Is this a Trainspotter Forum?

FlameoftheWest

I thought it was about commuting and transport. Not about bogie refits on class 666 locos and stuff like that.

Maybe change the forum name to Trainspotting and Transport?

paulm17781

Thank you. The amount of "heritage" posts here annoys me, it is meant to be for commuting and transport issues, not how much an old train gives you the horn.

corktina

there should be a seperate "trainiac" forum....

Cookie_Monster

FlameoftheWest wrote: »

I thought it was about commuting and transport. Not about bogie refits on class 666 locos and stuff like that.

Maybe change the forum name to Trainspotting and Transport?

whats the big deal, all that stuff falls under transport and IMO adds a lot more interest to this forum then people just coming on asking "how long from x to y" cos they can't be arsed checking google maps for themselves and working it out.

DWCommuter

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

whats the big deal, all that stuff falls under transport and IMO adds a lot more interest to this forum then people just coming on asking "how long from x to y" cos they can't be arsed checking google maps for themselves and working it out.

In fairness its a very specific hobby and should have a forum of its own on boards. Its relationship to this forum is tenuous.

But its really up to the mods to decide. This is just my opinion.

paulm17781

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

whats the big deal, all that stuff falls under transport

How is a train which is out of use transport? It is history.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

and IMO adds a lot more interest

IMO takes away a lot more interest.

Cookie_Monster

paulm17781 wrote: »

How is a train which is out of use transport? It is history.

is still a mechanism for transport and as such comes under the heading. The WRC is similar in that it transports nobody currently either yet it gets debated endlessly.

The 141 & 142 thread is one of the more popular over the last week, so obviously people are interested in it

Tarabuses

There is no reason to read a thread in which you have no interest. The number of posts relating to transport enthusiasts is quite small in my opinion.

lord lucan

Sea Slacker has a train forum request in the Forum Request boards.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055835940

paulm17781

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

is still a mechanism for transport and as such comes under the heading. The WRC is similar in that it transports nobody currently either yet it gets debated endlessly.

That's because it is a transport project being planned / built / tested / about to run. Not an ancient piece of scrap metal.

Tarabuses wrote:

There is no reason to read a thread in which you have no interest

I don't read them. However when I come to a forum for commuting & transport (not old bit of metal that used to be transport). I expect to read about them. I don't go to the cable TV forum to talk about about CAT 5 as it can carry TV and is a cable.

Cookie_Monster

paulm17781 wrote: »

That's because it is a transport project being planned / built / tested / about to run. Not an ancient piece of scrap metal.
.

That's debatable in the current climate


And 141's are still in use by IE so are still relevant

etchyed

I think the best compromise in the absence of a Trainspotters forum that all such threads have their title starting with "[Heritage]".

I'm aware that some mods already add this retrospectively, but perhaps it should be a requirement (in the charter) that anyone who starts a heritage thread add this appendage to the start of the title. For example, there's currently a thread about some locomotives that was simply called "141 and 142" for a while. I thought it had something to do with bus routes.

Cookie_Monster

maybe clearing up the stickies at the top from 10 or so to 2-3 would allow more space on the front page so people could view more topics quicker without having to flick to page 2?

dynamick

In a similar way, there is a classic cars forum separate from the motors forum. Probably be best to make a trainspotting forum.

You could fill it with threads that discuss the love that cannot speak its name coherently. Readers' trains, hot steam train on train action, my favourite flask, mature black and orange beauties, tilfs etc.

dfx-

As a member of Garáiste, this forum is nowhere near trainspotting forum.

I see this as a forum for debating that extra €100,000 per km of tar spent on a road between Roscommon and Leitrim and the statistics of vehicles under a certain weight passing under/over a bridge at a specific speed on the second Tuesday of Lent in a Leap year to measure its viability going forward. Ugh, I feel dirty now..

I know which sounds more interesting to me tbh. :P

Judgement Day

FlameoftheWest wrote: »

I thought it was about commuting and transport. Not about bogie refits on class 666 locos and stuff like that.

Maybe change the forum name to Trainspotting and Transport?

My tuppence worth - you're a relative newbie here (no offence intended) and rather than wanting to change everything why not play yourself in first? Rail Users Ireland message board is utterly boring as it concentrates on mind blowing subjects such as pa announcements/on train LED displays etc.etc....IRN - well they don't like anybody to rock their cosy little boat (and anyway some of us are permanently banned from there!) and we have to keep warm somewhere.

