AP is an open site, and only on extreme occasions, does David do much moderation. Railroad "regulars" have good discussions and know directly or indirectly many of those who are genuine rails and/or serious railfans, personally, or by reputation. So, if you know who is who, there is a lot of good content that is shared on AP.

Unlike some other sites, maybe David figures we're big kids, some even ornery old rails, who can dish it out and take it like big boys and girls, and maybe David just figures we don't need a nanny or a censor....except rarely, when some folks are just too far gone..... Now, since David's business in taking over AP is to sell the timetables to railfans, buy one once and a while, and say thanks...

Yeah, there are people with "issues" who use AP to express interesting theories of vast conspiracies of evil Thomas and the dastardly wide gauge BART, and a certain few, who are having other issues, and have found this anonymous outlet to act like a "dufus", often using multiple handles to vent, making it look like there are more dufus' than there really are... It's a problem that comes and goes, and seemed to be waning a bit lately.

On a free, open, and anonymous site, you get a cross section of folks, some who have interesting things to say, some like on the recent passing of Hutch, with "issues" and nothing good to say.... On the other hand, some of the recent discussions have been great, and if you get to know the regulars who are credible, who have worked in the industry, or have a long record as solid rail fans, and you can learn a lot of interesting history and RR lore. Sammie is one of those...he just got a nice new "used" choo-choo, just like the one I ran though Beverly Hills and as the dinky engine at Taylor, on another planet far far away...and I'm jealous...