OGR’s forum was first. We didn’t have a forum until the company decided to bundle the railroad websites under the trans.com banner and brand. I believe we had a website in 1997 or 1998.
I like the trains.com sites and greatly enjoy this forum in particular. I’m looking forward to the upcoming enhancements mentioned in the CTT e-mail newsletter this morning.
don’t go to trains.com please or if you do, please don’t look at my posts; since I’ve angered some of those folks. Their sense of humor is not as good as here. [:D][B)]
You mean you’re actually getting a newsletter? I haven’t received a CTT newsletter in over a year. I have a feeling that my ISP’s (none-too-bright) spam blocker is the culprit. [:(!]
There were other types of electronic bulletin boards before this forum or OGR’s, they just weren’t that user friendly and there weren’t as many people with computer access. Prior to the internet there were dialup services like CompuServe and Genie. All of these had special interest group areas (SIG’s) that included model and real railroading. Before these there was USENET with railroad interest areas in the main and alt (alternate) trees.
Was getting back in the hobby [since kids were leaving and had some room to bring trains out of storage] and ordered the magazine. Saw in the magazine about the site. When I got on, mainly David, Elliot, Tom P and Buckeye were posting. Some others dropped by once in a while. About that time, OGR made their posters mad with the “possible charge for the use”. They came rushing to CTT to post [mostly ignoring us new folks]. OGR and the gang made up and they left. Then it was maybe 8 to 10 posts per day. Now look at the growth. “Its come a long way baby.” Thanks to CTT for this friendly forum. BTW: the CTT Management allowed us to do the Coffee Pot. It was probably the first BLOG. [:O]