As Cookie Monster pointed out the 141 Railtour thread has been one of the most popular recent threads on the C&T forum - I think that the 'enthusiasts' amongst us bring something a little less dry to the forum and would like to see it continue exactly the way it is.

Run_to_da_hills

Its not just trainspotters, over the past year there has been several threads on other forms of transport, Ie Busses, the Directors Tram and the former B&I ferry.

If you go to the Aviation forum you will constantly find threads on former military and civilian aircraft.

Lads, I've a proper request in for a seperate rail forum as a sub of Commuting & Transport, link in my signature. Better off posting in there, as it'll be approved or rejected based on what's posted there.

Run_to_da_hills

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Its not just trainspotters, over the past year there has been several threads on other forms of transport, Ie Busses, the Directors Tram and the former B&I ferry.

If you go to the Aviation forum you will constantly find threads on former military and civilian aircraft.

Agreed. I don't see why those interested in railways are seen differently to those who are interested in aviation. Is it not the same basic thing?

As someone who aspires to be a driver I'm more interested in the locomotives and routes than keeping notes of workings, in fact I don't do any logs at all.

Hungerford

paulm17781 wrote: »

Thank you. The amount of "heritage" posts here annoys me, it is meant to be for commuting and transport issues, not how much an old train gives you the horn.

It's only one thread in goodness knows how long. I don't mind the occasional heritage thread - it falls under the remit of the forum.

Plus the 141-class of locomotive formed an incredibly important part of Irish Rail Transport for almost 50 years. And it's nice to see that a few are being preserved.

Cookie_Monster

Hungerford wrote: »

Plus the 141-class of locomotive formed an incredibly important part of Irish Rail Transport .

And Iran's

AlekSmart

For example, there's currently a thread about some locomotives that was simply called "141 and 142" for a while. I thought it had something to do with bus routes.

Now funnily enough...there SHOULD be a thread about this very topic....

It would be very educational to find out EXACTLY why Bus Atha Cliath were prevented at the 11th hour from introducing a direct frequent cross-city service from Swords to Rathmines(?).....who`se needs were served by the Department`s rather sudden fit of negativity ?

And as for the 142,why is it still only a peak-time service when it has demonstrated it`s appeal as a full time via the Port Tunnel service ?

Onwards and Upwards !!

Zoney

Well, I don't think there have been that many "trainspotting" threads, but I also think that what "heritage" threads there have been are a bit out of place on this board which really does seem to be very commuting-orientated (indeed one might suggest the content more fits a forum title of "Commuting/Transport", i.e. commuting and that transport that pertains to commuting).

However, the timing of this question is amusing given that there is a thread on the Infrastructure forum suggesting it's becoming a road geeks forum.

Personally I think people are taking it all a bit too seriously. I think both forums mostly do what they say on the tin.

lord lucan

Karsini wrote: »

Agreed. I don't see why those interested in railways are seen differently to those who are interested in aviation. Is it not the same basic thing?

As someone who aspires to be a driver I'm more interested in the locomotives and routes than keeping notes of workings, in fact I don't do any logs at all.

Same here,never been one to take notes,clock the mileposts or anything like that. I just enjoy seeing Loco's in action(i'm not much of a fan of railcars tbh),whether Diesel or Steam. Watching and listening to some of the 190 who traveled last Sunday you could see how different people love different aspects of the railways. It's an innocent hobby that's often unfairly derided,each to their own i say.:)

popebenny16

Judgement Day wrote: »

Rail Users Ireland message board is utterly boring as it concentrates on mind blowing subjects such as pa announcements/on train LED displays etc.etc.... I think that the 'enthusiasts' amongst us bring something a little less dry to the forum and would like to see it continue exactly the way it is.

well, maybe in 40 years time you'll find them interesting. Now if only IR had Horse Porn on LCD screens in each carriage there could be a thread on that. Then again, I am an optimist.

Anyway, I think a nice sub forum would be a wonderful idea, and I said that over in yonder feedback forum.

FlameoftheWest

lord lucan wrote: »

Sea Slacker has a train forum request in the Forum Request boards.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055835940

That's fair enough then.

Victor

I think there is space for a modest amount of heritage threads. While I suppose many people find old machinery (or books or pictures or whatever) interesting, not everyone obsesses about them.

To a degree, you don't know where you are going until you are conscious of where you have been.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

maybe clearing up the stickies at the top from 10 or so to 2-3 would allow more space on the front page so people could view more topics quicker without having to flick to page 2?

