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AbRail website

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The_Train

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Does anyone happen to have any contact with Tony (who ran Abrail), or an email address for him?

Thanks
 

Peter C

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Does anyone happen to have any contact with Tony (who ran Abrail), or an email address for him?

Thanks
There is an email on the archived site, but I wouldn't recommend contacting him about anything if he's left it and doesn't want to keep on with it.

-Peter
 

The_Train

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There is an email on the archived site, but I wouldn't recommend contacting him about anything if he's left it and doesn't want to keep on with it.

-Peter

I was hoping to contact him to discuss the possibility of me taking over the running of the site
 

The_Train

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OK - good idea, but maybe seen as the emails seem to be bouncing (thanks @PHILIPE ) it's not going to happen anytime soon. :(

-Peter

Seems a waste of a good information source to just let it disappear. Tony did once post on WNXX but he's not appeared since unfortunately so I was hoping that there might be someone who could at least mention my interest to him. Glad @PHILIPE has saved me the bother of trying to get a website from the host address though
 

Peter C

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Seems a waste of a good information source to just let it disappear. Tony did once post on WNXX but he's not appeared since unfortunately so I was hoping that there might be someone who could at least mention my interest to him. Glad @PHILIPE has saved me the bother of trying to get a website from the host address though
It definitely would be a waste. I have personally got a download of each of the bits I'm interested in from the latest archive, so if anyone needs anything, please ask. :)
Maybe this Tony is on here?....

-Peter
 

Darandio

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Obviously it's now several months out of date, but it shouldn't take too much to pull all of the data from last November. One issue then is updating the changes from the past 10 months or so but an even bigger issue is to keep it all up to date moving forward, it isn't an easy job pulling in all the information required on an ongoing basis.
 

Peter C

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Obviously it's now several months out of date, but it shouldn't take too much to pull all of the data from last November. One issue then is updating the changes from the past 10 months or so but an even bigger issue is to keep it all up to date moving forward, it isn't an easy job pulling in all the information required on an ongoing basis.
I suppose I could help in the putting together of new information/new website. I have some knowledge in HTML particularly and how websites work.
Seeing as we have access to all of the website from March this year, starting there and working from there would surely be a good place to start. As previously mentioned, I have a copy of most of the site in PDF format from earlier this year (June-ish) and so could help in the putting together of a completely new site or even changing old ABRail info to up-to-date facts and figures.

-Peter

EDIT: I have just managed to pull the HTML data from one of the ABRail pages and I have managed to remove the Web Archive information on the page, which could be useful for re-use in the future (owner of ABRail permitting, etc.)
 
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The_Train

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Obviously it's now several months out of date, but it shouldn't take too much to pull all of the data from last November. One issue then is updating the changes from the past 10 months or so but an even bigger issue is to keep it all up to date moving forward, it isn't an easy job pulling in all the information required on an ongoing basis.

The on-going supply of information was one of many aspects of the website I was hoping to discuss with the owner. Unfortunately that is looking more and more unlikely
 

Wivenswold

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I was supplying him with Greater Anglia updates until January. I did note that his interest waned during that time, rather suggested he had something on hi s mind or maybe just lost love with the project. Either way I hope he's okay.

I'm still in 1982 on the historical one so I'm going to be a while.
 

alistairlees

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Obviously it's now several months out of date, but it shouldn't take too much to pull all of the data from last November. One issue then is updating the changes from the past 10 months or so but an even bigger issue is to keep it all up to date moving forward, it isn't an easy job pulling in all the information required on an ongoing basis.
Surely there’s a copyright issue here?
 

Darandio

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Surely there’s a copyright issue here?

How do you mean exactly? Are you suggesting an unaffiliated website owns stock formations?

The discussion was also a continuation of what @The_Train wanted to do with regards to contacting the owner about carrying the project forward.
 

alistairlees

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How do you mean exactly? Are you suggesting an unaffiliated website owns stock formations?

The discussion was also a continuation of what @The_Train wanted to do with regards to contacting the owner about carrying the project forward.
No. The website owner owns the copyright to the content on it, unless otherwise indicated, and assuming it is legitimately obtained or original. You can’t just go around copying other stuff, even if it’s already in the public domain. The presentation of the information, as well as the information itself, may well be enough to determine copyright.

You couldn’t just copy a platform 5 book saying “surely platform 5 don’t own unit lists”, for instance.
 

