I am sure it is obvious to everyone that the board is immensely popular, and dare I say it, the authority on narrow gauge.
The problem that arises with this - as it seems to me - is that there are so many contributions that it is dificult, if not impossible to read them all.It is even more difficult to follow one particular item in which one has a major interest.
I have no monopoly on ideas as to how to make the board more user friendly but I have a suggestion which the board owners might like to consider.
Could they divide the board into sections devoted to specific areas? For example you could have one for South America, one for Europe and one for the rest of the world. When it comes to the U.S. there could be Alaska, Canada and then split the U.S. into say, California, Colorado, East U.S., Midwest, South and perhaps the rest.
It's a bit like a big airport in that small airports are easy to get around and big ones almost impossible though it can be done.
What it would mean in practice that people could go directly to their area of interest and that contributions would not get lost in hundreds of others and one could keep track of a particular area.
From a european perspective I do not know what the answer is but I do think I know what the problem is. Relatively few people are interested in German, Czech and Polish narrow gauge and I think few Czechs are interested in Galloping Gooses! But all have an interest in certain areas.
It is a fantastic board but when I look at 600 pages of everywhere on everything thrown together in one forum I do think it is time to consider possible alternatives.
Any ideas anyone? Contributions from the board operators would be most welcome as to their perspective.
Michael Grimes
