12-17-2009, 05:32 AM
Well, here we are, celebrating Big Blue being a year old already!!
Yes, it’s been a year,,,
Today. December 17, 2009, Big Blue, the latest version of “The Gauge” is One Year old…
Why do we have Big Blue in the first place? You may ask. Well, a lot of us remember what the original Gauge forums were like, lots a blue, lots of friendly conversations, lots of good stuff to learn from and lots of pictures to see what other people were doing. There were not ads to contend with, just lots of good advice and lots of friends hanging out with other friends who had a common passion for railroading. Well, over the past two years, that situation slowly eroded so that we could not take it anymore, we missed our old Gauge and we wanted it back. Both of us, Don (ezdays) and Mikey (ngauger) knew what we wanted but didn't have the technical expertise to put it together in a timely manner, so we were able to convince Pat (Path) to join us and do the dirty work.
We were able to resurrect the old blue and we even found a copy of the old Gauge and a color sample so that Pat could make our new forums closely resemble what we once had.After we had the format and colors down, we then needed to build a staff, so we invited all our old moderators to join us. Just about every one of them did including some that left us over these two years because of the changes that were being implemented at our old place. We then asked some members to join us. We looked to the people that we knew and felt comfortable around and knew how to contact, without causing chaos at the old place. We didn't want to ignore anyone, but we couldn't ask everyone since it was a tedious task getting in touch with so many people. Not to worry, the word got around and we were amazed at how quickly the membership rolls grew.We expected maybe 50 members the first day, we got almost 150. We figured 25 to 50 posts to start with, we consistently got 100 and then some. Big Blue was a success from the start because it's what you all wanted, and we plan on keeping it that way.
We designed Big Blue to be a fall back and tribute to the Bulletin Board, that we all enjoyed in 2002 when we could all come in and chat, spend time looking at pictures, drop a post or 2 in the coffee pot (now the Hobo’s Camp) and just trade stories, help out on another member’s problems or just read posts and relax and escape the tedium’s of everyday life.
We further decided on opening day; December 17th, 2008 since it was when the first members joined the original board in 2000. We both remember that day, it was amazing and we were nonstop on our computer the entire day. In the past year, we have had many contests and we also have our first “Big Blue E-mag online. Thanks again to all who contributed!!!
Well, now we have a great amount of pictures, comments, member’s thoughts and weather reports in a fun place to spend some time without too much bother.
We encourage all members to stop in to the chat room most every night around 11:00 Eastern time 8:00 Pacific and say hello. Also, visit the Shutterbug section as well as the hobo’s camp. There are lots of great things to be found all around the forum.
We’d like to thank all members and our Moderators, for making Big Blue a fun place to visit every day!!! It’s a tribute to all members and the way they conduct themselves here that make it all worth while!
Happy 1st birthday!!!
Yes, it’s been a year,,,
Today. December 17, 2009, Big Blue, the latest version of “The Gauge” is One Year old… Why do we have Big Blue in the first place? You may ask. Well, a lot of us remember what the original Gauge forums were like, lots a blue, lots of friendly conversations, lots of good stuff to learn from and lots of pictures to see what other people were doing. There were not ads to contend with, just lots of good advice and lots of friends hanging out with other friends who had a common passion for railroading. Well, over the past two years, that situation slowly eroded so that we could not take it anymore, we missed our old Gauge and we wanted it back. Both of us, Don (ezdays) and Mikey (ngauger) knew what we wanted but didn't have the technical expertise to put it together in a timely manner, so we were able to convince Pat (Path) to join us and do the dirty work.
We were able to resurrect the old blue and we even found a copy of the old Gauge and a color sample so that Pat could make our new forums closely resemble what we once had.After we had the format and colors down, we then needed to build a staff, so we invited all our old moderators to join us. Just about every one of them did including some that left us over these two years because of the changes that were being implemented at our old place. We then asked some members to join us. We looked to the people that we knew and felt comfortable around and knew how to contact, without causing chaos at the old place. We didn't want to ignore anyone, but we couldn't ask everyone since it was a tedious task getting in touch with so many people. Not to worry, the word got around and we were amazed at how quickly the membership rolls grew.We expected maybe 50 members the first day, we got almost 150. We figured 25 to 50 posts to start with, we consistently got 100 and then some. Big Blue was a success from the start because it's what you all wanted, and we plan on keeping it that way.
We designed Big Blue to be a fall back and tribute to the Bulletin Board, that we all enjoyed in 2002 when we could all come in and chat, spend time looking at pictures, drop a post or 2 in the coffee pot (now the Hobo’s Camp) and just trade stories, help out on another member’s problems or just read posts and relax and escape the tedium’s of everyday life.
We further decided on opening day; December 17th, 2008 since it was when the first members joined the original board in 2000. We both remember that day, it was amazing and we were nonstop on our computer the entire day. In the past year, we have had many contests and we also have our first “Big Blue E-mag online. Thanks again to all who contributed!!!
Well, now we have a great amount of pictures, comments, member’s thoughts and weather reports in a fun place to spend some time without too much bother.
We encourage all members to stop in to the chat room most every night around 11:00 Eastern time 8:00 Pacific and say hello. Also, visit the Shutterbug section as well as the hobo’s camp. There are lots of great things to be found all around the forum.
We’d like to thank all members and our Moderators, for making Big Blue a fun place to visit every day!!! It’s a tribute to all members and the way they conduct themselves here that make it all worth while!
Happy 1st birthday!!!
~~ Mikey KB3VBR (Admin)
~~ NARA Member # 75
~~ Baldwin Eddystone Unofficial Website
~~ I wonder what that would look like in 1:20.3???
~~ NARA Member # 75
~~ Baldwin Eddystone Unofficial Website
~~ I wonder what that would look like in 1:20.3???