The Forum Turns Twenty!

[Purple Train]

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

Digressing slightly, but it's these little foibles of Forum life that I particularly love: the familiarity, the inside jokes, the shared experiences, that turn the impersonal sift through the internet for goodness knows what into something fantastic.

There've been times when I've dipped away from it a bit, and some conversations I'd really rather not read back on (sorry mods), but I've had tremendous fun on the forum over the past few years (and reading it for the few years of lurking before that). Thank you to everyone who keeps it running, and everyone who does their best to make this place as welcoming and accessible as possible. I know I mostly appear in General Discussion, but the main forums are one of the most helpful sources of wisdom out there; thank you to all who impart their knowledge to us mere mortals! Here's to the next 20 years, and hopefully beyond

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I see that I joined in March 2010, so I've been here for just over 15 years!

I've enjoyed my time, and it's taught me a lot, and I hope that this will continue.

Well done and thanks to the previous and current members of the Team!

 

[ainsworth74]

Again, thank you all for your kind words I certainly appreciate them and I'm sure too that both current and former Forum Staff members do as well. As you can imagine it does eat up quite a considerable amount of time keeping this show on the road and it does occasionally feel a tad thankless so it's nice to hear quite how much the Forum means to so many of you

 

[TrenHotel]

Congratulations @ainsworth74 and all involved - it’s a remarkable achievement to have kept this forum vibrant for so long.

One observation from me - in the years I’ve been looking on here, and posting very occasionally, this forum has became markedly more tolerant of people asking questions, people not quite understanding how it all works. People who are frustrated with the railways are listened to or at least given a hearing without being shut down. Considering the way the web has gone over the past decade, it’s quite something to have kept things so civil!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Again, thank you all for your kind words I certainly appreciate them and I'm sure too that both current and former Forum Staff members do as well. As you can imagine it does eat up quite a considerable amount of time keeping this show on the road and it does occasionally feel a tad thankless so it's nice to hear quite how much the Forum means to so many of you

@ainsworth74 Amongst the forum staff, what are the funniest anecdotes over these past 20 years?

 

[Donny Dave]

@ainsworth74 Amongst the forum staff, what are the funniest anecdotes over these past 20 years?

I'm sure there could be a few stories said about me...

 

[Magdalia]

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)

I have only been here since the start of 2022, and didn't intend to be very active. I never expected to get to 5000 messages in about 3½ years. The consistent high standard of moderation is the main factor that makes me feel able to share information and contribute to discussions.

Well done to everyone involved.

 

[RuddA]

I have only been here since the start of 2022, and didn't intend to be very active. I never expected to get to 5000 messages in about 3½ years. The consistent high standard of moderation is the main factor that makes me feel able to share information and contribute to discussions.

Well done to everyone involved.

I'm glad you became an active member as I always find your posts about East Anglia interesting and informative.

 

[NorthOxonian]

I have only been here since the start of 2022, and didn't intend to be very active. I never expected to get to 5000 messages in about 3½ years. The consistent high standard of moderation is the main factor that makes me feel able to share information and contribute to discussions.

Well done to everyone involved.

I joined the forum largely because I was confused about a fairly minor ticketing question - though I'd lurked for some time before that. Then I just never left; my message count might be modest seeing as I've been here twice as long as you have, but I've always been a voracious reader even when I have nothing to say!

I'm proud to count several forum members as friends and acquaintances, and do consider this quite a special community that has been built. Here's to twenty more!

 

[Crossover]

Happy 20th Birthday to RailUK!

I can barely believe that I have been here (also just missed my anniversary!) for 16 years of it (member 4084, with the most recent member being over 120,000) and been attending meets/meals for around 14 years

As a point of interest, I also came across the 10 year anniversary thread a short while ago!

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

Likewise re lifelong friends and whilst not best man, I have been to the wedding of one member who I met through the forum (as opposed to a few weddings I have been to of forum members who I knew before they became forum members )

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

A couple of mine that spring to mind is the RichmondCommu fiasco (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/richmond-commu.159093/ and https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...lost-forum-members.253235/page-2#post-6391724) and a thread which I think has been deleted, where it was claimed that London Midland were hiring in Class 90's (or 91's) to run loco hauled services around Birmingham

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

Whilst not directly, I met my now wife through a friend who I met through the forum and the meets/meals (and she is now a forum member as well)

 

[Kite159]

Ironic I found my RailUK 10 year badge in a box of old tickets the other day as I'm having a bit of a spring clean.
Time flies!

 

[Tezza1978]

Thanks to all the admins and mods here! 20 years is a real milestone! Glad to be a part of a forum full of info and enthusiasm for rail services across the UK

 

[Egg Centric]

A couple of mine that spring to mind is the RichmondCommu fiasco (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/richmond-commu.159093/ and https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...lost-forum-members.253235/page-2#post-6391724) and a thread which I think has been deleted, where it was claimed that London Midland were hiring in Class 90's (or 91's) to run loco hauled services around Birmingham

Thanks for the first one, that was bizarre but I imagine there is a lot missing and it's a "you had to be there" thing to really see what went went on. Although I did find some very creepy posts afterwards where he reincarnated.

