How did RailUK start?

[telstarbox]

How did the forum get going in the first place - was it a breakaway from an existing website or was it created all by itself?

Also how did it keep going with other forums existing in the same area, as I've been on other forums which have died a quiet death due to lack of interest.

 

[yorkie]

How did the forum get going in the first place - was it a breakaway from an existing website or was it created all by itself?

It was a bit of a breakaway from a forum called The Transport Forum, ('TTF') which no longer exists.

Another site that broke away from TTF around the same time was the District Dave forum, which catered for LU.

Also how did it keep going with other forums existing in the same area, as I've been on other forums which have died a quiet death due to lack of interest.

I didn't think there was a general interest railway forum at that time, all the other forums seemed to be aimed at a particular market.

 

[LowLevel]

I'd be interested in seeing a written history but I suppose if you asked 3 different people you'd get 3 different stories - such is the internet! To be fair I tip my hat to the current staff though - the place is far busier and more high profile than I suspect it was ever intended or imagined to be.

I believe it came into being in 2005 or thereabouts originally and comprised a newsy website and a forum. A lot of the progenitors (a few of whom now reside in a different postcode as it were ) had a shared interest in SimSig in particular I think.

 

[ainsworth74]

Also how did it keep going with other forums existing in the same area, as I've been on other forums which have died a quiet death due to lack of interest.

Through the blood, sweat and tears of the forum staff of course! What do you think we do all day? Mince around toasting our success (using complementary first class booze of course)? No we work and work and work. Mike395 went into the server room about two weeks ago and hasn't been out since so busy is he with keeping everything going and it's the same for the rest of us!

The above might be something of a fabrication...

 

[Crossover]

Through the blood, sweat and tears of the forum staff of course! What do you think we do all day? Mince around toasting our success (using complementary first class booze of course)? No we work and work and work. Mike395 went into the server room about two weeks ago and hasn't been out since so busy is he with keeping everything going and it's the same for the rest of us!

The above might be something of a fabrication...

Just like any good sysadmin then

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Will June 2015 be the 10th anniversary of the website?

 

[Techniquest]

Is it really that long since the forum came to being? It feels like yesterday since we were discussing the Brighton 31s on TTF!

I used to be on other forums myself, at one point I was on 4 of them, but that's a lot of work and since I got back into employment a little over 4 years ago I've slowly dropped everywhere but here.

I'd be interested to see how many of the original members from the forum's origins are still here!

 

[Starmill]

I've heard three different versions of it. Basically... what LowLevel said! If anyone wanted to know anything else, I would suggest they attend more meets. The people who have been here the longest are not always the most obvious either, so it's always nice to meet some of them.

 

[Butts]

Through the blood, sweat and tears of the forum staff of course! What do you think we do all day? Mince around toasting our success (using complementary first class booze of course)? No we work and work and work. Mike395 went into the server room about two weeks ago and hasn't been out since so busy is he with keeping everything going and it's the same for the rest of us!

The above might be something of a fabrication...

That sounds about right

My understanding is that all Moderators emanate from "The Dark Side" and are trained in Berlin

 

[Chapeltom]

Its funny someone has started a post on this, because I was thinking exactly the same. I do occasionally got back to the beginning of the posts, many years before I've even heard of the forum and it proved to me that even huge forums like this start with very humble beginnings.

 

[Mike395]

**emerges from the server room, shaking and confused at the concept of daylight**

Argh, my eyes!

**locks himself back in again, wondering what to break next**

 

[bb21]

That sounds about right

My understanding is that all Moderators emanate from "The Dark Side" and are trained in Berlin

I don't know about all the others but I grew up in an underground cell in Vladivostok.

I believe theblackwatch hails from Area 51 and IanXC is just a figment of everyone's imagination.

ainsworth74 is a bot which we wheel out every now and then to keep order on the forum when no staff is available.

Last I heard of, Mike395 was presumed in hibernation mode. The server room was the only place we failed to look.

 

[trentside]

IanXC is just a figment of everyone's imagination.

That explains an awful lot

I did once get the abridged version of 'A History of RailUK' that took most of the X26 bus ride between Heathrow and West Croydon - a two hour trip

 

[AlexS]

I shall (very briefly) return from the cold waters of Lurker's Shore to say that this thread inspired me to look at my old files and PMs and wow - how far has it come. Some of the staff have remained constant since I was an admin here many, many, moons ago and it is to their credit.

The place largely began with a group as Yorkie mentioned breaking away from TTF. It was originally if I recall correctly all hosted on a member's server with a couple of folk putting their hands in their pockets to pay the bills. As things grew there became greater dependence on advertising revenue.

The forum meet concept came over from TTF and Yorkie has always been very active with pushing the social side of things - the end of the Southern slam door stock and West Coast electrics (in bulk) coincided with the initial period and provided a good foundation for groups of like minded individuals to get together - trips to preserved lines and challenges also featured.

SimSig is quite correct as well - there was many an evening spent playing a multiplayer game of Kings Cross - again Yorkie was a prolific games master!

There were fights and arguments and some core people dropped away over time but eventually the place seems to have settled into something pretty stable. A lot of the founders were very young at the time (early teens and up mostly) and have obviously grown up and matured - many have jobs on the railway now as managers, drivers, guards etc etc. Others still continue with their enthusiasm as before.

My own role was largely day to day moderation and activities of that nature - I could have done a much better job but then again I was still only young and while I have a few regrets I suppose it could have been worse!

