3.5″ Railway Gauge Association

This topic has 23 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 5 August 2015 at 17:40 by ruston165.

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3 November 2013 at 18:09 #134530
3andahalfgauge Association
Participant
@3andahalfgaugeassociation38343
Hi Everyone,

I would like to introduce you to the NEW 3.5inch Railway Gauge Association. We thought as all other Gauges has one, so should we

The Association website is still in early stages and more content is being uploaded to the Members Section.

Why not come and have a look and join, Click Here

Hope the Mods dont mind,

Thanks

Rob
Advert

3 November 2013 at 18:09 #1231
3andahalfgauge Association
Participant
@3andahalfgaugeassociation38343
4 November 2013 at 07:44 #134547
joegib
Participant
@joegib
Rob,

Isn't this post a bit premature? I've examined your Association's site in detail and a number of features disturb me:

1. You:

(a) Offer a monthly E-Mag but provide no specimen contents or editorial pages to allow prospective members to judge its usefulness.

(b) Offer special discounts at your "Store and from selected suppliers" but name no existing/prospective products or suppliers.

(c) Promise invitations to members to attend "Social" (sic) across the UK but mention no arranged events.

(d) Offer all the above services and yet, per your "Vacancies" page, seem to be seeking people to perform these functions, people who must first be members (already paid-up?).

2. It's customary when asking people for money to provide some 'terms and conditions'. In this case that would be the Association's "Rules" or "Constitution". Where are those documents?

3. People also need reassurance about the bona fides of your Association. As I say, I've been through the site and there is absolutely no information about the history/origins of the Association, its founding members, its current officers, how it's constituted and its business address or registered office if as company. Indeed, despite the paucity of identifying/locational information it's disturbing that the only area that's constructively functional is the Paypal facility.

Sorry if my remarks come across as critical and hard-nosed but I think you and your founding members need to put a lot more "meat on the bones" before you start asking the wider public for money.

Joe

Edited By joegib on 04/11/2013 07:46:06
4 November 2013 at 08:51 #134550
HomeUse
Participant
@homeuse
Could be good Idea – Needs a lot more work before asking for subscriptions – Lets have more info. as suggested by Joegib (above)
4 November 2013 at 10:48 #134557
3andahalfgauge Association
Participant
@3andahalfgaugeassociation38343
Hi Joe,

First of all thanks for all your comments, this is exactly what I wanted and why I posted it so soon.

I will pass this on to our Chairman as a matter of urgency and will get these issues addressed. Regarding the Vacancies at present there is a group of 6 of us working, and we thought that it would be good to widen the load as our Memberships have increased over the last week or so.

I will ensure that all errors are fixed on the website and that all the information is available to view by the end of the week.

And as HomeUse stats this could be a good idea, and with a little (lot) of work could be brilliant for the industry.

Hope to speak to you soon,

Cheers

Rob
4 November 2013 at 11:03 #134559
Steambuff
Participant
@steambuff
Hi Rob,

Just a couple of points in addition to Joe's points…

It would be usefull if you had a profile, so we can see who you are!

What about naming the 6 founder members, their interests and what club they are associated with (If any) – Both here and on the web site

I think you need to provide a physical mailing address, so those that want to join and pay be cheque can do so.

Dave
4 November 2013 at 12:02 #134562
Springbok
Participant
@springbok
Is there not already another 3.5g association could be wrong.

bob
4 November 2013 at 12:14 #134564
Steambuff
Participant
@steambuff
Bob,

Not to my knowledge there isn't.

Dave
4 November 2013 at 13:27 #134576
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
I'm quite interested in this, but would appreciate a bit more background information. Lots of good intentions, but I would to know more of what it ads to the hobby for me.

Neil

Just a second thought.. is this a 'steamy society' or are electric & R/C buffs welcome?

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 04/11/2013 13:34:19
4 November 2013 at 14:24 #134582
John Baguley
Participant
@johnbaguley78655
Bob,

You are perhaps thinking of the National 2.5" Gauge Association?

John
4 November 2013 at 16:33 #134592
Bazyle
Participant
@bazyle
Gauge 3 is 2.5" used in a scenic context rather than an ME style ride behind track. It does have a club already which might cause confusion.
4 November 2013 at 23:37 #134630
61962
Participant
@61962
I do like the idea of this Association, but I wonder why the subscription is so much. What is all this money going to be used for?

