The Forum Turns Twenty!

[John Webb]

My congratulations too for the 20th Birthday.

You started the same year I joined the St Albans Signal Box Preservation Trust, then itself two years old. I only found this Forum in 2010 after I became the Trust's publicity officer and was looking for places to publicise the by-then restored box!

 

[MasterSpenny]

Happy 20th birthday RailUK! Here’s to the next 20!

 

[Darandio]

Happy Birthday for yesterday. I've only just realised i've been a member here for the majority of it.

 

[Horizon22]

A very happy birthday to the forum on its 20th birthday! 20 years is a long time for anything to remain a constant online, let alone grown to become a premier source of all things rail.

 

[MotCO]

Congratulations on your first 20 years. That's almost as long as we have waited for the 701s to be introduced

 

[westcoaster]

I honestly thought the forum was older than 20. I remember reading it whilst at home under 18.
I've worked on the railway just over 20 years, and thought I joined the forum before I started on the railway.

Is this because we had to re-sign up a few times.


Anyway happy birthday

 

[[.n]]

Congrats, took me a long time from when the forum started to finally abandon uk.r (so this isn't my first account) but definitely a great resource

 

[that1pepfan]

Happy birthday

 

[Hamma52]

Penblwydd hapus, RailUK!

 

[Willie Bee]

I've only been using the forum for 3 or 4 years but I have found it very helpful when looking for tickets and route details.

When my wife and I made our first, recent train journey late in 2022 it was our first time on a train for well over 20 yewars, so I had no idea about ticket options, route details or even the various rail companies .. now I feel I am a bit of a junior expert .. thanks to this forum

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Happy birthday RailUK, I've been on the site since it's earlier days, joining way back in May 2009...

I've learnt an awful lot on here about railways, compared to when I joined as a naive and annoying 14 year old... I'm now 30 years old!

I've also made some lovely life long friends on RUK, including one where I was best man at their wedding!

It's changed a bit since I joined, but none the less I'm still a regular visitor, even if I don't post as much as I did in previous years gone by.

To all the admins, congratulations on 20 years! And hopefully many more.

 

[Strathclyder]

Happy 20th! Scary to think I've been a member for nearly 12 years now (was 17 and a year out of high school then, am now 29); honestly can't remember why I joined looking back (seem to remember my first avatar being a Grand Central HST tho lol). But have really enjoyed the time I've spent here, the things I've learned. I don't think I've met anyone from here yet though, at least no-one I'm aware of.

Here's to the next 20 years!

 

[m0ffy]

This is probably my favourite place on the internet, and it’s thanks to the hard work of the forum staff. Take a bow, team.

 

[johnnychips]

‘How much is it from Doncaster to Nottingham? Blimey, there must be a cheaper way!’ in 2012.
A Google search led me here, rekindled my interest in trains, and led me to meet some fantastic people.
Thank you to all.

 

[jj1314]

Happy birthday - and many thanks for all who contribute, moderate and run this fantastic forum. I’m now here far more often than I ride trains, but never regret a browse!

 

[Maninblack]

Happy birthday and thanks everyone for the information. especially about Tyne and Wear Metro, where exciting developnts are taking place!!

 

[SteveyBee131]

Happy anniversary Rail UK forums! Thanks so much to everyone behind the scenes who make it all possible. The information, help, advice and entertainment I've recieved since I joined has been amazing!

 

[Max]

I was the 15th member of the forum after @yorkie convinced me to move across from the UKTrainSim forum (RIP). It's been an important part of nearly two thirds of my life, I've met many fantastic people (some of whom even attended my wedding!) and been on countless enjoyable trips and meals. Thanks for an amazing 20 years and here's to the next!

 

[ld0595]

Wow, fantastic! Happy birthday and here's to many more!

 

[Jimini]

Back of the envelope calculation makes that an average of about 9600 posts per day. Got to keeps the mods busy!

...and that's just @Bletchleyite

I've been here since October 2006. Enjoyed every visit, including meeting some folk in person. A great forum

 

[D1024]

Congratulations on 20 years of what has to be the Premier railway forum! I have learnt an awful lot about railways home and abroad as well as many other miscellaneous topics, saved a lot of money through the ticketing advice, met loads of great people through the meets and done some super forum walks (as well as some very wet/muddy/ferocious animals etc ones as well!).

 

[Rescars]

Happy birthday! Congratulations and many thanks. 20 years eh? Wow! Just realising how that compares with the average lifespan of the BR Standards!

 

[scotrail158713]

Wow - 20 years is an impressive length of time. I don’t manage to post as much now as I used to previously, but I still enjoy a regular read of the forum when I can.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Since joining this forum I no longer purchase railway magazines, so thanks for the savings. The content has been invaluable.

I am down to just an electronic subscription of Modern Railways - so yes it has saved me money but actually has some very informed and brilliant people on here. My favorite forum by far. Many thanks to the founders and moderators and contributors.

It really helps because I live in the USA.

 

[Hadders]

Happy Birthday to the forum!

I joined in 2011 when I was looking for ways to save money on fares, and the rest is history. It’s an incredible resource, thanks to everyone who makes it possible from forum members to staff.

Here’s to the next 20 years!

 

[Milo T.K]

Happy 20 years to the forum!

Heres to another 20 years!

 

[D6130]

Happy birthday guys and girls. Having been a lurker for many years, I finally joined during lockdown....and there were days when the forum saved my sanity!

 

[Springs Branch]

Twenty years and still going strong (and without deteriorating into a toxic or cliquey rabble) is a grand old age in t' internet world. Congratulations!

I wonder if there's some conversion factor - like x7 for Dog Years - that you can apply to internet stuff to better reflect its actual lifespan?

I've been a member for ~60% of the forum's existence (which surprised me a bit), although I was an unregistered lurker for some time before that. I was first attracted here by certain members' comprehensive and reliable updates on the North-West Electrification Scheme Phase 1 (Chat Moss line) in 2012.

 

[matrix24]

A very happy belated birthday. An incredible forum which has over time expanded into many other areas and not exclusively to rail. Looking forward to next 20 years. Any predictions?? HS3, expansion of rail lines, start discussion of 2nd channel tunnel!!

 

[50002Superb]

Congratulations to all involved, I don’t think my interest in the railways would be what it is without this forum