Without their consent I won't name the founders as some use alter egos or are no longer here to ask but I'm grateful for the social side that allowed me to manage a hobby that perhaps wasn't very socially acceptable as a teenager while I grew up - those chats on MSN Messenger, games of SimSig and occasionally real life meetings were hugely important to me at the time and I hold them fondly.

I hope the staff don't mind me posting this and I shall return to my box now and let them get on with their food work.

 

[455driver]

Through the blood, sweat and tears of the forum staff of course! What do you think we do all day? Mince around toasting our success (using complementary first class booze of course)? No we work and work and work. Mike395 went into the server room about two weeks ago and hasn't been out since so busy is he with keeping everything going and it's the same for the rest of us!

The above might be something of a fabrication...

I told you putting that minibar in there was a daft idea!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

**emerges from the server room, shaking and confused at the concept of daylight**

Argh, my eyes!

**locks himself back in again, wondering what to break next**

Shaking and eyes hurting?
You have been at the minibar!

 

[Donny Dave]

My understanding is that all Moderators emanate from "The Dark Side" and are trained in Berlin

There was a rumour floating around a while ago that a former ban-ministrator was secretly flown to Beijing and spent several weeks being trained in various methods of extracting information, including the dreaded Chinese Water Torture

 

[Techniquest]

AlexS! By gosh it's been a while! I'll echo your comments regarding meets, they were immmensely fun. I've never the time to do meets anymore, but I will join one again sometime! My haven't things changed in almost 10 years of being on here, and I have no intention of leaving the scene!

 

[Heinz57]

I find this very interesting hearing about the origins and history of our forum.

I've been with you guys for about 5 years now, although I'm not a frequent poster I'm still knocking around on here three or four times a day every day and I do enjoy the forum. So I look forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the forum next year!

I'll go back to lurking in the shadows now...

 

[IanXC]

Will June 2015 be the 10th anniversary of the website?

RailUK will indeed be celebrating 10 years in 2015 - watch for future announcements!

 

[Starmill]

I shall (very briefly) return from the cold waters of Lurker's Shore

The grey dust of an uninhabited zip code more like!

 

[ainsworth74]

There was a rumour floating around a while ago that a former ban-ministrator was secretly flown to Beijing and spent several weeks being trained in various methods of extracting information, including the dreaded Chinese Water Torture

I can neither confirm or deny that RailUK has the capability to 'make you talk' and then disappear however due to unforeseen circumstances David will no longer be posting on this forum...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

However due to unforeseen circumstances David will no longer be posting on this forum...

Does this mean that we shall not receive his usual thoughtful posting updates about Scunthorpe United?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Through the blood, sweat and tears of the forum staff of course! What do you think we do all day? Mince around toasting our success (using complementary first class booze of course)? No we work and work and work. Mike395 went into the server room about two weeks ago and hasn't been out since so busy is he with keeping everything going and it's the same for the rest of us!

The above might be something of a fabrication...

Perhaps he nodded off? Or sneaked out through a side door and is down the pub? Has anyone checked on his welfare?

 

[PermitToTravel]

That explains an awful lot

I did once get the abridged version of 'A History of RailUK' that took most of the X26 bus ride between Heathrow and West Croydon - a two hour trip

We missed the stop we intended to get off at, and then the next alternative, and then if I recall correctly the next alternative

 

[PeterY]

All I'll say is, I love the forum. Learnt so much stuff from other members posts, the good, bad and the ugly. LOL . I don't post very often but I like my daily fix of new posts. Being a newish member, I look forward to the next ten years.

 

[infobleep]

Interesting to read how this all started. I found the fares workshop fascinating and I'm still fascinated at how the railways work and especially how they use to work.

 

[johnnychips]

Thanks to you all. A few years ago I was convinced the day return from Donny to Nottingham seemed too much, so I Googled something and found this Forum, then got addicted.

 

[Donny Dave]

I can neither confirm or deny that RailUK has the capability to 'make you talk' and then disappear however due to unforeseen circumstances David will no longer be posting on this forum...

Wh... Wh... WHat happened? Who am I? Where am I ????

My head hurts ....

 

[yorkie]

A few years ago I was convinced the day return from Donny to Nottingham seemed too much, so I Googled something and found this Forum, then got addicted.

I recall Grimsby (and probably fares on that line) to Nottingham were very cheap and undercut the Donny fare, but that's been closed down no as the route changed to 'via Lincoln'. One of the forum moderators in particular used to like those tickets back in the day.

Still, that's nothing compared to the Baldock - North Sheen via Elgin, or Stansted - Elsenham via Edinburgh loopholes of recent years

There are still some great loopholes right now, but they are best shared in person at forum events/meals/workshops, as loopholes posted here tend to get shut down very quickly these days!

 

[RichmondCommu]

I recall Grimsby (and probably fares on that line) to Nottingham were very cheap and undercut the Donny fare, but that's been closed down no as the route changed to 'via Lincoln'. One of the forum moderators in particular used to like those tickets back in the day.

Still, that's nothing compared to the Baldock - North Sheen via Elgin, or Stansted - Elsenham via Edinburgh loopholes of recent years

There are still some great loopholes right now, but they are best shared in person at forum events/meals/workshops, as loopholes posted here tend to get shut down very quickly these days!

And of course the occasional PM! That saved many extended family members a lot of money! Keep em coming!