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Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:33 pm
by Harold_V
Readers,

It would be in the interest of board harmony to have the Steam Forum reserved exclusively for discussion of the building and operation of steam devices. By observing this request, we will be paying due respect to those who have, for years, enjoyed the Steam Forum, and have observed the requirements regards subject matter. We have contributors on the Steam Forum who have extended knowledge and skills, so we don't want to chase them away by compromising the forum.

Please use the Model Railroading Forum for posting subjects not steam related. It has been created to honor those who have a wider interest, and have not had a venue in which it could be shared.

Thanks for your cooperation.

Harold

Thank you!

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:05 pm
by rangerjoel
Harold,
Thank you very much for this new place to post information. I look forward to contributing here and I’ll continue to enjoy reading the post over in the live steam part of the board.
Joel :D

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:26 am
by Harold_V
Thank you, Joel. I think this is going to work out just fine for most folks. Up to now, the non-steam guys never really had a place to talk about their interests without raising an eyebrow. Overall, this should be very good for everyone.

Harold

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:46 pm
by Fender
Harold,
A hypothetical question which has come up in another "live steam" forum. Would personally-owned and operated non-steam "park locomotive" trains be considered on-topic for this forum? Typically they are 10" to 16" gauge, and "antiques" like a Cagney, except they are internal-combustion powered. I think of them as the riding-scale equivalent to Lionel tinplate trains.
In a similar vein, I notice that a thread on an Ottoway locomotive has been started in the Live Steam forum, so the subject is relevant there as well.
I am OK with these type locomotives/trains in either forum, by the way (but it's not my vote that counts).

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 3:23 pm
by Harold_V
Fender wrote:Harold,
A hypothetical question which has come up in another "live steam" forum. Would personally-owned and operated non-steam "park locomotive" trains be considered on-topic for this forum?
I hesitate to make judgment that may not be in keeping with the desires of the majority. Remember, this forum (all of it), isn't about me---it's about the readers in general. I would suggest to you that such subjects should be allowed, assuming we don't get complaints from readers. If we do, we'll consider the merits of any complaints received.
Typically they are 10" to 16" gauge, and "antiques" like a Cagney, except they are internal-combustion powered. I think of them as the riding-scale equivalent to Lionel tinplate trains.
In a similar vein, I notice that a thread on an Ottoway locomotive has been started in the Live Steam forum, so the subject is relevant there as well.
I am OK with these type locomotives/trains in either forum, by the way (but it's not my vote that counts).
If the Ottoway is not steam powered, it should not be in the steam forum. That's where I fall short. I am not knowledgeable where these matters are concerned---so I am not aware of the power source of the Ottoway. If it isn't steam, I'll move that thread to this forum. Steam enthusiasts have every right to request such a move if they find it intrusive.

Remember, I'm here to try to serve you guys. I enforce policy, I do not make policy.

Harold

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 5:11 pm
by Fender
Harold, I think I confused the question by mentioning the Ottoway. The Ottoway is steam-powered, so would logically belong in the Live Steam forum. The gas-powered "park-type" trains would logically belong in the Riding Scale Railroading forum, since they aren't steam-powered. However, on another web site, several people have objected to postings of this genre of trains, since they are considered to be a commercial product, and not "to scale". That's the question I am raising. But it's all OK with me. I guess that somebody has to post some pictures of this stuff, and see what reaction there is, before this question can really be answered.

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:06 am
by steamin10
I think the lines are just fine. Making forums for STEAM, CRITTERS, NARROW GAUGE, PARK TRAINS, ok, you see what I mean. I read them all anyway, cause when you go to some tracks, you deal with them all.

I am not calling for any change.

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:52 pm
by ironhorseriley
My question is on my Welshpool & Llanfair open wagons posting. I hope to turn it into a build log. Should I continue on with it where it is on Riding Scale Railroading or start it fresh on Riding Scale Railroading as a project or move it as a new project on the build log forum?

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:02 pm
by Harold_V
We tend to discourage posting the same information on more than one thread, or in different fora. Doing so makes it difficult for readers to follow what's happening, and it wastes valuable space, as, once split, multiple identical posts are often the result.

Keep everything under one heading, and if you would like a thread to be moved from one forum to another, all you need do is ask. Readers do not have that capability, but moderators and administrators can do so easily.

The build log will accommodate builds of any type, assuming they are related to railroading.

Harold

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:10 pm
by Glenn Brooks
Interesting question from a classification point of view. Generally speaking, long before the Internet, even before the 'live steam hobby' became a reality, 12"gauge up to 24" gauge trains were considered 'Park Gauge trains', and saw wide spread adoption throughout North America as miniature railroads- often as a recreation or amusement venue in a local or regional park. And, park gauge trains were BOTH steam powered and gas powered! Gradually, as early as WWI and certainly after World War II, the notion of community parks evolved into theme parks, as rides and attractions displaced the old venues of picnic areas, bandstands, and row boat lakes. The American amusement park industry standardized train gauges at 24" sometime around or after the 1920's- enabling the park operator's to benefit from the smallest practical economy of scale for passenger carrying size coaches (2 adults seated abreast requires 24" of track gauge) and standardized parts and equipment purchases. This resulted in the smaller 12"-15" ga miniature trains gradually falling out of favor with park manufactures, with the few trains and railroads that survived being preserved today by hobbyists and collectors. A few manufacturers still make heroic efforts to keep 'Park Gauge' railroading alive, but the inventory of park gauge equipment is nothing like the current level of rolling stock in 7.5" ga.

I don't personally see much sense in classifying forums (or locomotives) by scale, e.g. Having a forum for 1.5" scale equipment versus 2" or 5" scale; as scale is almost a completely arbitrary choice by the builder. However It does make ssense to subdivide railroading interest by gauge and motive power. Guage (and motive power) does fundamentally require physical design limits around which everyone must pay some attention in order to get equipment to roll down the track successfully.

Having said that, I have often thought it would be wonderful to participate in a distinct park gauge forum, perhaps here on Chaski. However I guess it would be something of an up hill battle to maintain such a sub forum, given the few numbers of park gauge train owners compared to the many more people generally interested in the hobby gauges.

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:12 am
by Harold_V
Glenn Brooks wrote: I have often thought it would be wonderful to participate in a distinct park gauge forum, perhaps here on Chaski. However I guess it would be something of an up hill battle to maintain such a sub forum, given the few numbers of park gauge train owners compared to the many more people generally interested in the hobby gauges.
As you alluded, the interest would be too small to warrant the effort to set up the forum. Needless to say, you are certainly welcome to discuss this topic on the board, however. You can target your readers by specifying the gauge and/or scale in the subject line. And, should it prove to be popular, we could then create a new forum and move the related threads.

Harold

Re: Subject matter --------PLEASE READ--------

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 2:31 pm
by Lone Wolf
Thank you for the reminder! I'm afraid I "jumped the track" with the discussion on riding scale "diesels".