone is a TCA member. --or even a collector.

Not everyone in the TCA is a collector.

Jerry

hate to mention something so obvious, but Google Maps is already a great resource i've used before.  you needn't search for something specific, "train clubs", "hobby shops", "model train stores", "live steam clubs", etc. all work and typically give good results.  and if you do not see something you know is there, just submit it to Google and it will eventually show up.  i've even submitted pictures to Google and, again, within a few weeks, they are usually available to any Maps user.

since i usually know where i'm going, there is no better format than a map to indicate locations.

cheers...gary

Great idea. Let's get all of the National clubs involved to get the word out about our great hobby

The key to making this work is INFORMATION! We'll need a detailed list of clubs around the country, complete with their web address (if they have one) and the address of the club itself. Where will that information come from?

If we can get that info, we'll make it work. But without it, we're all just flappin' our jaws.

So, if I understand correctly, Rich, the way this board is set up, you would have to do the actual posting of club information rather than members coming and posting that info themselves directly on the forum, or a member could do a survey seeking the information from OGR members and visitors which would then be forwarded directly to you for posting on such a forum?

If we create the forum, the clubs will respond. With a single thread in the organizer's area to post your club information anyone who sees the thread can post the required information for his or her club. The forum grows as more and more clubs find out about it.

Once entered, Clubs should be allowed to post updated news about their club, pictures, events etc.

Happy to get the ball rolling!!

Club Name: Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers

General Location: Long Island, NY

Physical Address: in the basement of 2953 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown NY 11756

Mailing Address: PO Box 343, Levittown NY 11756

Telephone: 516-735-6370

Email: nloe1@aol.com

Website: http://www.nloe.org/Welcome.html

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Nassa...elOperatingEngineers

Club/Layout Overview:

With about 3000’ of track, our L shaped Hi-Rail layout is approximately 80’ by 35’ and has been fifteen years in the making. There are four mainlines on the primary level. Two of them are modelled for passenger service and connect small cities located at each end of the layout each with its own detailed passenger station. The other two mainlines are modelled for freight service and have access to multiple freight yards including an intermodal yard. Adjacent to our largest yard, we have both a roundhouse scene with a 36” turntable for steam and a diesel service facility.

Our upper level which we call the “Mountain Line” travels in and out of the mountain range and has its own passenger station and rural area. The trolley line runs through the larger of our two cities connecting the outlying residential and industrial areas to the downtown station. Our harbor allows for the handling of freight via car float complete with a prototypical offloading ramp and crane.

The track plan provides the ultimate in operating flexibility and allows for movement of trains from/to anywhere on the layout. Our scenery is highly detailed and complements the trains creating a series of prototypical and well-coordinated scenes using both static and operating accessories where appropriate. The layout can be operated in Legacy, DCS or conventional modes.

We'll set up a registration web page for just this. We will build the thread in this forum using a database, not individual posts. That would be WAY too cumbersome. Please do NOT post club info here. We'll post a link to the new page in our site for the registration process soon.

I'm in catch-up mode after having been on the road with NKP 765 for the last two weeks. I need a few days to get caught up before I can move on this.

for example...

Google doesn't always understand the meaning of locations, but it's as simple of giving them some key words like "train club". where is says, "Be the first to review", you can add the club description you provided, and again, if you send Google pictures (location related) they will also get posted for future searches.

just don't see any point to reinventing the wheel.

cheers...gary

On behalf of everyone who visits or is a forum member, my sincerest thanks to you, Rich, for for seeing the promise and potential of this new forum and giving the go ahead to establish it as part of the OGR board.

Hopefully interest in it will grow steadily as word filters out about it's existence and validate the faith you have in the suggestions OGR forumites offer.

Not only will forumites benefit from the information it will provide but its existence will show once again that the OGR board is the best website for railroad modelers and model railroading.

Okay everyone, Rich has listened to us and given the go ahead for this new forum so it's now up to us to make it work!

For everyone who currently belongs to a club, when told to do so by Rich, please post info on that club for the OGR folks to include in their database.. Until it's set up and ready to receive club info, use that intervening time to make certain the info you'll contribute is current and correct and spread the word about this new feature coming to the OGR forum.. If you aren't a club member you can still contribute by mentioning the existence of this new forum to your LHS and have them post notice in their store for all customers to see. It's likely some of them belong to a club and they'll hopefully post details about it when it's the time to do so. 

Great news!

 .....a thought....some of us do not have permanent layouts.....we're clubs that build modules for regular venues.....we have regular meetings and lots of work days.

...and we have lots of running time....

Peter

Once Rich gets the database set up, as he mentioned, I'll be sure to submit the information that I have on the clubs in my area.

This information would have been great for Member John Korling, for example, when he was visiting my area of South Florida on business a few weeks ago and was asking around.

I can't wait to see the information on clubs in other places that I travel to, so I know ahead of time before going that I can take a few hours or so and go visit.

Gary,

I like your idea even though I myself am unable to travel. I've noticed that the folks at OGR Pub. seem to be anti-Google. I'm waiting to see the format of their new forum.  

Did you not fully read the post form Rich that you quoted where he specifically said not to post club info here?

It's on the way, but sounds like sitting tight until the new forum and database registration process is set up is the proper course right now.

-Dave

Will this be O gauge only? 

Don

Don,

From what I gather, it will be for all clubs.

That's going to be one extensive data base! 

Don