A Salute to Alan Arnold & This Forum

I enthusiastically second Arnold's comments about the OGR Forum and its management. I have been a Forum participant for almost two years. The Forum has immensely increased my enjoyment and knowledge of the O gauge hobby and enabled me to meet and converse with others who share my interest. I highly value the Forum and OGR's contribution to O gauge model railroading.

MELGAR

Since my retirement and return to this wonderful hobby I would initiate internet queries regarding how to.  Always there would be the answer from another railroad enthusiast comments originating from this ORG Forum. During 2018 I finally gave into a debilitating problem and had more time on my hands.  So one of the first decisions I made was to change from another train magazine to join the ORG Magazine and become a member here at the Forum.  I was welcomed immediately by several members and ever since each day has begun with scripture, tablet, and ORG.

John d.

I too, am thankful for this forum.  Not only for the helpful tips and tricks, but even just an encouraging word or "like" from fellow O gauge railroaders means so much!  Not sure I'd still be in the hobby if not for this forum.

Thanks everybody!

-Nick

Well ... I am more than happy to tell anybody that will listen about this forum.  When I became a member as "leavingtracks", I was immediately impressed by the huge number of folks here discussing, helping, suggesting, and you name it.  The guys and gals here are just fantastic in so many ways.  I am so grateful to call many of you my friends through meeting you in person but so many more have become friends just through this forum.  This is the place to be and you all make it that way....THANKS!!

Arnold, I have had the privilege of talking with Alan on the phone as well.  I won't go in detail, but he made me feel wanted on the Forum.  The folks here are great, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the time here, the friends I have met online and then in person.  The knowledge here helped my transition to 3-rail O gauge from a lifetime of smaller scales.  It has been a excellent 6 1/2 years for me.

Alan, Thank you for all the things you do on behalf of the magazine and the Forum that I don't know anything about!!

This is a great place to be......my enjoyment of the hobby skyrocketted the day I became a member of this Forum.....it changed my participation in the hobby for me....

I am afraid to leave anyone out.....so let me just say to all the OGR Magazine staff over the years of this Forum: a heartfelt "thank you!"

Peter

I agree with all of the things that have been said about Alan and the Forum.  The members of the Forum are terrific and are always willing to help even when you ask a dumb question and I think I've asked a few (sorry guys).  I've also spoken to Alan on the phone and he is really a wonderful person, I think he had some pretty big shoes to fill when he first took the reins and he has done a wonderful job and whomever takes his place will have some big boots to fill.

Thank you Alan, the members of the Forum and to Arnold for starting this thread.  You guys ROCK!!!  Thank you all for making it so enjoyable.

Alan, I am grateful for this forum; you can't find a better place to be; you have my appreciation; the fellas that help beginners like me with my locos are first rate!

Where's the thumbs up button? I can't remember how exactly I got here to the forum, but part of getting here was seeing Alan's amazing layout on YouTube as well as some others there as well.

There are always some very helpful people on here that make things you thought hard actually easy. I remember asking Peter(aka Putnam Division) about how to paint foam roadbed with textured spray paint. I thought it would be hard and not look good, but Peter was right. It was a piece of cake.

No matter where you look on here there is always some great ideas that hopefully you'll find. All it really takes some luck finding them. Bravo I say.

I totally agree about the Forum and Alan. I am fortunate in having a number of resources who can assist when I have train problems and concerns. Typically my train problems and concerns don't get as far as the Forum. 

But being introduced to Alan and getting to know him has been a really big plus. He's just a great person.

Gerry

I also give this a thumbs up...  having left it about 10years ago, and recently returned, i see a HUGE improvement!

This is alot more friendly and welcoming than it used to be....

I just come here to learn, share, and enjoy talking about 3 rail with friends, not get into arguments.  This forum has changed alot and its much much better!

Alan and this forum are awesome   I have been a member here for awhile and do enjoy it immensely  The friendships gained through the forum are better than any advice i got or gave.  