AFAIK the number of stickies doesn't affect the number of other thread on the front page.

Cookie_Monster

Victor wrote: »

I think there is space for a modest amount of heritage threads. While I suppose many people find old machinery (or books or pictures or whatever) interesting, not everyone obsesses about them.

if we can still fill this forum with infastructure threads despite having a dedicated forum (N3 & M50 junction, Docklands station, M50 upgrade, Becket bridge: all infastructure threads on 1st page) I think we can easily accept some heritage and similar slightly off point threads

Judgement Day

+1 especially the off the point threads!

DWCommuter

Right so. We'll keep the trainspotters. Now lets get on with it.:D

corktina

u wiuld prefer a dedicated gricer forum...most users on this one just wont understand.

dowlingm

While some of the discussion here gets a bit technical at times, IRN and P11 have in their own way gatekeepers (are you a gricer/are you a paid member)

I get questions answered here by KC61 and others I can't get answered anywhere else, as I am read-only on IRN and non-member on P11.

corktina

im read only on IRN as well.I take it we are "locked out" ?

I log in and it SAYS I am logged in but their weird set up wont let me in....

Hmm, it's all well for you dedicated rail interested folk, spotter or not, but what about the general public boardsie? The guy who has no interest in ever visiting IRN or P11?
I think that if, instead of just posting a reply discussing a different...

...topic, different threads were started on the new angle or asking point, this board would become more public friendly.

Dowlingm, what's your take on rail getting its own forum?

KC61

dowlingm wrote: »

While some of the discussion here gets a bit technical at times, IRN and P11 have in their own way gatekeepers (are you a gricer/are you a paid member)

I get questions answered here by KC61 and others I can't get answered anywhere else, as I am read-only on IRN and non-member on P11.

I'm flattered!!! (Blush)

Judgement Day

Deleted User wrote: »

...topic, different threads were started on the new angle or asking point, this board would become more public friendly.

Dowlingm, what's your take on rail getting its own forum?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I don't see what your problem is - if you go tinkering about with this forum even more contributors will drop off - the locking of the original WRC thread saw several regulars give-up/reduce their postings.

Cookie_Monster

Judgement Day wrote: »

the locking of the original WRC thread saw several regulars give-up/reduce their postings.

in fairness that was a massive mess (and should have been in Infastructure anyway )

Judgement Day

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

in fairness that was a massive mess (and should have been in Infastructure anyway )

It should have been in 'Ranting n Raving' but it was highly entertaining.

Judgement Day

Judgement Day wrote: »

It should have been in 'Ranting n Raving'....

On that, Judgement Day, we agree!

I suppose the case of C&T is that it balances itself between being an alternative place to P11 and IRN on one side, and being a part of the Boards.ie umbrella of forumses-forae-whatever on the other. Which means you get both the hardened veteran rail posters from the first side, and the random joe-soap questioning browsers from the second.

Long as we plays nice I suppose

dermo88

Seaslacker has it summed up there. I would regard myself as being on both sides of the fence, so to speak. I have knowledge of transport operations, but I am not going to bore the tits off people by elaborating excessively on it anymore unless its absolutely necessary.

There are people like Judgement Day, DWCommuter, Corktina and myself, who have similarities in that we are personae non grata on Irishrailwaynews, because they don't like harsh reality being shone on pet projects, such as the Western Rail Corridor. Which.....well, we have'nt heard much about that since the four horsemen of the financial apocalypse ran away with the cash.

Railusers.ie does not welcome spotters, or non members, so this becomes a refugee camp of sorts for the rest of us, and it works well enough.

corktina

im honoured to be incuded in such illustious company.

I think i mwas called something else on IRN, cant recall what.at this stage.:rolleyes:

dermo88

A list of insults from Irishrailwaynews:

1. Supporter of Robert Moses
2. Richard Beeching Mark 2.
3. A follower of Todd Andrews.
4. Palerail.
5. Is Dublin Ireland, or is Ireland Dublin?
6. Liberterian leanings.
7. Anti rail.
8. Anti west.
9. Anti.....jobs. Anti Locomotive. Anti crap antiquated $hitty rolling stock.
10. Knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
11. Supporter of Platform11.
12. Neo Thatcherite

I count myself as mildly 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11 and 12.

steamengine

Hi All,

Here's an interesting image, a blend of the old and new. RPSI Loco No 4 and rake heading over M50 at Blanchardstown. For the technically minded, a 2-6-4 Tank engine, slightly in excess of 20,000 lbs tractive effort and equipped with Walschaerts valve gear. Fantastic to see these engineering marvels still in operation !!!