The second one might be this thread - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lm-to-look-at-loco-hauled-option.138086/? Not particularly "fun", so maybe it was another.

That you met your wife through here is pretty crazy story though. Although I suppose most people's stories of how they met their wife (if not childhood sweetheart) have a lot of coincidences in.

 

[Crossover]

Thanks for the first one, that was bizarre but I imagine there is a lot missing and it's a "you had to be there" thing to really see what went went on. Although I did find some very creepy posts afterwards where he reincarnated.

The second one might be this thread - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lm-to-look-at-loco-hauled-option.138086/? Not particularly "fun", so maybe it was another.

That you met your wife through here is pretty crazy story though. Although I suppose most people's stories of how they met their wife (if not childhood sweetheart) have a lot of coincidences in.

Re the LM thing, it was a different one. It may have been the poster said they’d seen a 90 in LM livery. I’m pretty certain I can remember the poster and I’ve checked back through their posts and it’s not there that I can see

And yes, though it was indirectly, it may still not have happened, if not for the forum. The Swiss cheese effect in the opposite way to what we often hear about on here!

 

[Egg Centric]

It may have been the poster said they’d seen a 90 in LM livery.

Pretty obvious what's happened there then - someone was half cut and mistook Freightliner for LM

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

 

[ainsworth74]

Re the LM thing, it was a different one. It may have been the poster said they’d seen a 90 in LM livery. I’m pretty certain I can remember the poster and I’ve checked back through their posts and it’s not there that I can see

Pretty obvious what's happened there then - someone was half cut and mistook Freightliner for LM

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

They did a dodgy photoshop of this alleged LM 90! It was definitely a wind-up which did not go down well...

 

[YorksLad12]

Congratulations @ainsworth74 and all involved - it’s a remarkable achievement to have kept this forum vibrant for so long.

One observation from me - in the years I’ve been looking on here, and posting very occasionally, this forum has became markedly more tolerant of people asking questions, people not quite understanding how it all works. People who are frustrated with the railways are listened to or at least given a hearing without being shut down. Considering the way the web has gone over the past decade, it’s quite something to have kept things so civil!

I joined the forum largely because I was confused about a fairly minor ticketing question - though I'd lurked for some time before that. Then I just never left; my message count might be modest seeing as I've been here twice as long as you have, but I've always been a voracious reader even when I have nothing to say!

Similarly, I joined after coming across the forum when looking up information on what was happening at Leeds - a thread I now contribute to.

On the Transpennine Route Upgrade thread, someone seems to have joined just to share photos of work in progress - I love that about this place, the willingness to share rather than hoard. And the plain English explanations of some of the technical stuff by people willing to teach.

And when I shared my Yorkshire Stations map, I got so many positive suggestions that I include an acknowledgement of the forum. Since the pandemic, this place has been a bit of a lifeline for me. I'm glad to have met everyone's acquaintance.

 

[Sealink]

Happy Anniversary!

My first post was on 29 October 2009 - and I made a statement that was entirely incorrect. Wouldn't be the last time!

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Congrats on 20 years
Compared to this i'm a quite recent member who, as someone else said, never intended to become as active as I have. But an glad I did and it's been great to share stories and experiences, as well as knowing that you can tap into a vast pool of railway knowledge if needs be!

 

[tramboy]

How many original members from 2005 are still active?

Twenty years is a long time to have the same avatar. Thanks to everyone keeping it going.

 

[Railguy1]

Thanks for providing this resource. Here is to the next 20 years.

 

[Crossover]

and a thread which I think has been deleted, where it was claimed that London Midland were hiring in Class 90's (or 91's) to run loco hauled services around Birmingham

The second one might be this thread - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lm-to-look-at-loco-hauled-option.138086/? Not particularly "fun", so maybe it was another.

Re the LM thing, it was a different one. It may have been the poster said they’d seen a 90 in LM livery. I’m pretty certain I can remember the poster and I’ve checked back through their posts and it’s not there that I can see

Pretty obvious what's happened there then - someone was half cut and mistook Freightliner for LM

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

They did a dodgy photoshop of this alleged LM 90! It was definitely a wind-up which did not go down well...

Thanks to @ainsworth74, the thread has been found - I just wasn't looking for the right thread title!

I make no apology for posting this - having re-read the thread, it deserves to be enjoyed again 14 years or so on!

London Midland New Rolling Stock (Sort Of )

Hello Everyone :) I went to Stoke on Trent today, On a London Midland Train expecting to get on the normal Class 350/1, but what is standing in on platform 8 to crewe? a Class 90! With MK Coaches with London Midland Format.. ( Green Seats and Everything. ) I was Shocked! Where did they...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Egg Centric]

Thanks to @ainsworth74, the thread has been found - I just wasn't looking for the right thread title!

I make no apology for posting this - having re-read the thread, it deserves to be enjoyed again 14 years or so on!

London Midland New Rolling Stock (Sort Of )

Hello Everyone :) I went to Stoke on Trent today, On a London Midland Train expecting to get on the normal Class 350/1, but what is standing in on platform 8 to crewe? a Class 90! With MK Coaches with London Midland Format.. ( Green Seats and Everything. ) I was Shocked! Where did they...

www.railforums.co.uk

I agree personally, but complaints caused by misunderstanding about that sort of thing (to my mind obvious wee wee take, to others clearly not) is why I added my signature.

 

[Purple Train]

I agree personally, but complaints caused by misunderstanding about that sort of thing (to my mind obvious wee wee take, to others clearly not) is why I added my signature.

Indeed, and I have occasionally wished I'd come up with a similar idea - it's a very good system! I do love searching back for humorous threads/posts, there have been some great ones over the last 20 years. I've just rediscovered an all-time personal favourite from godfreycomplex in this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-railway-passenger.237131/page-4#post-5847815

(Apologies, it's a locked thread so I can't quote it directly)

What annoys me is

People who eat and drink on trains. Ever. And people who have eaten or drink before they get on. Ever. In their lives. You either exist through the processing and consumption of foods and liquids or you get the train. Make a choice.

If you’ve reserved a seat, for God’s sake take it home with you. Got on an Azuma the other day and the filthy buggers had left over 300 on it. Makes me sick.

The Penge West Feather Duster Bandits (though their numbers have been thinned out by first to last gatelines)

Staff pass holders who travel in the passenger accommodation instead of sprawled on the front of the train like Buster Keaton WHERE THEY BELONG

Guards on the South WCML who never come out of the middle cab but spend the whole time lying recumbent on the driver’s seat sniffing a loaf of stale bread and mumbling segments of the songs of Showaddywaddy to themselves

People who have an on train seance and don’t wipe up the ectoplasm after them

People who disrespect the atmosphere of the quiet carriage! Honestly is it so hard to do your sacrificial chants to Lucifer in the vestibule?! And they ALWAYS do them in a guttural East Midlands accent it just sounds so wrong!! Satanism was aspirational in my day now it’s all “come out your eternal pit me duck”. Kids….

When people turn round with large bags they always leave the zips open and artefacts come flying out, I was at Salford Crescent the other week and this inconsiderate LOUT caught a nice old lady in the face with the Holy Grail, you never used to see this before the 319s came in, bloody northern powerhouse

That thing you have to do on Class 323s with the duck and the xylophone just to be able to get past the Gatekeeper and sit down, I won’t even write it out here but honestly I’d rather get the bus

The endless chirpy but damaging voice I hear in the toilets of Pendolinos (namely my conscience telling me an exhaustive list of all the social faux pas I made when I was 14)

That nobody at Euston ticket office will sell me a ticket for this mythical train called the “Pizza Express” I’ve heard so much about

When people are sat in the seat someone else reserved and they just dissolve into stardust and are shifted outside the astral plane as the passenger who has stolen their seat absorb their consciousness and memories, leaving a withered husk of their corporeal vessel in the aisle that is really hard for the trolley attendant to get past

Sensory stimulation on trains. It shouldn’t be socially acceptable to have such damaging intrusions on my senses. Literally all the way to Glasgow one year I was touching something pretty much the whole time. I stripped naked and jumped up in the air a few times but it didn’t last. Unacceptable.

(I hope quoting this is OK, as it raised a great laugh at the time and hopefully other people can enjoy it here )

 

[Simon75]

I mainly use Bus and Coaches, but have in the last year wandered off to other sub sections.

I just find it interesting and informative. The Admins do a brilliant job. Sometime I've struggled in trying to stick to certain rules, but the Admins are really helpful and friendly

 

[778]

Again, thank you all for your kind words I certainly appreciate them and I'm sure too that both current and former Forum Staff members do as well. As you can imagine it does eat up quite a considerable amount of time keeping this show on the road and it does occasionally feel a tad thankless so it's nice to hear quite how much the Forum means to so many of you

When this forum first started 20 years ago did you expect it to be this successful? Since I have benn using this forum I have found out that there are more railway enthusiasts in this country that I thought there were (I know not everyone on this forum is a railway enthusiast).

Also compared to a lot of other forums posters are generally civil with each other on here.

Thank you for all of your hard work.

 

[Egg Centric]

I mainly use Bus and Coaches, but have in the last year wandered off to other sub sections.

I heard at a forum meal that this was the second biggest bus forum. I think it might even be the biggest now although may be misremembering. Which is pretty wild when most of us don't even look at it (is my guess) or just on a blue moon.

 

[shredder1]

Impressive guys, a great site, Happy Birthday

 

[Jamesrob637]

Happy 20th RailUK, slightly belatedly I appreciate.

 

[GusB]

the largest site for discussion of UK railway topics of all sorts (but of course in particular fares, as well as jobs & careers!)

It is also one of the biggest sites for discussing matters omnibological buses and it's one of the reasons that I joined in the first place.

I think it's fair to say that we're quite a diverse bunch and, while not everyone agrees with everyone else, the forum remains a relatively civil place to discuss issues pertaining to all modes of transport, as well as other matters.

I'll raise a mug to 20 more years!