What prompted you to create a web site?

[Robin Matthysen]

I have been thinking as to the reason I created a web site and wondered about what reasons others had. Initially, I wanted to see if I could actually do it. Then, what would it be about. I enjoy creating computer graphics and that was what my first attempt was to have been. After some thought, I figured having a web site showing how I was creating my model rairoad may be more fun and so it has. With the advent of web rings and e-rail passes, I have made many friends I would not otherwise would have met or made contact with. It has been a blast http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gifbut the best part is that it has kept me focused on the creation of my model railroad. If I don't do an update each month I will be sure to hear from one of you as to what happened.
Now I would like to hear what prompted you to create your web site! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif
Robin
http://members.xoom.com/Matthyro/index.html

[virtual-bird]

boredom and too much time on my hands...
and thinking about a career in HTML....
but it moves real fast in the industry.

I have 5 pages for friends business' I look after so I could say it nearly worked...

[Kevin Stevens]

This is an excellent question, which should get a wide range of answers. Here's mine:

Back in January of 1999, I had just gotten a scanner for my computer. About the same time, something crazy happened. http://www.trainboard.com/eek.gif On January 25, 1999, My hometown of Bakersfield received 6 inches of snow. This was the third time in recorded history (a very long time) that this had happened. I took some railroad pictures, scanned them and uploaded them to the Trainorders.com Picture Exchange. The volume of response was so great, that I came up with the idea of starting a website. Finally, when I was able to find some free web space (through TrainWeb), I just dove in head first. Without any knowlege of web design, I just decided to learn as I go. The truth is, I still don't know what I am doing. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif Also, it didn't hurt that I had a great subject (Tehachapi) almost in my back yard. http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Kevin Stevens
www.trainweb.org/KernJunction (http://www.trainweb.org/KernJunction)

[espee2]

I was a late commer to the internet scene, I got my webtv about march of '99. Then, soon after, they upgraded with a new service, "Pagebuilder". I thought it would be great to share my interests with the world. So, I thought I would check it out, I added a few pictures via capture, had a few pages, I thought "this is fun".
Well the pages were a little drab to say the least, the provided "templates" had no color or pizazz, I wanted more! So, I started learning HTML to improve graphics, font color, etc on my pages. It's much like any hobby, once the hook is set...

Then, as the HTML knowledge increased, I went on to geocities, and created my first page from scratch, but didn't like their attitude toward customers from webtv... you could get bumped at any moment.
I got (in my mind) pretty good at it, was good at troubleshooting etc.. and hated the mile long URL I was stuck with, so I got my own domain... someday I will get a computer to store my files, but I won't give up hand writing my pages... it's a kick

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espee2

Home: www.tunnel13.com (http://www.tunnel13.com)¤
layout: SP's Newberg Branch in N scale (http://tunnel13.com/newberg.html)

[Colonel]

I became interested when my then 10 year old son started writing and designing websites. I finally motivated myself to build my own site (which my now 12 year old son helped me with) I also get a great deal of enjoyment from people visiting my site. It also opens up my layout to people from all over the world

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http://members.optusnet.com.au/~pcassar/index

[Colonel]

Kevin,
Congratulations on your site, I enjoyed looking at your pictures and it brought back memories of my trip to USA last year.

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http://members.optusnet.com.au/~pcassar/index

[Alan]

My first contact with the internet was from my sons' computers. When I started to think about producing N scale models commercially, I bought a computer, scanner, etc. And had a go at producing a website with the free space I was alloted by AOL. But discovered that business sites were not allowed, so moved on to another server.

After I got my business site sorted out, I was so hooked that I produced a site for my model railroad, photo galleries, etc. I find the whole thing fascinating and absorbing, and feel it does, as Colonel says, enable you to share your efforts with the whole world http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

So far I have used homestead, as absolutely no knowledge is required http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif but I am now learning html, to give me endless scope for greater things!

Amazing how quickly the whole www/internet becomes part of your life http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
Alan's European Gallery (http://eurogallery.homestead.com)
Alan's British Steam Gallery (http://britishsteamgallery.homestead.com)

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

I first got into this in January of '95 when I agreed to convert many of the N.M.R.A.'s Standards and Recommended Practices into HTML for putting up on the web. While I was doing this, I saw the need for our division to advertise a regional convention and converted our information and put it up on my personal site. Afterward, my offer to host our division's site was accepted and I began to add pages of information, schedules and activities.

My prototype site came when I moved the CID site to get more room. This allowed me to put up an ongoing RR history of my county. That was followed by adding my ECI HO RR site to the CID layouts pages and the addition of e-passes. I have since moved both the CID, ECI and RR of Madison County pages to much larger space and have taken on one hobby manufacturer as Webmaster.

Am I an HTML whiz? Nope. I just do what I need to do to keep things together and downloading quickly.

Roger

Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com

== http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html ==
== East Central Indiana Railroad ==

[pray59]

I got a digital camera at Christmas time. While learning to use it, by following a day in the life of a house cat, the cat jumped on my layout. Looking at the pictures I took I saw things I never noticed on my layout.

So the "a day in the life of a house cat" site became...

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Robert Ray
The NP & UP N-Scale Railroad (http://members.home.net/pray59)

[Gats]

I went looking for information on the Twin Cities and Western and found one photo and an essay on a trip to the TC area.
I wanted to model some of the equipment, so there may have been some others out there that wanted to do the same.
This then created an added interest in HTML and web design.