  Alan Arnold is a great person with a great heart, he's a huge asset to this great forum

Alex

Alan runs a tight ship here.  That's a good thing.

Ive had the pleasure of working with Alan on several occasions. I am grateful to call him a friend. He and all of the OGR guys do a great job of maintaining this forum and producing a high quality publication. 

There are not enough adjectives that can be used to demonstrate Alan’s passion for our Train hobby. From meeting him 1st on Mid-America 3 Railers then onto OGR & then having had the privilege to see his incredible home layout has certainly shown me that he is one of the best stewards of our hobby.

Great photograph, John!!

You know, at this fall York other then teasing Alan about maple syrup(which he's a great sport), I had the pleasure of listening to him help resolve someone's subscription issue. Alan was totally on call like a ER doctor and walked the person through their issue giving them the best instructions to fix his problem. If anyone has an issue, don't worry it is easily fixed by a very patient Alan and the team at OGR.

Wow Dave!  You got to witness the problem and resolution first hand!  Yes, everyone on the staff have been wonderful to me too!

Thanks again guys!  I am humbled by your very kind posts! 

Captain John posted:

There are not enough adjectives that can be used to demonstrate Alan’s passion for our Train hobby. From meeting him 1st on Mid-America 3 Railers then onto OGR & then having had the privilege to see his incredible home layout has certainly shown me that he is one of the best stewards of our hobby.

John...I had forgotten about this picture!  My better half took it and I must say the guy on the left facing the camera was much more photogenic than that guy on the right!!

Modesty showing through.

has the Arnold city been a focus of the OGR?

John d Sewell posted:

Modesty showing through.

has the Arnold city been a focus of the OGR?

Which Arnold City?

LOL, Arnold 

PS: Just kidding. I have seen the fabulous YouTube videos of the megatropolis layout of our fearless leader, Alan Arnold. It is something to behold.

Mark Boyce posted:

Wow Dave!  You got to witness the problem and resolution first hand!  Yes, everyone on the staff have been wonderful to me too!

Yes Mark. Alan has that old professional courtesy much like some people I used to work with. At my first job a good fellow named Chris really handled shouting people like ice and my current job we used to have a guy named Vince(God rest his soul). Vinnie would pop downstairs and be talking on the headset with customers trying to iron out what they needed all the while checking with the guys when they would be able to delivery. The way I saw Alan do the exact same thing at York just proves that he and the staff are committed to make sure that everyone is taken care of as best as can be done(which you would expect nothing short of). I would say that Alan's instructions to the individual were very detailed and simple, which he repeated for this person and made sure he understood. That's enough for my vote.

I actually have to check on my subscription too boot. I just have to make sure I have all the necessary information on my end before I inquire. I believe I signed up for 2 years. Find out when I get in tonight.

Yes Dave, that is the way to treat customer inquiries for sure!

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Wow Dave!  You got to witness the problem and resolution first hand!  Yes, everyone on the staff have been wonderful to me too!

Yes Mark. Alan has that old professional courtesy much like some people I used to work with. At my first job a good fellow named Chris really handled shouting people like ice and my current job we used to have a guy named Vince(God rest his soul). Vinnie would pop downstairs and be talking on the headset with customers trying to iron out what they needed all the while checking with the guys when they would be able to delivery. The way I saw Alan do the exact same thing at York just proves that he and the staff are committed to make sure that everyone is taken care of as best as can be done(which you would expect nothing short of). I would say that Alan's instructions to the individual were very detailed and simple, which he repeated for this person and made sure he understood. That's enough for my vote.

I actually have to check on my subscription too boot. I just have to make sure I have all the necessary information on my end before I inquire. I believe I signed up for 2 years. Find out when I get in tonight.

Thanks Dave...you caught me on a good day!..LOL!  By the way, I checked and you did in fact purchase a 2 year print subscription.  Everything is fine on this end and you are good to go!  THANKS!  AND ... by the way, the Maple syrup was fantastic.  The only problem was I didn't get enough since those great pancakes seemed to absorb the syrup as fast as I could pour it on!

