--- RAILIMAGES STATEMENT ---

[E-8]

Let me clear this RailImages thing up and if people are asking about this on other forums, point them to this thread for an explanation.

</font> If you have been here very long, you know that it took us about a year longer to get RailImages going than we said when we first promised you image uploading. This was due to the fact that we wanted to get it right and we did run into complications when we started this development.</font> Since the site was started, it has become very popular, not just as a place to upload railroad related photos to post on the various message board sites, but also as a destination itself to browse through people's photos. For that reason, we want to continue this sort of plan rather than just telling you to FTP your photos to your own personal web space.</font> It is also important to try and offer this for free. We know you don't want to pay - but, someone has to pay. To date, I have paid for RailImages out of pocket and not through generated advertising funds.</font> When we started RailImages.com I clearly stated to the web hosting company what we were planning to do with this site and what it would consist of. They were (of course) like car salesmen, falling all over themselves to sign us up. Now, all this time later, they have decided that we are using "too much resources" from their servers and so they want to slap us with a puntative charge and part company with us.</font> I will give them their money and we will part company. Then, we will start a new site with a more reputable host. I am already negotiating with some now.</font> The new software will be different and will allow some new things to happen and you're going to like it. So, there is some excitement here - not just a bump in the road. We are already testing on one of my personal web sites. With any luck, we can get things going in a week or two.</font> For those with accounts at RailImages, we will try to get your photos downloaded from the server and e-mail them to you, or dump them in a directory for you on the new server. Unfortunately, all pictures posted from RailImages will always show the red X that w eall hate :( (If you are like me and use Mozilla (http://www.mozilla.com), you don't see this.) smile.gif</font> Once the new site is going, you can go back to posts and modify the URL's to make the photos show from the new locations. We know this is not good but it is the best we can do. Obviously, steps will be taken to prevent this from happening in the future.</font>
Sometimes people throw up roadblocks but we will just move on and get something better going.

We have received some inquiries from people wanting to know our requirements for space. It would be a gig to start along with plenty of speed. For this reason, we know people operating home-based or small servers would not want to take this on. We do appreciate you asking though.

Charlie

[HemiAdda2d]

Charlie,
I used to be a HEAVY user of the RailImages site, and it worked flawlessly once I figured out that you can't have a space in the pic URL...
Anyways, I want to thank you for your tireless efforts, and for making image posting easy for everyone!
smile.gif Cheers!

[Stourbridge Lion]

For those that had D&H related images, I will be glad to host them within the DHVM once I have my site rebuilt to the new format I'm working on.

[E-8]

UPDATE: We are looking at about a week right now to get this going again.

If we are unable to retrieve the original images will that create a major hardship for anyone? The former host is proving very difficult to work with. They are acting like we were hackers or vandals or something and they are dealing with us in a hostile manner.

Charlie

[ 29. July 2003, 11:28: Message edited by: E-8 ]

[completely nuts]

No problem at this side, when the originals get lost.
Thanks for the efforts on creating a new website to post.

Paul

[BoxcabE50]

No problems created for me. What little I had there, I can re-scan. If not saved somewhere already on a disk.

:D

Boxcab E50

[Stourbridge Lion]

No problems here either but I wasn't a heavy user compaired to the modelers...

[signalguy]

My photos are all on CDs so no problem if they can't be returned.

[E-8]

We are making progress on this daily. If you want to (advance) request an account, e-mail Paul at railroad2000@trainboard.com and we will hold that information for when we get started. This does not apply to present RailImages.com members as we will contact everyone by e-mail to set up accounts.

Again, we hope to have something going within a week or so. We are pretty much ready to get something going now. We are just waiting for domain name transfers, etc., and we are also talking with people about hosting still but those things can happen quickly.

Charlie

[J WIDMAR]

Charlie,
I also have a copy of my photos so they don't have to be returned but I would like them posted when the new site is up. RailImages is a great service to all of us and I appreciate your eforts.
Thank You,

John Widmar Jr.

[friscobob]

All my pics were scanned off my HP v40, so I've not lost anything. It's just a minor hassle, but nothing I can't get over.

The devil take the last bunch.. :mad:

[2slim]

Charlie,
All of my images are saved on my hard drive, so no problem if you cannot retreve them. Thanks for all your efforts, hope this can be resolved.

2slim

[Don Rickle]

Man! I just got my flat bed Print scanner back up and running after well over a year of storage. The hp scanjet 5470c works very well after having several dark beers spilled on it. So, now I have alot of prints from 1983-1989 to share. ( I was introduced to Kodachrome in 1989) Anyway to do it now? I'm amazed at how well 110 mm film scans...it looks better after a scan than in print.

