The O Gauge Forum is the only O gauge group in which I participate.
- We have many experienced 3-rail modelers, several of whom can rightly be called experts, who generously share their knowledge and expertise without talking down to those who need help. A large number of us have learned a lot from our participation here.
- We don't have self-proclaimed experts who want to chime in to show us how smart they are (or aren't!).
- We have several sponsors "in the business," so to speak: hobby shops, manufacturers, layout builders, etc.
- The moderators keep a lid on political postings, while allowing reasonable discussion of events that may affect our hobby as well as prototype railroads.
- There are groups within our Forum, personally acquainted and congenial, who formed from Forumites who met due to postings on the Forum. The York conventions have been instrumental in this. I have made several friends through the Forum.
Personally, I don't check the Forum while I'm traveling, but, when home, I check every morning. I enjoy the casual and non-threatening atmosphere. We are mostly a bunch of "loopers" with either toy trains or hi-rail trains, although we do have a small number of O scale modelers who seem to be here for the same reasons as the rest of us, and we greatly admire their highly detailed trains and magnificent layout scenes.
The absence of "flaming" and of petty arguments over small details is refreshing and makes the O Gauge Forum a kind and friendly place to visit.
