Phil
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2018
Posts: 9,473
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Post by Phil on Jul 17, 2008 8:18:02 GMT
It's good to announce that, despite my ruthless pruning, our membership of active members has now exceeded the 500 mark. Not bad for a forum that 3 years ago had just 40 assorted members (I think that apart from the original 3 admins DavidH and SE13 are the longest serving members- does anyone know different?) It's also good to report that we know we are being read at the highest levels of LU; in addition several very respected 'movers and shakers' in the Underground world have joined our number anonymously (except to the admins of course). And increasing numbers of LU staff are now adding their bit. So well done all - contributions are excellent and informative and the amount of bickering seen on most other forums is almost zero here thanks to you lot. For us forum staff it's a privilege and an honour to be able to keep an eye over all the excellent stuff being posted, only having to intervene if we ourselves want to post. So thanks all - here's to the next 500!
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SE13
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2013
Glorious Gooner
Posts: 9,737
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Post by SE13 on Jul 17, 2008 8:53:20 GMT
I think Dmitri pipped me to the post!
I remember when I joined, and it was really just a handful of us here, so it's a big credit to everyone for making this place such a success.
*Tips hat*
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2008 9:30:18 GMT
According to my profile I've been registared since 6th March 2005 but Dmitri has been here since 2nd March! Do we get long service medels? ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
Posts: 3,234
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Post by Oracle on Jul 17, 2008 9:39:55 GMT
Well done! From a newbie (mere stripling of 2 years 2 months).
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Post by Chris W on Jul 17, 2008 11:20:41 GMT
I'm only ONE day behind you FWOC, having joined on 7 March 2005. I'm sure I posted before I signed up (in those days you could)!! Its a pleasure to be here - thank you all
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Post by District Dave on Jul 17, 2008 14:33:52 GMT
I've said it before and no doubt I'll say it again in the future ...... When I first started this forum I thougt that if it reached the 50ish mark I'd be very pleased, so you can guess how chuffed I am at this milestone! In fact, only today I've approved five new members - that's unusually high but not unique. I'd like to point out that the staff (admins and mods) are a great team - much goes on in the background that (we think) helps to keep things on an even keel and to try to anticipate developments and changes - thanks folks! Early members - I think you'd have to check on the dates for Jim and TheOneKea too - they I know were early members and contributors. Lets all keep the ball rolling and look forward to the next 500! But thanks to all of you who make this such an activ and enjoyable place.
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SE13
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2013
Glorious Gooner
Posts: 9,737
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Post by SE13 on Jul 17, 2008 14:49:43 GMT
Just looking through, there were a huge 27 of us at the end of March 2005, I think I was about member number 20! Even District Dave himself wasn't a member back then! (Well, not in name)
I would list all those early ones, in fact I still might, but it'll take a while, and at this minute in time, Mrs SE13 is nagging me to go to the shop!
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Post by cajim on Jul 17, 2008 15:28:35 GMT
While I don't post very offen You are all late comers i registered Feb 5.
Jim
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Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,309
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Post by Colin on Jul 17, 2008 15:40:24 GMT
While I don't post very offen You are all late comers i registered Feb 5. No you didn't - the forum wasn't created then!! However..... The admin account shows that Dave set the forum up initially on 18th February 2005 (technically of course, DD is the very first member). Having had a very quick browse through the member list, I've come up with what I believe are the first 15 [current] members of this forum when it went over to Proboards: - cajim - 18/2/05......just 26 minutes after DD!!
- Jim - 23/2/05
- TheOneKEA - 24/2/05
- solidbond - 24/2/05
- Tom - 24/2/05
- antharro - 26/2/05
- Colin - 26/2/05
- Harsig - 26/2/05
- Dmitri - 2/3/05
- AlanL - 2/3/05
- seth - 6/3/05
- FWOC - 6/3/05
- Chris W - 7/3/05
- DWS - 7/3/05
- trainopd78 - 9/3/08
(SE13 is 16th, joining 13/3/05) Of course there were other members back then that are no longer with us. I would stress that I compiled that list quite quickly by looking at profiles I recognised as being around for a while - if I have missed you off, I apologise and did it by accident.......honest! Post here and I'll add you So as things stand, well done cajim.....I make you the first member after District Dave! On a more general note though, well done to all our members - if all the others that claim X,Y or Z as their membership figure were to do a 'prune' and see what the real figures are, they'd be green with envy!