[Alan]

Look forward to seeing the pics Don. You spilling beer on the scanner reminds me that I spilled dark Belgian Trappist Ale on my SLR once and had to spend £30 to have the electronics repaired :(

[friscobob]

Originally posted by Don Rickle:
Man! I just got my flat bed Print scanner back up and running after well over a year of storage. The hp scanjet 5470c works very well after having several dark beers spilled on it. So, now I have alot of prints from 1983-1989 to share. ( I was introduced to Kodachrome in 1989) Anyway to do it now? I'm amazed at how well 110 mm film scans...it looks better after a scan than in print. We need to talk about the use of drink coasters for beer..... :D :D Seriously, welcome to Trainboard, and I for one would like to see your pics!

[BALOU LINE]

I just wanted to exspress my appreciation for all the hard work that goes into a site like this. I'm sure headaches like this were never invisioned when the site was started. Thanx to Charlie and staff.
As far as my pics go, I have redundant back-ups of everthing so it's no big deal if they can't be retrieved. Besides if I reupload them I can do it in a more organized fashion. graemlins/wink.gif

[E-8]

UPDATE: We are just waiting for things that are out of our control to happen and then we will be up and running again.

(You will like it too smile.gif )

Charlie

[watash]

I still have all the originals, so nothing lost of mine. Thanks for all your efforts Charlie, I will try to not abuse the site.

[Robin Matthysen]

Railimages was neat while it lasted. I had quite a few pictures stored there but they have served their purpose so don't intend re-posting them. As a matter of fact, I had been deleting my older uploads to try to conserve space. Will wait to see what the new one looks like. Thanks to you Charlie and Paul for what you did for us and are currently doing.

[E-8]

We continue to work on this problem. The former hosting company will not release the domain name so we are probably looking at a new domain name now.

Whatever you do in life, do not do business with this place: http://www.nexpoint.net What a NIGHTMARE.

Charlie

Fixed link :D

[ 27. August 2003, 12:07: Message edited by: slimjim ]

[UP_Challenger3985]

Charlie,
I have been using nexpoint for about 2 years now and haven't had any big problems with them. the only thing that I found wrong was that sometimes their servers seem to go down.

Matt

[E-8]

They claimed we were using too much bandwidth and resources when itis supposed to be unmetered/unlimited. Then, without notice, they shut us down, wanted to "fine" us, and are now holding our domain name for ransom (best way I can describe it).

Their responses to me have been very unprofessional and outright hateful. Basically, what they said was "sue us."

I asked them to just let us back up the uploads and we would part company and they would not unless I paid the "fine."

My advice: Avoid nexpoint.net like the plague!

Charlie

[E-8]

Here's the latest estimate on new photo uploading: It looks like we might be up and running in 2 weeks. That, of course, can change but I think that is a good estimate.

Charlie

[J WIDMAR]

It will be great to get RI or whatever name you use back! Please keep us informed and thank you for your efforts.

John L. Widmar Jr.

[UP_Challenger3985]

Charlie,
Just so you know,
If you guys need any help with testing or whatever, I am a pretty experienced web developer and would be happy to help you. Contact me at either matt@internetmill.com or mmillican@wi.rr.com

Matt

[E-8]

We are on track to launch the new RailImages.com next week.

Charlie

[E-8]

Getting close now. smile.gif

We should be running by weeks end.

Charlie

[E-8]

We are still on track for tomorrow or Friday.

Details on how to apply for an account will be given soon. If you had an account at the old RailImages, you will be one of the first to get a new account.

Get your images ready. smile.gif

Charlie

[E-8]

We're down to a single final step before opening.

A mass e-mail was sent to the e-mail adresses of all former RailImages.com members. (A number of these bounced.) We'll offer these folks first shot at setup and then everyone else.

Keep an eye on the main RailImages.com web page and a link will soon appear leading you inside the site.

Thanks,

Charlie

[E-8]

Here you go: http://www.railimages.com

Hopefully not too many problems but we'll work through any. Have fun. smile.gif

Charlie

[Colonel]

Guys,

Just to let you all know I have been hit with 71 applications for albums already so please be patient it is not going to happen over night.

[E-8]

Originally posted by Colonel:
it is not going to happen over night. Looks like it did to me.

Charlie

[Colonel]

Thasnks to your assistance Charlie we were able to create 80 albums last night and I've just created another 10, I guess but the end of the weekend we will be well over 100 albums