I am fairly new here but I have had my layout about 25 yrs.  This is a great place of kindred spirited individuals where knowledge is freely passed and greatly appreciated.     Fendermain

OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Wow Dave!  You got to witness the problem and resolution first hand!  Yes, everyone on the staff have been wonderful to me too!

Yes Mark. Alan has that old professional courtesy much like some people I used to work with. At my first job a good fellow named Chris really handled shouting people like ice and my current job we used to have a guy named Vince(God rest his soul). Vinnie would pop downstairs and be talking on the headset with customers trying to iron out what they needed all the while checking with the guys when they would be able to delivery. The way I saw Alan do the exact same thing at York just proves that he and the staff are committed to make sure that everyone is taken care of as best as can be done(which you would expect nothing short of). I would say that Alan's instructions to the individual were very detailed and simple, which he repeated for this person and made sure he understood. That's enough for my vote.

I actually have to check on my subscription too boot. I just have to make sure I have all the necessary information on my end before I inquire. I believe I signed up for 2 years. Find out when I get in tonight.

Thanks Dave...you caught me on a good day!..LOL!  By the way, I checked and you did in fact purchase a 2 year print subscription.  Everything is fine on this end and you are good to go!  THANKS!  AND ... by the way, the Maple syrup was fantastic.  The only problem was I didn't get enough since those great pancakes seemed to absorb the syrup as fast as I could pour it on!

Thanks Alan, you didn't have to look all that up, but its that great service we've come to be surprised by.

I think there should be an Ameri-towne building for maple syrup. Maybe there could be one commissioned so no one runs out of that good stuff. No clue what the business would be called though, maybe Sticky's Maple Syrup, 100 Proof(100 proof was a joke on our end of the table).

I believe Lionel offered a maple syrup freight car from the MPC series of cars.  I know they have barrels full of syrup in an accessory! 

Pancakes i don't know if Lionel covers that as well as the map!e stuff!

You may try my practice, to cover the top of my cakes with butter and the syrup rolls right off!

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Wow Dave!  You got to witness the problem and resolution first hand!  Yes, everyone on the staff have been wonderful to me too!

Yes Mark. Alan has that old professional courtesy much like some people I used to work with. At my first job a good fellow named Chris really handled shouting people like ice and my current job we used to have a guy named Vince(God rest his soul). Vinnie would pop downstairs and be talking on the headset with customers trying to iron out what they needed all the while checking with the guys when they would be able to delivery. The way I saw Alan do the exact same thing at York just proves that he and the staff are committed to make sure that everyone is taken care of as best as can be done(which you would expect nothing short of). I would say that Alan's instructions to the individual were very detailed and simple, which he repeated for this person and made sure he understood. That's enough for my vote.

I actually have to check on my subscription too boot. I just have to make sure I have all the necessary information on my end before I inquire. I believe I signed up for 2 years. Find out when I get in tonight.

Thanks Dave...you caught me on a good day!..LOL!  By the way, I checked and you did in fact purchase a 2 year print subscription.  Everything is fine on this end and you are good to go!  THANKS!  AND ... by the way, the Maple syrup was fantastic.  The only problem was I didn't get enough since those great pancakes seemed to absorb the syrup as fast as I could pour it on!

Thanks Alan, you didn't have to look all that up, but its that great service we've come to be surprised by.

I think there should be an Ameri-towne building for maple syrup. Maybe there could be one commissioned so no one runs out of that good stuff. No clue what the business would be called though, maybe Sticky's Maple Syrup, 100 Proof(100 proof was a joke on our end of the table).

Dave...I like the idea!  I think it should be called "Dave's Maple Syrup" and the building address number of 100.  Perhaps we should begin offering a downloadable sheet of custom names, letters, numbers, etc. that folks could use to name their Ameri-towne structures..? 

I have to agree wiith everyone, he sure knows how to run a Railroad magazine.

Jack

Alan has proved to be a very good owner-manager and he must practice Forum control by herding cats.