I’ve had an account, but admittedly, haven’t been using it very much and have recently found that my login no longer worked. I only just now re-signed up for an account as I found a post via a google search that was relevant to an issue I was having with a post war car. What is the time frame in which an account goes INVALID for non-use ?
In all honesty I find the categories available very confusing, which is why I may have not used the site for some time. Classic Toy Train / Classic Trains / Model Railroader / Trains… How do I know which category to post/visit for a particular O-Gauge issue or to view other threads related to Post War O Gauge?? Very confusing.
First, I’m not sure how long you hadn’t used your account, but it’s possible when Kalmbach sold to Firecrown, your account was lost. Not sure about that, though.
Second, there are a lot of O gauge users on the Classic Toy Train category, so that may be your best bet. If not, it’s very easy to switch to the other categories.
Classic Trains is more of a history category and less modeling.
Model Railroader has a lot of all gauges, but it’s probably heavily weighted to HO and N.
The Trains category is more for actual train questions and observations, with not much model railroading.
I guess if I was you, I would try posting your question on the Classic Toy Train category. Good luck!
Thanks for the prompt response. I’ll focus on the 'Classic Toy Trains" category, but again, the various category options are way too confusing as far as focus. Other forums are a lot more intuitive. Regardless, I appreciate the help and will try to give this forum the benefit of the doubt. Thx.
I wouldn’t be surprised if your account was lost when they rebuilt the Forums. My guess as to why they chose the categories that they did was this: “Well, the folks who read this magazine will go to this category, and those that read this magazine will go to this category, so why don’t we name the category after the magazine?”
I subscribe to ‘Class Toy Trains’, but wouldn’t assume that was specific to Post War O-Gauge.
I guess it all comes down to how good the search engine is when looking for info, but as far a posting for help… ??
I see what you mean. I read posts in pretty much all categories (but I steer clear of the Trains.com side usually), but not all the folks do. Generally, Postwar O goes in the CTT side. If I see somethin’ out of place, then I’m happy to move it where it belongs.
Welcome back aboard Lji1221! The Kalmbach forums started locking people out almost 2 years ago. A lot of long time users logged out for the day and simply never got back in until the new Firecrown software was up and running. There just didn’t appear to be much of any I T support and maintenance going on anymore.
Anyhow. Trains, Classic Trains, Model Railroader, Garden Railways and Classic Toy Trains are all railroad related magazine titles created by Kalmbach Publishing and now owned and operated by Firecrown Media. Trains and Model Railroader were the 2 magazines that Al Kalmbach himself founded.
Classic Trains was introduced as a magazine largely devoted to reprinting and enhancing articles that appeared in Trains Magazine 25 or more years prior. Although that’s not exactly how it is today. Classic Trains now covers all aspects of vintage (25 years ago) railroad related topics including history of rail companies, the locomotive builders, types of locomotives including actual product and concept designs never produced. Basically any and all history that has more to do with where railroading has been vs where railroading is going. The latter is what Trains Magazine is all about: railroading today.
Classic Toy Trains was a spin off of Model Railroader. As that magazine became more and more HO and N scale centric the powers that be at Kalmbach recognized that a growing number of baby boomers were starting to introduce their grandchildren to (primarily) the O and S gauge trains they played with when they were kids. Dick Christiansen (sp?), John Gramms, Roger Carp and others also recognized that there was rock solid dividing line between those who collected toy trains and kept them in boxes or on shelves and those who bought antique trains to use them as they were originally intended. That’s why the CTT tag line has always been “For the O and S Gauge Operator and Collector”.
Standard Gauge Lionel and Wide Gauge IVES, American Flyer and Dorfan trains fell in naturally with the prewar and postwar O and S Gauge trains that soon became the bread and butter of CTT. In the early days G Scale, One Gauge and Large Scale trains found a home in CTT as well. But as before a new segment of the hobby began to flourish so those bigger model trains that often could be operated outdoors got their own magazine devoted to garden railroading.
So that’s basically the boiled down history of the magazines and the explanation of why there are 5 categories.
Hello, as you might guess, a lot has happened both in front or and behind the curtain since the sale of the brands from Kalmbach to Firecrown. Both the forums and the website (including the customer service side) had had to be migrated over to the new owners. It’s likely that, after a period of time, accounts became inactive.
I have been away for a while and I noticed a lot of changes to the forum. I was able to find my way around easily enough and I was surprised that my login still worked and my screen name is still active.
I also started posting in another o gauge type of forum and I must say that they have not been as welcoming. After a few days of posting, my account was suspended. I sent an email asking why, and I received a response with some double talk about not being a digital subscriber and the high cost of bandwidth.
I am a hard copy subscriber of CTT and I will stay within its friendly and welcoming confines.
Thanks. I expressed my disappointment to the owners of the other forum and I received an unprofessional nasty gram. Any chances of becoming a member are now gone. I am glad to be here.
We know all about the Ogre. It’s one person in particular who believed himself to be a demigod just because he operated a famous restored steam locomotive.
As a long-time member of that particular forum, they have also de-activated my account due to the implementation of their pay-to-play policy. Of course, it is their playground, they get to make the rules. Thank goodness for Firecrown revamping this forum - it now functions very well and we have the ability to post pictures directly without the former hassle of having a picture hosting service.
My thanks to Firecrown and Classic Toy Trains for making this forum available to us, and to all the people who post here and make this a great place to enjoy our hobby!
Here is the last part of the response I received from that other forum. Why would anyone want to be part of this?
So…if you were REALLY considering buying a subscription you would have done so long ago. Your statement is a classical “take away” which tries to make us look like we are the bad guy and lost your business. Well…we never have had your business and now when we ask for it, you get all upset and make us out as unfriendly and unwelcoming…GHEEEZZZ!
