The Forum Turns Twenty!

[globetrotter]

Thanks for all the work in creating and maintaining what is a fantastic resourse for any one interested in trains, railways and travel.

 

[Iskra]

Congratulations and thanks to all for creating such an interesting and thriving forum!

 

[telstarbox]

Happy birthday and well done to the forum team!

I joined the forum in 2010 when I was about to start commuting to my first job. It's still an interesting place to visit daily, particularly thanks to those members who work on the railway and share their insight.

 

[Cambus731]

And still one of the most interesting websites on the internet. Great achievement

 

[Trainfan2019]

Happy birthday! Congratulations to all the forum staff working hard on the forum over the past 20 years.

 

[Gathursty]

Congratulations on the longevity. It's a credit to the Forum staff and enthusiastic contributors over the years. The 14 years I've been on here have flown by. Here's to more Forum Meets and many more years of this great website.

 

[J.C.]

Congratulations to the site and a huge thank you to all the contributors and especially the moderators who work so hard to keep the forum tidy and focused.
I've been fortunate to meet some of you in recent years and your passion and depth of knowledge is truly inspiring!

 

[87electric]

I’d wear that HST railcar on a t-shirt, if not just to annoy the platform ender pedants.
Happy Anniversary to the site.

 

[DarloRich]

10% of the time that railways have been operating! Here's to the next 20 years!

 

[NorthEastern]

Thank you for setting this up and keeping it going, nice and simply and not too flash. The experts that are on here are amazing too!

 

[Peeled Apples]

Happy Birthday and many thanks to those who run the forum.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

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.

yes, I joined 2012 and it was the North West electrification schemes that attracted me and the updates. Absolutely fantastic resource.

 

[E B]

Congratulations.

 

[Bald Rick]

Many Happy Returns! (Split, with a railcard discount, restrictions apply before 0930).

These pages are a fabulous treasure trove of information, most of it true, some of it rumour (which is itself useful), and a little bit of fun as well. Congratulations to all those who out the hard work in to make it what it is, and looking forward to the coming of age next year

 

[Jimini]

Maybe we should do a thread on "favourite thread of the past 20 years"? Mine would have to be 1915 from Paddington skipping the Pick up only call tonight

 

[TBY-Paul]

Congratulations to all involved. Thank you and all fellow members for making the forum what it is, an informative, safe and friendly environment to learn about rail (and non rail) related matters.

 

[ArranArchie]

Here's to many more years Admins

 

[30907]

HB2U... (I know >1 version so choose your preferred one (within guidelines of course).

 

[Egg Centric]

Happy days. Well done everyone - there's so much useful stuff here. I have to say that this place has the best balanced moderation I've seen anywhere (even if I get told off every so often) - in any forum about any subject - and that's probably why it's lasted so long.

How was it actually started, btw? Is there a 'early history of railforums' thread/post that explains it? Did someone just fancy a railway forum and there wasn't one, or what?

And what are the greatest success stories? I know for sure about a few legal cases and spin off companies created by forum members that have led to great things but maybe there are also other dimensions... what about e.g. Romance? Charitable donations? Saving of life or property? These all seem possible to have happened over that kinda timeframe

 

[MotCO]

And what are the greatest success stories?

I would argue that @KirkstallOne 's legal case and his fight for justice, with the national press coverage received, must be up there. https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/section-5-1-rora-prosecution.251202/

 

[Bletchleyite]

...and that's just @Bletchleyite

Happy Birthday to the Forum!

 

[ainsworth74]

Charitable donations?

Back before Covid when Google Adsense was a bit more generous we were in the fortunate position of being able to make some donations to various railway causes:

• 2014 - Great Central Railway's Bridging the Gap £500.00
• 2015 - Swindon Panel Society £1000.00
• 2015 - Great Central Railway's Bridging the Gap £500.00
• 2017 - Southern Electric Traction Group's 4VEP appeal £2000.00
• 2017 - Great Central Railway's Bridge to the Future £1000.00
• 2017 - Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway's Broadway - the last mile £500.00
• 2018 - Brighton Belle Restoration Appeal £500
• 2019 - 125 Group HST Depot Appeal £4,100.01

 

[Milo's Trains]

Happy Birthday RF

 

[nlogax]

Happy twentieth to the forums (from the nice seats on 1M13!)

 

[Minnietheminx]

Happy 20th

 

[Jordy]

A belated happy 20th to the forum, on what is apparently 20 years to the day since I joined. Scary where time goes!

 

[702]

Many Happy Returns Railforums, and thanks to all the mods, admins, and everyone else involved in running RF!

 

[theblackwatch]

Back before Covid when Google Adsense was a bit more generous we were in the fortunate position of being able to make some donations to various railway causes:

• 2014 - Great Central Railway's Bridging the Gap £500.00
• 2015 - Swindon Panel Society £1000.00
• 2015 - Great Central Railway's Bridging the Gap £500.00
• 2017 - Southern Electric Traction Group's 4VEP appeal £2000.00
• 2017 - Great Central Railway's Bridge to the Future £1000.00
• 2017 - Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway's Broadway - the last mile £500.00
• 2018 - Brighton Belle Restoration Appeal £500
• 2019 - 125 Group HST Depot Appeal £4,100.01

The forum also sponsored the printing of the leaflet for the KWVR's diesel gala one year (I can't remember exactly when, but it was a good number of years back) and in 2015 sponsored the Spa Valley Railway's gala as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations which assisted in funding the movement to the railway of one of the two visiting locos which attended the event.

 

[ainsworth74]

The forum also sponsored the printing of the leaflet for the KWVR's diesel gala one year (I can't remember exactly when, but it was a good number of years back) and in 2015 sponsored the Spa Valley Railway's gala as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations which assisted in funding the movement to the railway of one of the two visiting locos which attended the event.

Yes well remembered! It's been nice to help out various causes in various ways over the years

 

[XCTurbostar]

Congratulations and Many thanks!