Full Version: A N N I V E R S A R Y - We're OPEN!!!!!!!
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Some history (Includes some current members here)

12 - 15 - 2000 --- Dave H creates the "Admin" name on the Gauge .com

12 - 17 - 2000 --- Shamus joins

12 - 18 - 2000 --- Catt joins

12 - 20 - 2000 --- ngauger joins

12 - 30 - 2000 --- railohio joins

12 - 17 - 2008 --- The latest incarnation of The Gauge Officially opens

Well, here we are at another turnout.. We have weathered storms, kept alive on the hopes and dreams of our hobby.

In the past 8 years, I have been a Moderator and them administrator of all 4 "gauges".. ezdays and the Moderators and I have seen way too much harassment, arguing, complaining, and other negative things here.

I stand on this post - my 8th anniversary (Saturday), saying to each and every one of you:
I wouldn't trade the bad times here for anything!!!! Big Grin Big Grin

The good times, the fun, the behind the scenes work all make up for any negativity here... The Gauge (now called Big Blue) is the greatest forum that I have ever been involved in...

and it's all your fault!!! Worship Yes, you!! The members! The members make Big Blue what it is. you create things (Photos, scenery and railroads) for your own enjoyment, but you just don't keep it secret.. No! Smile

You post these creations here, these manifestations of your mind and heart and soul.. for all to see!!!!

And that's the BEST PART for me, I truly enjoy seeing these things here, i enjoy sharing things I build too... And that's what this is really about! Eight years of "our Community" - all of us together.. one reason - To Share information!!!

Weather it's Chief Eagle with his Lake home, TomPM with his family, Doctorwayne with a picture or 4 or 5 Big Grin Big Grin Or My Daily weather report from LA..from Jeffrey...

We are a family here.. and if you still don't believe, that I am humbled... When we thought it was time to move on again, I helped build this board, along with Path and Ezdays!!

When times get tough here, always think of these things.. Smile You are the basic foundation (Ballast???) of a great railroad board! Without the members, we would have no reason to survive, and our "road" would wash away in the rain......

Over the years we have lost many friends... Scoobylovin lost a young son.. horrible in any sense of the world's righteousness.

As far as Staff, here, We lost Matthyro and most recent Shamus.

You see, the bad is truly horrible here... in our little section of the universe....

But the good memories, the good thoughts and the good feelings we get from being here every day with each other help us cope,,,,,

'As of this post, I officially open BIG BLUE, formerly known as The Gauge!!

I welcome you all here - Again - Thanks for coming, We know it was your choice and we deeply appreciate it!!!!!

and look what I dug out of my archives!!!!!!!
Happy Anniversary and for the next 8 years. Seeing that old picture again is great, yes I was there. So here's a toast to The Gauge Cheers
jmarksbery Wrote:Happy Anniversary and for the next 8 years. Seeing that old picture again is great, yes I was there. So here's a toast to The Gauge Cheers
DANG - i didn't think of that!! LOL Everyone that was a member here 4 years ago should be in the picture as long as you put "A face behind the name" picture in the thread!!

Thanks!!!
It has been ONEHELLOFARIDE and I don't regret ever getting on this train. :mrgreen:
Happy Anniversary to the Big Blue!!!! Mikey said it all, and i have to thank Mikey, Don, Pat, and all the Moderators here for keeping this place a truly GREAT place to be, im happy to call this forum my home Worship Worship So here is to the next 8 Years of the BEST Model Railroad Forum every created!!! Cheers Cheers Cheers

train Waveof7 Waveof7 Rowof6 Rowof6 Rowof6 Rowof6 2296_ 2296_ 1990_dancing 1990_dancing
December 17th, 2000, seems like yesterday, but I honestly can't say, for sure, what I was doing that day. Probably because I wasn't here yet. That didn't happen until January of 2002.
The-Gauge, has been an extended family for me now, for just a bit short of seven years. There were some moments when I had had enough, and was ready to move on, or move out, which ever, but always because of outside disturbances.
Several of the "family", I have had the honor and pleasure, to meet personally, and hope I will have the chance to meet many more. Much, I have learned here. Across a wide spectrum of topics. There is more to learn, and my favorite location, is the sharp leading edge of the learning curve.
December 17th,2008, it's been a month and 3 days since my 65th, and now I celebrate being part of this, that is the most comfortable forum on the internet, and home to good people from all around the world. The United Nations could learn a great lesson from the community here!