Sponge Bob

Sadly this forum has gone " McGuckian " since the special McGuckian thread disappeared and since the long running WRC thread was locked.

Outbreaks of McGuckian have spread like wildfire where they were recently ( late 2009) largely contained in two threads.

The McGuckian thread sort of balanced the forum out and absent the McGuckian thread as a warning to all who might have gone McGuckian themselves the forum has lost its balance.

Yesterday Noel Dempsey announced a deal where Free State parking fines/tickets/tolls could be collected from Nordies .....and vice versa. That Dempsey waffle was reported in this thread HERE and then loads of people went all McGuckian on us....some self admittedly.

Bring back the real McGuckian thread please. It has a wider purpose than simply recording the antics of one particular person !!!!!

It is a reminder of the McGuckian that evidently lurks in many of the posters here.

Cookie_Monster

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Sadly this forum has gone " McGuckian " .......

what are you on about :rolleyes:

Victor

steamengine wrote: »

Here's an interesting image, a blend of the old and new. RPSI Loco No 4 and rake heading over M50 at Blanchardstown. For the technically minded, a 2-6-4 Tank engine, slightly in excess of 20,000 lbs tractive effort and equipped with Walschaerts valve gear. Fantastic to see these engineering marvels still in operation !!!

No, sorry, it does nothing for me.

Judgement Day

Victor wrote: »

No, sorry, it does nothing for me.

Bah, humbug! Methinks thou doth protest too much or maybe you're a railcar gricer instead?

Sponge Bob

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

what are you on about :rolleyes:

The Law Of Unintended Consequences

"Any intervention in a complex system may or may not have the intended result, but will inevitably create unanticipated and often undesirable outcomes"

such as threads going 'McGuckian' for no reason at all

McGuckian is shorthand for a late celtic tiger era 'NAMA For The Trainspotters' plan which would have cost as much as NAMA itself will.

At odd and generally unpredictable times aspects of this 'NAMA For The Trainspotters' plan come up for discussion in otherwise perfectly logical and sensible threads in this here forum.

Then accusations of McGuckianery and McGuckianesque tendencies fly hither and yon for a time and people even self deprecate themselves for doing a McGuckian on the thread.

Before The Law Of Unintended Consequences did its thing in this forum the McGuckianery was confined to two particular threads, both locked and one invisible as well as locked.

Have a shufty at the map of the 'NAMA For The Trainspotters' plan below.

McGuckianery could raise its ugly head absolutely anywhere and at any time so be warned !!!!

Do not become a McGuckian Cookie Monster, please.

Victor

Do you think, after steamengine comes back to see this, he'll feel able to post again? I don't. :mad:

Victor wrote: »

No, sorry, it does nothing for me.

Dude, you're a Mod. Do you forget that sometimes? You're not just speaking as yourself, but as the main decision-maker for this forum. Do you really want to belittle this guy and drive him away? At the very least, I'd expect a qualifying statement saying "hehe only messing, you might be better off starting another thread, welcome to C&T" or something similar.

Guys, this is what I'm on about. C&T isn't simply a refuge from P11 and IRN, remember it is also a place for the General Boards.ie membership to discuss C&T, and that includes rail. steamengine was a newbie and didn't know where to post. Instead of mild abuse, how about pointing him to start a new thread?

As for this "McGuckian" stuff. It isn't relevant to the majority of boardsies, so you're going to have to do a better job of explaining it in plain, simple terms.

I take it to mean advocating a highly expensive restoration of all rail networks to original standard for heritage reasons. While I oppose that idea myself as completely unrealistic, I also oppose the idea of a thread dedicated to pointing out how daft the person is, as it just leaves boards.ie wide open for defamation claims from this guy, no matter how nuts he may be.

Cookie_Monster

steamengine wrote: »

Hi All,

Here's an interesting image, a blend of the old and new. RPSI Loco No 4 and rake heading over M50 at Blanchardstown. For the technically minded, a 2-6-4 Tank engine, slightly in excess of 20,000 lbs tractive effort and equipped with Walschaerts valve gear. Fantastic to see these engineering marvels still in operation !!!

nice pic, but from what i can see its: really old, old, very old from front to rear :pac::pac::pac: