What made you join the forum?

[MotCO]

I stumbled upon this forum when I was trying to find out about the depot fire at Western Greyhound. From there I started reading the train threads, and have learnt a lot from the varied questions and the very full and informative answers.

 

[Hadders]

I can't remember how I stumbled across the forum but a lurked for quite a while before finally joining.

I've learnt so much, particularly about fares and I've also met several forum members at fares workshops and meals. I'd encourage anyone thinking about attending to do so.

 

[fowler9]

I joined this forum after splitting up with a long term girlfriend whilst I was on the dole after a round the world trip with said girlfriend. I was a bit lost. I think at first I was a bit of a firebrand and kept getting told off (And rightly so) for being a nark. I think I have calmed down a lot now. I love the people on here, loads of different points of view and so much knowledge. I love the way people are so willing to help each other.

 

[tsr]

What made me join, if I remember correctly, forsooth, &c., was a fares question about something exceptionally mundane. The little voices in my head told me that the internet also had little voices which would like to join in. So I found a use for all the little voices, in working out how to use Thameslink, or indeed pay for it (I had to do that once...).

The rest, as they say, is histrionics, mainly regarding 442s.

 

[backontrack]

Like many others, it was a Google search that first brought me to RailUK. Soon I became a lurker, and eventually decided to join.

 

[postye]

I joined the forum just over three years ago, initially to ask a question about BOJ that Northern wouldn't give a straight answer on.

At the time I had no intention of getting seriously back into the hobby, but ive attended a couple of fares workshops (well worth doing btw) and met some really nice people at a few forum meals, i not only got hooked again, I now work in the industry.

 

[DarloRich]

Really - I don't know how I came across the site. I like railways and thought it might be a good place to chat. I have found there to be lots of knowledge and lots of debate about our shared interest.

I find the exchange of information interesting, and while i might be direct at time I respect all contributions, even the spotterish wibble

 

[Dom395]

I knew about this site because my dad is on it but I joined it because I wanted to know when the challenges are.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I used to be a mod on another railway forum, which closed down, and needed a new venue for my gob****ery. I lurked here for ages before joining, mind.

 

[Y961 XBU]

I joined mostly for the Bus side but I do have an interest in Trains, I travel on them regular and try to tick off as many as possible, The site is useful to get information about tickets for areas I have never been to before

 

[Crossover]

It was actually a friend (then housemate) who joined first - they came across the forum whilst looking for fares advice if I remember correctly and suggested it may be a forum I could be interested in. That was back in 2009 and I mainly partook in Photo Of The Week (badly, as per now ) and joined the odd conversations. For the first couple of years of membership I wasn't particularly active and some weeks only came on for POTW.

I became more active in my final year of uni, probably as a distraction away from what I should have been doing! I had watched the meets section with interest over the months and decided to take the plunge to attend my first meet on Good Friday 2011 as it was a West Midlands Day Ranger (I was at uni in Stafford at the time) and met a handful of other people (including bb21 who was on their first meet and a certain IanPooleTrains.....)

I have since attended countless meets and meals that have taken me all over the country and have met loads of people, a number of whom I now think of as friends more than "forum members". As others have said, if you feel like doing some of the meals/meets, it would be worth coming along to - whilst the majority of meals tend to be London and Yorkshire, there are ad-hoc events all over the country. They are a great opportunity to meet and network and discuss things with like-minded people and there is plenty to be learnt too. We're a friendly bunch really

 

[Harbornite]

Iand a certain IanPooleTrains.....)

Shame he was banned (I'll say no more, I wasn't even on here at the time), I still watch his vids from time to time and I've seen him in person a few times.

 

[J-2739]

Like most others: Google Search-Lurker-Joiner
I started really bad (Rant About Loading Gauge) but I'm making progress!

 

[Clip]

I think I joined to whinge about work but I dont remember.

 

[LowLevel]

I made some good friends through the internet in the heady days of the early 2000s (2001 onwards starting with the original TrainSimFiles, then UKTrainSim, the Transport Forum and on to Simsig etc) and they started it up and got me to join. I was persuaded eventually to come along to some meet ups and it wouldn't be exaggerating to say it probably shaped my life as it is - my long term partner, now town of residence, job, many of my friends and social background and hobbies all sprung from bits and pieces of various bits of internet and then real life activity from then to the present day.

 

[PeterY]

I found this site by accident.

I must admit I'm not the worlds biggest poster (It'll take me a long to get to,1000 posts) but I read posts nearly everyday.

This site has given me lots of inspiration and I try to travel a few new routes every year.

 

[Smelly_Diesel]

Funny enough I first searched for a rail forum to post a message to thank a member of rail staff of a particular T.O.C that is familiar with Pacers. My dear old Grandmother (R.I.P) at that time required wheelchair assistance for long day trips out and it was on one of these trips to Blackpool North from Liverpool Lime Street that she was treated very well by Northern train crew. I joined for the purpose to post a message of thanks in the hope someone from Northern would see the thanks about her treatment that day and alas, a member of staff saw this and acknowledged it. Now like a bad penny, I post now and again, turn up for the odd challenge and such. Decided to stick around.

 

[MrCub]

Initially to ask a fares question. A look at previous ones revealed I was likely to get a correct, helpful, and detailed answer (and I did) along with advice and tips...and just stuck after that. Don't post often but read every day.

 

[telstarbox]

I can't remember how I stumbled across the forum but I've found it an informative and enjoyable place to hang around. There are some highly knowledgeable members and the regular forum meetups and meals are worth attending too.

For anyone in the London area I'd also recommend the London Reconnections website (and monthly beers).

 

[D6700]

"What made you join the forum?"

Yorkie made me join the forum, along with his co-conspirator, theblackwatch

In all seriousness, I've found the International section to be a great source of information and has also saved me money on several occasions, thanks to the knowledge shared in there.

I'm no major contributor to the forum, but I've put some posts out there that, hopefully, have helped other users in one way or another.

I've enjoyed numerous evening meals and the odd day trip with other forum members - often in places I would never have visited otherwise. It's just a shame my anti-social and less predictable shift patterns have scuppered my attendance on many occasions, particularly over the last couple of years.

 

[Busaholic]

Being an unsociable old whatsit I've no yearning to meet anyone else on here, but I like reading (most of) the contributions. I joined a few weeks after the Dawlish wall collapse because I wanted to see what was being said about possible alternative routes into Plymouth and Cornwall, and to add my tuppenceworth. Bus transport is my real interest, but there are, unsurprisingly, too few on here who share that, and some of those who do have a very narrow interest which doesn't accord with my own. On the whole, though, I enjoy the forum and gain knowledge from it: the only part of it which I tend to avoid for reasons of blood pressure are the fare disputes, where so many modern-day Judge Jeffreys seek to incarcerate or impoverish anyone who has been found not to pay a 'correct' fare, whatever that may be.

 

[D6700]

the only part of it which I tend to avoid for reasons of blood pressure are the fare disputes, where so many modern-day Judge Jeffreys seek to incarcerate or impoverish anyone who has been found not to pay a 'correct' fare, whatever that may be.

Couldn't agree more! Apart from the Special Offers thread, which is highly recommended, I almost always regret taking a peek at other debates in there

 

[Blindtraveler]

A few people have mentioned the various forum events, meals, days out bashing etc they've been on, something I neglected to do in my earlier post.

I attended, nervously I may add my first event in Autumn 2011 and wish I could attend them all but sadly not practical. They are excellent and very welcoming of newbies.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Will add my name to those who recommend attending forum events. My first was the South London Challenge way back in May 2011 and I can't count how many I've done since. These days there's such a plethora of them: meals, challenges, casual day ranger / PTE trips, walks, fares workshops, pub crawls and whatever else, and everyone's always really friendly and welcoming. My latest meet was yesterday and I still enjoy them as much as I ever have after five years.

 

[trentside]

I must've come across the forum in a Google search, while looking up a specific topic. I lurked for awhile, then decided to join in.

Forum meets are a great way to meet other members, be it meals, day trips or a weekend away somewhere. There's a great bunch of regular attendees and it's always nice to count new people among that number. My first meet was a fares workshop where I met Yorkie, Max and ainsworth74 - plus a few others, and I've gone on from there.

 

[Butts]

I wanted to join a Forum that was not moderated by autocratic demi-gods with an inflated sense of their own worth that make Kim Jong- Un appear to be progressive with regard to Liberal thought and toleration of dissent.

Then I woke up and joined this forum

 

[Darandio]

I wanted to join a Forum that was not moderated by autocratic demi-gods with an inflated sense of their own worth that make Kim Jong- Un appear to be progressive with regard to Liberal thought and toleration of dissent.

Then I woke up and joined RailUK Forums

Let us know when you find it!

Nah, they aren't that bad.

 

[Harbornite]

I wanted to join a Forum that was not moderated by autocratic demi-gods with an inflated sense of their own worth that make Kim Jong- Un appear to be progressive with regard to Liberal thought and toleration of dissent.

Then I woke up and joined RailUK Forums

Watch what you say, the mods are always watching. They never sleep, they are like a lidless eye that casts a constant gaze over these threads.

Let us know when you find it!

Nah, they aren't that bad.

Wake up sheeple!

 

[ainsworth74]

Hello!

 

[Butts]

Hello!

From Gruppenfuhrer Ainsworth just back from Prinz Albrecht Strasse