I have membership of a number of organizations that have fees of this order. One of them in model engineering runs a rally around the country on more than one occasion each year, has stands at a number of exhibitions and for £20 gives me four glossy A4 magazines and a website with a forum. Another has a fee of £25 a year of which £5 goes to a fund for our preserved full size locomotive and items of rolling stock. I receive an A5 magazine four times a year full of well written articles, invitations to talks around the country and access to a large historical archive of documents and photographs. Reference to the accounts of both organizations show the majority of their costs are related to printing and postage of their magazines. The 2 1/2" gauge Association's fee is £17 and gives members printed journals and newsletters and a range of valuable services. I'm sure there are many other such organizations that contributors here can tell us about.

£14.99 seems to me to be a lot for an e-mailed newsletter, unless the editor is expecting to pay good money for articles. Imagine if there were 500 members – not beyond the bounds of possibility, What is this Association going to do with £7500 per year? What is being offered here that will cost this and what return are members going to get for their fee?

Eddie
11 November 2013 at 17:12 #135247
nick feast
Participant
@nickfeast85472
Did anyone join yet? No more info on the website so far.
11 November 2013 at 17:36 #135252
Steambuff
Participant
@steambuff
Nope … not till I know who is behind it and they answer the other questions raised in this thread.

The Domain was registered on the 24th October 2013 by "Steam Essentials Ltd" (A sole trader company based in the South West) The company was formed in May 2012 and its status is currently "Proposed to Strike Off" and its accounts are overdue.

So I think we need answers to convince us that this is not a scam.

Dave
12 November 2013 at 07:05 #135304
3andahalfgauge Association
Participant
@3andahalfgaugeassociation38343
Hiya Everyone,

I am sorry that the information has been delayed,

We have decided to issue everyone a FREE membership for a year to grow the Association and the Content within it.

This we hope will let the Members to set Membership Fees for next year as well as what you want the Association to feature.

The Website will be updated from the 14th of this Month to offer FREE membership, All paid Members will be refunded.

I hope together we can build the Association and make this work

Cheers Rob
12 November 2013 at 11:19 #135320
Steambuff
Participant
@steambuff
Thanks Rob

It would be useful if you had a profile on here , so we can see who/where you are!

What about naming the 6 founder members, their interests and what club they are associated with (If any) – Both here and on the web site

Dave
1 December 2013 at 16:45 #136821
Rod Ashton
Participant
@rodashton53132
Hmm! Is this a dead topic? Pity not to have been addressed this with more care as I am sure it would take off, if correctly approached.

Site still seems to be asking for money?
1 December 2013 at 18:36 #136829
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
Does seem a shame. I tried to join in teh hope that all would be come clear, butr when redirected to Paypal to cough up £7.49 I aborted.

I get the feeling it's well meant but not completely thought out yet. Still, like Rod, I am sure that there is the interest.

Neil
3 August 2015 at 12:13 #199030
Simon Clough
Participant
@simonclough62239
Hi Rob

Been thinking about 3.52 gauge and how we don't see so much of it around these days.

I'm the southern rally secretary for the National 2.5 Gauge Association and we faced a time in the 70s when 2.5 very nearly died out.

If there is any thing I or the association can do to help with your idea please PM me and I would be pleased to talk to you.

Regards

Simon Clough

Edited By JasonB on 04/08/2015 15:00:58
4 August 2015 at 15:17 #199149
ruston165
Participant
@ruston165
Hi all, having looked for said association recently i couldnt find anything, website is not known etc. Having spoken to a few friends and attending a few tracks in the past month i think its a good idea to start an association, i have made a start in setting up a website and intend on setting up a forum. Its very much just at the starting stage. I dont plan on charging an annual subscription, just a membership. I have spoken to members at Sale and Leyland who currently hold events for 3 1/2 inch locos and they are keen to be part, aswell as Nottingham showing interest aswell. Anyone who would like to help me set this up would be welcomed, feel free to contact me via PM. Thanks, Lee
4 August 2015 at 16:14 #199153
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Good luck!

It's a glaring gap in the club/association landscape, but there seems to be some sort of a curse…

Feel free to use this thread or this **LINK** to develop the idea.

Neil
5 August 2015 at 01:04 #199216
ruston165
Participant
@ruston165
Thanks Neil,

As I say its very much a work in progress and I'm still in the process of setting up the website and forum, anyone wanting a sneak peak can view it here **LINK**. Feedback is welcomed.

Regards, Lee
5 August 2015 at 09:20 #199232
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
Hi Lee,

What about having a section on different 3 1/2" gauge designs?

People could send you a photo and short description – how easy to build, use, cost etc.

You also need some diesel outlines

Neil
5 August 2015 at 17:40 #199318
ruston165
Participant
@ruston165
Forum is now online at http://www.3andahalfinchsociety.freeforums.net

Lee

Edited By ruston165 on 05/08/2015 17:40:39
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