To all of you then, the members, who have made this place the best, just keep on being "you", and we'll always be the best!
Cheers 2296_ 2285_ 2296_ Cheers
I joined in May 2001, not long after I first started "surfing the net". I've seen lots of names of folk who were members then here on this board already, several who I hadn't heard from in years, and it's feels great. The Gauge at the time had a small membership, and as several have noted, had a family feeling to it. I used to post a lot back then, tho I have posted little in the past several years. There are multiple reasons for that, the primary one probably that I got burned out on it. As the membership grew and my available access time shrank, I found that questions posed that I would have answered or replied to were answered by others first, and I felt weird afer awhile of posting things along the lines of "me too". So my posts started being only about things I built, and they are few and far between!

I just want to thank NGauger and Ezdays and all the mods for putting this together. I look forward to seeing how things turn out here and will start a thread on my eng servicing facility project, warts and all.

Take care! Gary
Happy anniversary Big Blue. I am honored to be part of this.

Loren
Happy anniversary!! I can only look back on three years of membership, but it would have been a huge loss to me if the Gauge would not have survived all the changes it went through the last two years. I still remember the old Gauge before it became Zealot and it seemed to loose it’s identity since then. But now, with the latest changes, we have a good reason to celebrate this anniversary. Thanks to Mikey, Don and Pat to make it happen. Without my friends here, modeling would only be half as much fun.
Well....How time flies....!!!! I've been a member for about 3.5 years and have had a pile of fun, great pictures and GREAT advice from everyone.

So I also participate in these Anniversary Festivities..!! 2285_ 2285_

Thanks to all who've helped to make this a unique forum.... Thumbsup Thumbsup
That picture cracks me up. Proud to be in it, too...as well as part of the new - old - Gauge again. 2285_
Ahhh yes, Dec 17th, 2000. I remember it well. Not because the Gauge just went public, but because we were busy that day packing up our business so we could officially retire on Dec 31st. I joined the original Gauge in Feb 2003, went around a few other place to see what I could learn and find a comfortable place to hang out. Every time, I'd wind up back at the Gauge, no doubt, I found the right place. I've been helping Mikey for almost four years now, One as moderator, and three as administrator. Now here we are, a revival of our old lost love, Big Blue is back.

The timing was right, we were able to get things in order and open the doors right on schedule. We hope you all will be as happy and as comfortable here as I was originally and am now. I've always said that I learned more on our forums than I could ever possibly give back. I hope you all consider us opening these forums as payback for all that you've done for us over the years. And if we have a few rough edges, things that need fixing or are missing, please excuse us, the paint is barely dry on the walls and so feel free to tell us so we can add it to our "punch list".

Thanks again everyone for coming to our party. Cake and ice cream are in the conference room, the beer keg and cold soda are in Mikey's office, right next to the big screen TV and the rest room is down the hall to your right. The band we hired couldn't fit in my office, so we've improvised with this smaller group.
:band2" Dancing
1990_dancing 1990_dancing 1990_dancing 1990_dancing 1990_dancing 1990_dancing 1990_dancing 1990_dancing
Congratulations for all members of the Gauge for keeping it a happy family all these years. I had been a member for several years, but didn't find an occasion to actually post anything. I look forward to the blending of several families here. Happy rails, everyone.

-Crandell
Nice bit of history.
Congratulations everyone! I joined The Gauge back in July of '04 and have been content ever since. I don't post as often as others but I'm not a talkative guy (just ask my wife) but I really appreciate the attitude of respect that is shown around here.

Thank you all for running a great forum.

Tom

PS Sure, the paint's dry but when are you going to get carpeting and maybe some chairs!
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