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SE13
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2013
Glorious Gooner
Posts: 9,737
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Post by SE13 on Jul 17, 2008 15:48:43 GMT
For pure nostalgia, the following were members at the end of March 2005:
Admin (Which was Dave himself at the time, and from memory went under the name District Dave) aetearlscourt AlanL antharro cajim Chris W ChrisA citysig COLIN Dmitri DrJimi Dstock7080 DWS EssexMan FWOC Harsig Hutch Jim Metropolitan ISO Scott SE13 Seth Solidbond TheOneKEA TMBA Tom trainopd78
--------------
I suspect there might have been one or two others whose accounts have been deleted for one reason or another.
From that point onwards, the growth has been quite good every month, given that non-active members are pruned.
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Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
Posts: 3,234
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Post by Oracle on Jul 17, 2008 16:10:04 GMT
Dave..if you are chuffed at 50 does that mean you are 10 x chuffed at 500?
I am a Mod in a 35000-40000 member forum and have been since April 1999 when it was founded by a 'DD' , 'Tony' in California. I see that I am member number 008, and some colleagues have passed on so there are a handful of us originals still left. However, I have enjoyed being on this forum since day one, and have to say that it has been a pleasure to dialogue on and off forum.
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Colin
Advisor
My preserved fire engine!
Posts: 11,309
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Post by Colin on Jul 17, 2008 17:38:01 GMT
You've often quoted this 35,000 to 40,000 member forum Oracle, I hope you don't think I'm being........what's the word.....sarcastic (?) ..... How realistic is that figure? Seriously? I know it's world wide (mind you, what forum isn't, being on the world wide web?) and has been going for a number of years - but 35,000 active members today, right now?
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Chris M
Global Moderator
Forum Quizmaster
Always happy to receive quiz ideas and pictures by email or PM
Posts: 19,359
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Post by Chris M on Jul 17, 2008 18:26:06 GMT
You've often quoted this 35,000 to 40,000 member forum Oracle, I hope you don't think I'm being........what's the word.....sarcastic (?) ..... I think the word you're looking for is "cynical"
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Post by Hutch on Jul 17, 2008 19:33:53 GMT
Some of us in previous lives have been lurking under the stone for quite some time. Nevada was nice but this Green and Pleasant Land is far better! Congratulations Dave on a great forum.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2008 19:53:01 GMT
Well done to those whom contribute to the forum. I think I was around the 113th to register - even I can't believe it's been over three years!
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Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
Posts: 3,234
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Post by Oracle on Jul 17, 2008 19:54:02 GMT
How realistic is that figure? Seriously? There was a pruning a short time ago and the latest member I think is number 51620. From what I have been informed and as of this posting the Forum has a total count of 44,871 members. Recently there was a maximum of 628 members online at the same time. In addition to that are large numbers, often hundreds of lurkers who never join. There are 80+ Message Forums which currently store over 1.4 Million posts. Not surprising since it's a Forum dedicated to 'America's No. 1', i.e. a famous marque of automobiles and trucks. However many of us are also railway enthusiasts and we do talk trains! DDFs 500 members is a credit to the hard work that the team puts in, and the way that it is run. Other forums regrettably seem to be leeching members, and I think the reasons for the gradual demise has sunk in. I hope that next month another Forum gathering can be organised so that I might actually meet fellow members at last! In the meantime, Best Wishes to everyone and congrats on 500 members FRIENDS!
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Tom
Administrator
Signalfel?
Posts: 4,083
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Post by Tom on Jul 17, 2008 21:33:58 GMT
I suspect there might have been one or two others whose accounts have been deleted for one reason or another. I can think of at least one person (if not two) who were members at the time, but are no longer an active poster here.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2008 21:56:02 GMT
Congratulations! I'm a newbie and a total lurker (don't hate me for an obsessive love of reading!), so I have nothing to say other than here's to 500 more!
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Post by jimini on Jul 17, 2008 22:15:05 GMT
Lord knows where I fit in to the statistics, but I've been here since July '05, and have been a daily visitor / sporadic contributor ever since! It truly is a great forum, and as previously stated, one that's never found itself in any strife, due to two factors: 1) The quality, knowledge and integrity of those posting, and 2) the expertise of the mods / admins who do a quite simply marvelous job by knowing when to get involved and when not to. A simple task on paper, maybe, but one that endless other forums miss by a country mile. Good work all round, I say!
Raises glass
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Post by Tubeboy on Jul 17, 2008 22:22:22 GMT
Congratulations! I'm a newbie and a total lurker (don't hate me for an obsessive love of reading!), so I have nothing to say other than here's to 500 more! Welcome Bluey! Love the avatar! There are a few 95ts appreciators on here.
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Post by ruislip on Jul 17, 2008 23:28:04 GMT
I just wonder how many of us, myself included, are also members of the Transport Forum.
