Railforums server

[strange6]

Hope you don't mind me asking, but who pays for the administration of these forums and the hosting fees?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I guess the admin team make up the difference between the costs and the revenue the adverts bring in. Not sure though.

 

[strange6]

I guess the admin team make up the difference between the costs and the revenue the adverts bring in. Not sure though.

I was wondering if the admins pay any money out from their own pocket. If they do, I think we owe them a very big gratitude

 

[ainsworth74]

I seem to remember Jordy saying a few months ago that the board covers its costs totally through advertising, enough so that there has even a small surplus in the past (that went on the badges).

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I would have thought that adverts would keep them in the black, but I think someone offered a donation recently, Mojo, I think, said it was kind, but they were OK.

 

[Zoe]

Also the message board system used by this forum is not free.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Also the message board system used by this forum is not free.

It's a one off licence and then a yearly payment if you want to keep the support I think.

 

[Ivo]

For strange6:

This thread (from the Forum Announcements area) should clear things up for you, at least a little.

 

[Jordy]

What ainsworth74 says is correct, the advertising covers it

 

[strange6]

What ainsworth74 says is correct, the advertising covers it

Oh well, if you start getting in the red, give us a shout and i'll give you some money

 

[Ivo]

Oh well, if you start getting in the red, give us a shout and i'll give you some money

You and x000 other people!

Supposing everyone paid a voluntary sum of £5 per year, how far would that go towards the forum's maintenance and events?

 

[MrC]

What ainsworth74 says is correct, the advertising covers it

Got to admit I feel a bit guilty here as I filter all advertising out from all websites and never see it. Should I post a fiver in to salve my conscience?

 

[me123]

Oh well, if you start getting in the red, give us a shout and i'll give you some money

Does that apply to members as well?

 

[strange6]

If you click on the link to an advert, does the forum get any money?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

If you click on the link to an advert, does the forum get any money?

Yes, I believe they would.

 

[strange6]

Yes, I believe they would.

I'll get clicking. That Siberian express holiday package looks awesome. Anybody fancy it?

 

[142094]

I'll get clicking. That Siberian express holiday package looks awesome. Anybody fancy it?

I'm getting adverts for cheap ferry tickets. Also a trip to the Cook Islands for £99. And National Express Coaches. Think I'll click on that one, bit less money for National Express the buggers.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I'm getting adverts for cheap ferry tickets. Also a trip to the Cook Islands for £99. And National Express Coaches. Think I'll click on that one, bit less money for National Express the buggers.

I've been getting them for Daniweb - the largest IT discussion forum on the web apparently!

 

[Mojo]

Firstly, very kind to all those who have said things and it is good to see so many people interested.

It's in the terms and conditions of our advert provider that we don't ask people to click on ads.

To those who block ads, I ask you not to, as if everyone did it then we would not be able to afford to run the forums. There's no need to make a donation though!

 

[Blindtraveler]

again, if that ever changes, then let us know! As a new member, i love m and would even after this short time miss it!

 

[wintonian]

Surly there’s something we could set a fund for - railway related charity donations or a professional web developer for example? :P

 

[Ivo]

Well, I have a little idea for something we could do on a semi-regular (monthly?) basis. Each month, everyone who is interested in this plan puts in £1.

Essentially, everyone pitches an idea for a railway-related theme day that they would like to do, and the most popular idea each month receives the "kitty" as a donation from the forum towards the idea - on the condition that they provide a forum report and plenty of photographs of the day/event! Examples may be...

• Peter Mugridge's run from Lands End to John o'Groats and back, exclusively by public transport
• EM2's 24 hours by train, in which he accumulated over 1,300 miles at an average of roughly 55 mph
• A challenge to take a picture of all 18 Network Rail stations within 24 hours of each other
• Using every notable "local" rail system in the country, again in 24 hours (i.e. LUL, T&W, Blackpool, etc)
• Staying on the same train from its first service on any given day to its last on the same day (or early the next morning)
• A big forum meet in Birmingham in which we take over from platform staff for the day (OK, maybe not)

And so on. The list is potentially endless. It's just an idea, but it would mean that we are giving something back to the forum (i.e. any left over money goes to the forum's administration), while also enjoying our hobby.

What do you all think? I know it's another of my crazy plans (I must have had 50 by now ), but opinions would be welcomed! Of course, only one idea would be given the go-ahead each month, so the incentive is there to keep giving in the hope of getting your chance one day! And if you think a monthly giving is too rare, then it could become more frequent. Of course, £1 a month is £12 a year, so I think monthly would be a sensible rate...

 

[Blindtraveler]

smashing! what a great idea and would hope to participate in some, practicallitties permitting. May I throw something into the mix, at the wrisk of being slagged to death, but if I, personally wanted to join in the fun, would a a blind, but otherwise self sufficiant rail enthusiast be welcome or would I simply be an unwelcome pain? behonest everyone, admins included.

