>> Excellent timetables--worth every penny.
>> But I am not a fan of deleting. I know....if I had my own board I could do it the
>> way I wanted. But I'm just saying, I've never liked deletions (unless there is
>> something extreme or illegal).

Having posted responses on threads destined to be later deleted, I understand the frustration. However, in almost every case, there was something illegal going on - in the form of direct personal threats. It's one thing when mere trash talking occurs face to face; but if threats to do something specifically illegal to someone else are posted on a public forum - they simply cannot be tolerated. Dave had no choice!

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All in All, Altamont press has been the most even handed and most tolerant of diverse views; of virtually all other media outlets (of any kind) that I have ever read or heard. Dave is to be commended. We need more like Altamont Press. Sadly though, we will be getting less. Altamont will be sorely missed.

Perhaps in the future, Mr. Curlee can find a more palatable and less costly business plan. He could then then just dabble in it, so to speak, spreading the research effort around on a volunteer contributor basis. One possibility is maintaining a downloadable (for a fee) PDF data base of his current timetables and other things he is into. Perhaps other contributed railroadiana, including "Track Charts" and other esoteric information, could be added to his PDF Data base.

Then, when and only when, new verifiable information comes in, just the PDF page that is affected is updated, or newly included. The updated page then replaces its respective page in an online PDF data base, which could then be downloaded for a fee per download, same as Kalmbach Publishing does for some of its content.

This lower level of research effort and lower production cost, would surely support the website costs involved, and provide some compensation to Dave for his efforts to maintain the service. Hopefully, he would be interested in such a setup some time in the near future.

At the very least, Continued online PDF availability of all his existing works, could provide for continuing compensation to Mr. Curlee for a long time to come.

The only downside I see, is that I'd probably blow all my spending money in one place!

OPB
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Bob2,

I second your motion fully. I could not have said it any better myself - so I won't even try!


>> This editor leaves a lot of leeway for diverse opinions on TRAINS, RAILROADS,
>> LOCOMOTIVES, SPEEDERS, SPREADERS, STREETCARS, and other such track mounted mobile
>> phenomena, and he even permits comment on an occasional rare bird of flight. He >
>> has allowed us to express diverse opinions on many aspects of Ferroequinology from
>> the obscure facts of track appliances, to the politics and finance of transit and
>> high speed rail. Many have a regular chance to express their views on a RAILROAD
>> topic, to ask questions and answer the interesting questions posed by others, or
>> just to muse on the history, lore, culture, and love of RAILROADING!

>> The only deletions I've seen happen on this site occur when some people start
>> getting really goofy, hateful, or just so far off topic that there is no real
>> purpose except left except to rant and rave. Some of our favorite Trolls still
>> enjoy unparalleled access to communicate their views on this site, even on such
>> uniquely controversial RAILROAD topics as the NWP and SMART.

>> If a few of you don't like it that you are not allowed unfettered freedom to use
>> someone's site for whatever purpose or form of spewage you like, then start your
>> own. Or, maybe, you should go to a site like Topix where every stripe of nut and
>> rant can be found? But, if you must rant, at least rant about RAILROADS?

>> I say great job Mr. Curlee, and add another "Thank You" for your excellent
>> editorial judgement and the restraint you've shown in handling these rare
>> deletions.