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mrfs42
71E25683904T 172E6538094T
Big Hair Day
Posts: 5,922
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Post by mrfs42 on Jul 18, 2008 0:37:24 GMT
I just wonder how many of us, myself included, are also members of the Transport Forum. That would be the difference between the Medes and Persians!
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Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
Posts: 3,234
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Post by Oracle on Jul 18, 2008 9:18:20 GMT
Some of us don't even bother going on there anymore for reasons stated on that forum.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 11:13:12 GMT
Heh, just saw this thread I distinctly remember being in a rush to be one of the first 10 members to register on this forum, back in 2005; however, my recall is quite faulty as I distinctly remember being the second member to register, as opposed to the fourth (incl. DD in his admin persona). I do, however, remember starting at least ten threads in the 3 or 4 subforums in order to get some content put up and get the forum rolling, which netted me a thank-you from the supreme master ;D ;D It's good to hear the the so-called 'movers and shakers' read this forum; Lord knows that the number of slightly inane, in-depth, slightly over-the-top questions, prognostications and monologues I've posted in the New Trains forum alone might be enough to attract such people, if only to have a quick chuckle ;D What I'd like to know is if the forum is actually cited by name and URL in internal middle- and senior-management documents, either in the LU branch of TfL or within TfL itself.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 13:10:17 GMT
When I joined up in March 2005*, I remember being member no.41, although I had lurked since the proboards forum started. I sent Dave a pm congratulating him on reaching 50 members and wondering if we would make a century!
*- I deleted my original account after a row with a now deleted member. I re-joined within 24 hours.
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Phil
In memoriam
RIP 23-Oct-2018
Posts: 9,473
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Post by Phil on Jul 18, 2008 14:22:16 GMT
What I'd like to know is if the forum is actually cited by name and URL in internal middle- and senior-management documents, either in the LU branch of TfL or within TfL itself. Yes, in places. Not at liberty to say QUITE how high up though........maybe our honourable leader may be able to say more.
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Post by danielfigfoz on Jul 18, 2008 15:49:16 GMT
Congratulaitons on this! This is a great site so i'm not surprised!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2008 16:44:53 GMT
There was a pruning a short time ago and the latest member I think is number 51620. From what I have been informed and as of this posting the Forum has a total count of 44,871 members. Recently there was a maximum of 628 members online at the same time. In addition to that are large numbers, often hundreds of lurkers who never join. There are 80+ Message Forums which currently store over 1.4 Million posts. Not surprising since it's a Forum dedicated to 'America's No. 1', i.e. a famous marque of automobiles and trucks. However many of us are also railway enthusiasts and we do talk trains! Which forum is it then David? I presume it's something to do with your second love - GM/ Chevrolet commercials???
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Post by District Dave on Jul 18, 2008 17:17:13 GMT
What I'd like to know is if the forum is actually cited by name and URL in internal middle- and senior-management documents, either in the LU branch of TfL or within TfL itself. Yes, in places. Not at liberty to say QUITE how high up though........maybe our honourable leader may be able to say more. I've had a few hints that it may extend to Board level, though I don't know for sure. I have no idea if any direct quotes are ever used. Certainly a good few managers at 'Centurion' level read these pages, and I know they in turn roll it up further. But I don't want to over emphasise this; yes, it's great we are read 'internally' within TfL and if we widen thinking that's great. But I still stick to the original reason for the forum of being able to pass on accurate and informed information and for the business of the forum to be conducted in a well argued and convivial atmosphere.
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Oracle
In memoriam
RIP 2012
Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
Posts: 3,234
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Post by Oracle on Jul 18, 2008 17:52:47 GMT
Dave, UndergrounD News used to be read at high level by managers...some of whom we knew were members. Despite being on the LURS Publications Sub-committee no names were mentioned. We just took it that copies reached 'on high'. That is why I had to be circumspect with my series on the 'hot potato', the T4 extension. Every word was written with one eye over my shoulder.
David..you're spot on. My fellow Admins and I are discussing how it seems only yesterday that we had a couple of thousand members! On another, Canadian Forum, there are 2000 members. It is in may respects similar to DD's, having grown out of nothing with numerous Antipodean members amongst the tryly worldwide clan. Quoting Dave, what makes it so special is that members are "..able to pass on accurate and informed information and for the business of the forum to be conducted in a well argued and convivial atmosphere."
Congratulations Dave on achieving all that you have, and well done the Admins for enforcing Dave's principles. I know that there are members who can recall one Forum relating to a 'London Transport' subject that got out of hand and was stamped-on and eventually closed-down because of stupid vitriolic comments against senior personnel. Why they thought the postings would not be read from 'on high' never ceases to amaze me.
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