Darandio

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No. The website owner owns the copyright to the content on it, unless otherwise indicated, and assuming it is legitimately obtained or original. You can’t just go around copying other stuff, even if it’s already in the public domain. The presentation of the information, as well as the information itself, may well be enough to determine copyright.

You couldn’t just copy a platform 5 book saying “surely platform 5 don’t own unit lists”, for instance.

Indeed, and never did I suggest just going around copying other stuff.
 

Wivenswold

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Although in the case of books that contain data that's available elsewhere then it's more difficult to prove a copyright infringement as the defence would be "I didn't get it from your book".
I'm using multiple sources and have even reached out to the NRM for information from the British Rail archive. I see a lot of errors in railway books and always wonder whether they're copyright traps.

Geographers of the London A-Z inserted "ghost streets" into their maps, there was one across their interpretation of Blackheath back in the day. Record labels put a different high frequency code on each pre-release/advance copy of albums. It helps them find the source of any unauthorised copies or embargo breaches (not trousers) . I digress, the point is, always ask.
 

Mrgoodspeed

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A bit late to the conversation, but https://spotlog.org/locolist has all the data that was on the ABRail sites.

Yes, real shame Tony has stopped ABRail, I used to use it a lot to keep up with updates, and corresponded with him over data and corrections.

The Spotlog lists are much more extensive than ABRail as we cover European railways as well. Data on the site is maintained by users on a sort of wiki basis, so multiple people update and check data. If anyone has access to regularly updated info that we could use, or would like to help update the lists, we’d love to hear from you.
 

tractor boy 81

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what happened to ab rail database is it coming back??
if not does anybody know of any other data base for units??
 

trainmania100

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what happened to ab rail database is it coming back??
if not does anybody know of any other data base for units??
Don't think it's coming back.
Railuk.info, if you use the search at the left you can search by unit.
Platform 5 books are usually good as they have a full list of units and numbers.
 

The_Train

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I've finally got around to converting my home made database into a website after my failed attempts at getting in contact with the Abrail owner.

Currently only on a Wix freebie site but may be tempted to upgrade it if it is something that will interest enough people.
Very much in its infancy at the moment (only locos from class 01 to class 37 completed so far - with a few previous numbers still to be input) but thought I would put it out there to see if it is the sort of info people are looking for and to take on any suggestions for extra info (pool codes being one that comes to mind) before continuing. My plan would be to have the locomotives completed within the next week or so and then get onto the DMU and EMU sections as I know that's what most people used Abrail for.

I'm sure there will be details listed incorrectly so feel free to offer any corrections as I would need that sort of contribution from the rail community to keep things running once everything is set up.

Anyway, check it out at https://ukraillog.wixsite.com/ukraillog
 

Peter C

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I've finally got around to converting my home made database into a website after my failed attempts at getting in contact with the Abrail owner.

Currently only on a Wix freebie site but may be tempted to upgrade it if it is something that will interest enough people.
Very much in its infancy at the moment (only locos from class 01 to class 37 completed so far - with a few previous numbers still to be input) but thought I would put it out there to see if it is the sort of info people are looking for and to take on any suggestions for extra info (pool codes being one that comes to mind) before continuing. My plan would be to have the locomotives completed within the next week or so and then get onto the DMU and EMU sections as I know that's what most people used Abrail for.

I'm sure there will be details listed incorrectly so feel free to offer any corrections as I would need that sort of contribution from the rail community to keep things running once everything is set up.

Anyway, check it out at https://ukraillog.wixsite.com/ukraillog
I've just had a (quick) look and it seems to be really good! :) @BenW390Fan has done something similar (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/train-database-2020.204371/page-1) but his database only includes currently in-service stock IIRC, so both of these could work alongside each other to become two very useful sources of information indeed!

-Peter
 

BenW390Fan

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I've just had a (quick) look and it seems to be really good! :) @BenW390Fan has done something similar (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/train-database-2020.204371/page-1) but his database only includes currently in-service stock IIRC, so both of these could work alongside each other to become two very useful sources of information indeed!

-Peter
Definitely, I'm happy for the two databases to be used together. Mine does include some out of service stock but usually only from the past 5 years
 

Peter C

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Definitely, I'm happy for the two databases to be used together. Mine does include some out of service stock but usually only from the past 5 years
Excellent :) I love the work that's been going into this sort of thing recently - shows just how the community can come together and do some fairly big projects!

-Peter
 
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