 

[Mike395]

Well, I have a little idea for something we could do on a semi-regular (monthly?) basis. Each month, everyone who is interested in this plan puts in £1.

Essentially, everyone pitches an idea for a railway-related theme day that they would like to do, and the most popular idea each month receives the "kitty" as a donation from the forum towards the idea - on the condition that they provide a forum report and plenty of photographs of the day/event! Examples may be...

• Peter Mugridge's run from Lands End to John o'Groats and back, exclusively by public transport
• EM2's 24 hours by train, in which he accumulated over 1,300 miles at an average of roughly 55 mph
• A challenge to take a picture of all 18 Network Rail stations within 24 hours of each other
• Using every notable "local" rail system in the country, again in 24 hours (i.e. LUL, T&W, Blackpool, etc)
• Staying on the same train from its first service on any given day to its last on the same day (or early the next morning)
• A big forum meet in Birmingham in which we take over from platform staff for the day (OK, maybe not)

And so on. The list is potentially endless. It's just an idea, but it would mean that we are giving something back to the forum (i.e. any left over money goes to the forum's administration), while also enjoying our hobby.

What do you all think? I know it's another of my crazy plans (I must have had 50 by now ), but opinions would be welcomed! Of course, only one idea would be given the go-ahead each month, so the incentive is there to keep giving in the hope of getting your chance one day! And if you think a monthly giving is too rare, then it could become more frequent. Of course, £1 a month is £12 a year, so I think monthly would be a sensible rate...

What a great idea Ivo! Would of course lend itself to helping out charities through sponsorship with this sort of event too, as of course the running costs would be covered by your 'RailUK fund', so people would be more inclined to do it, and perhaps get sponsorship to do so?

 

[MrC]

To those who block ads, I ask you not to, as if everyone did it then we would not be able to afford to run the forums. There's no need to make a donation though!

I have to say it's a bit of a tough call. If, like me, you live on the end of a piece of wet string then having to download adverts can make a real difference when viewing sites. As I never buy from advertising banners I don't see why I should clog up my bandwidth with them (and yes I know the Railuk site isn't the worst offender by a large margin). I would much rather pay a small sub to each site I make regular use of (eg, like I do for WNXX).

 

[theblackwatch]

Surly there’s something we could set a fund for - railway related charity donations or a professional web developer for example? :P

Last year, after making a £50 donation to the 'Railway Children' charity, we invited members to make a donation themselves if they so wished - details are at http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30010 if anyone didn't do so but would now like to do so.

 

[SS4]

I've whitelisted this site from ABP now. Also do flash ads make more money for you?

Text ads are fine, it's flash I can't be doing with

 

[Mojo]

Well yes and no. When we first set up the forum, Flash ads didn't exist; the choice was between image or text ads. Image ads do make more money, and there are more of them so there is a better chance of an advert appearing at all (if none are available then no advert shows or a public service advert shows).

Since then, they have added Flash ads, but the options haven't changed, so the option is text and image.

Of course if there is the possibility if we had text only ads more people are likely to see them then it's something we'd trial, but that would require a few people to make a commitment.

In our user survey last year, four times as many people said there were just the right number of ads versus too many, but we have made a few changes (eg. we'll be replacing some more Google ads with links to the forum in addition to the ones already changed).

 

[Ivo]

Gee, I didn't know what to expect... Sounds promising!

Blindtraveler: Of course you would be welcome! If anything, it may be of benefit if you can develop an idea that relates to your impairment (something like reeling off the train details of each unit that arrives and its service information, merely from what you could hear, would be interesting, and would be of note to charity sponsors as well; i.e. a donation for every correct answer)...

 

[Blindtraveler]

my god mate, your brain is too active too late in the day! As to your idea, i can already make a semi educated guess at some of this using clues like engine sounds, door chimes, notable features like how loudly breaks squeal, how long it takes doors to releas, and knoledge of timetables. A good or bad announcement both on trains and stations can make or break too! Drives foalk mad sometimes but has its uses too e.g the time we v nearly missed the 158 to preston from blackpool and I managed to convince my tipsy mates that this was our service and we all got back home to edinburgh ok. Should be noted i'd had a few myself.

Same principal works with busses - it has too here as the mass movement of commuters in scotlands capital is handled by road. Can often have a good stabb at what route is coming by engine note etc. This now being made harder by the standardisation of much of lothians fleat.

Would love to join a forum meet sometime but again, no desire to be an inconvenience to anybody. Reading the meets archive has often made me drewel with longing! Rite il stop rambling now and wate for a mod to throw me off for, quite frankly being insane!

Gee, I didn't know what to expect... Sounds promising!

Blindtraveler: Of course you would be welcome! If anything, it may be of benefit if you can develop an idea that relates to your impairment (something like reeling off the train details of each unit that arrives and its service information, merely from what you could hear, would be interesting, and would be of note to charity sponsors as well; i.e. a donation for every correct answer)...

theres a whole thread in this Ivo - new and interesting rail forum chajenges/meets for charitty!