In the end, someone had to do it, but it is a little difficult getting info from 14000 km's away.
Thanks to my new 'reporters' (two of which are from Trainboard) I keep fairly well appraised of the goings on. Thanks, guys! http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[railerygreg]

I've been invovled with computers since 1972 since 1990 been using a home computer. But with windows 95 coming out i started asap to get on the internet. I enjoyed the internet like my hobby with trains http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif I was looking at so many train sites and some were super fantastic while others were humdrum, but they were train oriented and i enjoyed seeing them unfortunately in Nov. of 99 i was on the internet so much that i took the big step and created my own site. I did not know what i was getting into, i had no pics prepared and not an idea in my head as to what i wanted, also what was HTML. I thought it would be nice to share my experiences and layout with others thou, and that i have done. I should add that i have met many fellow train enthusiasts, and they have given me some great times and experiences. So now the internet is part of my hobby to ( http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif. Now if i can only make a day longer than 24 hrs.

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=== Railerygreg ===
sites.netscape.net/agsgreg
(:>)
Home of the Shadow Mountain Ry

[sajay]

In 1998 I had some free web space through my ISP and decided to build a family geneology web site. That was fine but I wasn't "inspired" enough to keep it updated. Then I got involved with a group of model railroaders in 1999. Their layouts were far more advanced than my own (started in 1991) so I thought it would be nice to create a "club" web site for their layouts. Since my own layout was dead, in my mind, I decided it was time to rebuild "with a little help from my friends". What a great reason to update the site regularly - bi-weekly construction updates! The only decent photo I have of my original layout is on the main page of my site.

Since creating these pages I have exchanged email with several modellers around the world, shared E-Passes and had loads of fun. When I tell people that I've had over 1300 visitors since March, 2000 (most of those since May) they (and I) can't believe it!

I haven't updated my site in a while. Summer is here and we have been travelling around helping out here and there on other layouts. But there should be an update coming soon.

Visit http://www3.islandtelecom.com/~s.jay/rr

[slynch]

I had all these photos of LIRR around AND needed a way to model the NY&W somehow, so the web solved both problems at this time. http://www.nyandw.com/lirrcontents.htm http://www.nyandw.com/

Recently, went on my first railfan trip (100+ folks) so I good way to start a dialogue and meet other LIRR/NY&A fans: http://www.trainsarefun.com/nycrr/nycrr.htm

Have met a lot of good folk this way. SL

[HelgeK]

Hi all,
I have worked with computers since 1973, programming and customer support since 1986.
When Internet has started, it was natural to surf the world http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif .
One of my hobbies has always been model railroads since 1952 and in the mid of 1998 I found an interesting site on the net. I contacted the owner by mail and attached some pictures from my layout. The pictures was obviously appreciated because a few days later they show up as "my page" on this foreign site.
That was the starter for me to investigate the secret behind the HTML code, which I more or less learned over a weekend.
Until January 1999 I exchanged pictures and general info with many new friends - mostly in the US and canada.
http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif Suddenly a fellow modeler asked me "why not make a home page of your own?".
I was hooked, and I created my first version on Tripod.
There is much more to tell about the actions that follow, but that is another story.
Or, take a look at http://members.tripod.com/hkri1938 .

------------
Helge


[This message has been edited by HelgeK (edited 16 July 2000).]

[This message has been edited by HelgeK (edited 16 July 2000).]

[Gats]

Welcome Helge and a belated welcome Sajay.
Helge, visit the Link to Us link at the top of the page to obtain our graphic to assist in creating a link to the Trainboard site, if you choose. We have a reciprocal arrangement where you may submit your link for addition to the links page.

Gary.


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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[HelgeK]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gats:
Welcome Helge and a belated welcome Sajay.
Helge, visit the Link to Us link at the top of the page to obtain our graphic to assist in creating a link to the Trainboard site, if you choose. We have a reciprocal arrangement where you may submit your link for addition to the links page.

Gary.

Thanks Gary,

I have already added the TrainBoard logo on my index page with a link to TrainBoard.com.
My mail to links@trainboard.com is verified by Charlie dix yesterday. Thanks anyway.


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Colonel]

Hi Helge,
Welcome to trainboard forum, nice to see some familiar faces http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif. Just checked out your site and saw my E pass there. Hope to see you posting regular in trainboards

Colonel



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http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[HelgeK]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Colonel:
Hi Helge,
Welcome to trainboard forum, nice to see some familiar faces http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif. Just checked out your site and saw my E pass there. Hope to see you posting regular in trainboards

Colonel


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Paul,
Yes I will. Right now I´m working with a hump yard. You can find info at the topic "hump yard ???" and on my site.

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Helge

Sandy River & West Forrest Railroad http://members.tripod.com/hkri1938

[eddelozier]

Computers have been my life's work since 1962. Now into my 39th year and what changes there have been! They didn't even call them computers when I started....they were Electronic Accounting machines. Even the wife is working in XML which the driving language for HTML.

With all the talk about the Internet, I had to try my hand at it. So 4 years ago I setup my home computer as a Web Server after getting a fixed IP address from my internet provider. Purchased a Domain name and was off
running on the net.

With little, to no restrictions for space or content I added everything of interest to my site. The train hobby and railroad travel adventures were natural picks.

Only limit I found was 'time'. I'm now too busy with the train hobby, learning several computer languages to aid the Web site, and keeping up with new computer software at work
to think about updating the site. I must have three or four sites started on 'Free web site' locations.

Would love to create a train hobby only site some day. Maybe when I retire, and have all day to scan pictures and program pages. Till then just bits and pieces at will.

The train hobby has taken on more interest with all the railroad forums to discuss ideas.

....Eddie

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Eddie Delozier
PRR N-scale
deloziers.com (http://www.deloziers.com)
eddelozier@yahoo.com