TramsDownUnder FAQ, Rev. 3--ALL PLEASE READ
Peter D. Ehrlich
Monday, August 12, 2002 4:05 PM
[Note: This message is also included in the Files section of TramsDownUnder. The previous revision was back in November last year.]
Hi, gang!
From the beginning of this list on August 21, 2001, [TramsDownUnder] has had 147 members join. I'd like to welcome all of you on board!
Please find listed below a copy of the revised FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions). If you still have questions after reading this, please do not hesitate to email me privately. This FAQ will also be kept in a folder in the Files section of the list.
Peter Ehrlich (aka Milantram)
email: [email protected]
WELCOME TO TramsDownUnder!
The following are the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and other useful information regarding the [TramsDownUnder] Mailing List.
Contents:
* About TramsDownUnder
* How to (Un)subscribe & Posting Info
* Courtesies & Common Sense (a.k.a. "the Rules")
* List Features
* Problems & Solutions
* Monthly Announcements
* TramsDownUnder Web Sites & Homepages To Check Out
* Special Thanks
* ABOUT TramsDownUnder:
This is a discussion group pertaining to trams, trolleys, light rail and urban transport in Australia and New Zealand. Included are such locations as Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat, Sydney, Christchurch and many more. Also included, but on a more limited basis (Off Topic), are trams in Hong Kong, Manila and Calcutta. Feel free to join in the discussion at any time. Some of the topics that I hope we will touch on include:
The great tramway system in Melbourne
Other systems in Australia and New Zealand
Abandoned systems in Australia and New Zealand
New systems in Australia, such as in Sydney
Electric commuter rail
Trolleybuses and buses
Government policy toward urban transport, and privatization
Historical aspects
Tramway museums
Models of Australia and New Zealand trams
Ex-Melbourne trams preserved and operating in the United States and elsewhere
Hong Kong, Calcutta, Manila trams (even though they aren't "Down Under")
TramsDownUnder was unofficially born and in operation on Tuesday, August 21, 2001, and has an average of approximately 147 members. We average about 285 posts per month.
This list is owned and managed by Peter Ehrlich [aka Milantram]. You can contact the list owner by emailing him at anytime at [email protected] or [email protected]
* TramsDownUnder SUBSCRIPTION & POSTING INFO
Although the message archives, files and photos are public, only subscribed members will have access to respond to posts on TramsDownUnder. Our server is yahoogroups.com, a web based mailing list service. To see the services offered or to make changes to your subscription, please visit:
http;//www.yahoogroups.com/community/TramsDownUnder
The way to (UN)subscribe is as follows: Send an e-mail to
[email protected]
To CONTACT the list owner, email either [email protected] OR [email protected].
There are three basic methods of receiving group posts:
1. INDIVIDUAL E-MAILS. Each message posted goes into you e-mail inbox. Any attachments (JPEG picture attachments are the only ones permitted on this list) will also appear with the message.
2. DAILY DIGEST. This method compiles the day's posts and sends them in one convenient e-mail instead of separately. This cuts down on the volume of posts you receive, but it also requires that you go into the web site to in order to view picture/JPEG attachments.
3. NO MAIL. This method means you get no e-mail messages. This is especially convenient if you're going on vacation (for example) and you don't want your mail to pile up to be looked at on your return. This also avoids the phenomenon of "Bounced mail", usually caused by overstuffed inboxes. It is also preferred to unsubscribing and then resubscribing.
IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP NOTE: Recently, Yahoogroups has been bouncing a lot of members because of full mailboxes. If this is the case, you may wish to change your delivery method to "Daily Digest" or "No Mail".
Changes to these can be made by visiting the web site at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TramsDownUnder/join?referer=1
Also available via the web site are the message archives. Go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TramsDownUnder/messages/
New members are moderated for a time--usually 2-3 weeks, or until their first pertinent post is sent to the group, after which, the member may post freely. Also, the ability for new members to upload files is turned off until the member is changed to post normally. This is to guard against unwanted messages or files which are SPAM or inappropriate to the group.
* COURTESIES & COMMON SENSE:
Please note the following points of netiquette for our mailing list:
* Yes, this mailing list is about Australia and New Zealand trams and urban public transport, but sometimes our conversations stray off topic. If you are talking about ANYTHING that *isn't* related, please indicate that in the subject line by typing "TAN" (short for tangent) or "OT" (off-topic) in the subject line. That way, those who wish to skip the non-TramsDownUnder thread can do so easily. If you notice there are 5+ TANS on the list, please take it from the list and email the person or persons privately.
* THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! Please keep your posts clean. I don't necessarily mean the language, but cutting & pasting the email you're referring to, remove the footers, etc...In other words, avoid adding one sentence to a message which goes on with everyone else's comments. Keep them short and succinct...Mostly, this affects listmembers who get their messages as "Individual E-Mails", where the trend is to just add one's own message to what was before without deleting any of the copied messages, footers, etc. So please be careful. Think "Netiquette"!
* Watch the subject line. When you post and the subject line no longer has any reference in regard to your topic, please change the subject line to whatever you are talking about.
* ATTACHMENT POLICY: "JPEG" (.jpg) picture attachments are welcome. However, please send only one picture per post, and no more than five posts with picture attachments at a time. TEXT file attachments are ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED!!! If you must use a text file to state a point, COPY it and PASTE it into your message, or indicate the URL in the body of the message, or copy it onto an e-mail (but don't send it) and enter it in the "Files" section as a "Create Text File" message.
If you have questions as to whether a picture is a true JPEG (.jpg), please contact the listowner at <[email protected]> or <[email protected]>.
* LIST FEATURES
* FILES: You can also upload pertinent files--text or pictures--to the list by going to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TramsDownUnder/files/
Then click on "Add File", "Create Text File", or "Create Folder".
With regard to text files, it is best to just compose an E-mail, copy from a MS Word or other program text, then click on "Create Text File", and paste. The reason for this is many listmembers don't have MS Word or other specific word-processing programs on their PCs and can't open the file.
If you upload pictures to the Files, again they MUST be JPEG (.jpg) format. Pictures in formats other than JPEG format (i.e., .bmp, .tif, application/octet-stream, etc.) will be discarded by the listowner--but he will try to arrange to make the picture a true JPEG first, either by contacting the member or doing it himself.
* PHOTOS: You can add your own photos or photo albums for all members to see. You can upload these to the list by going to:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/TramsDownUnder/lst
Then click on "Add Photo" or "Create album", and follow the instructions.
If you upload pictures to the Photos section, again they MUST be JPEG (.jpg) format. Pictures in formats other than JPEG format (i.e., .bmp, .tif, application/octet-stream, etc.) will be discarded by the listowner--but he will try to arrange to make the picture a true JPEG first, either by contacting the member or doing it himself.
* DATABASE: You can access TramsDownUnder's database by going to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TramsDownUnder/database
Only the listowner (Milantram) can create a database. If you have an idea for a database, please contact Milantram and he will discuss it with you privately.
* PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
* PROHIBITED MESSAGES: Chain letters, urban legends and virus warnings. Keep these limited to your private mailouts only, not on TramsDownUnder.
* This is a private list. The only person with access to the full list of email addresses is the listowner and the assistant moderator. I don't like spam either, so I won't give out your email address and please don't give out mine!
* Last but definitively NOT least...the only real "rule" on TramsDownUnder is that you do not bash one another. Mud slinging and flaming is not allowed. Please allow everyone to speak their mind in a friendly way, and respect the fact that we can't all agree all of the time. If we all had the same opinion on every topic all of the time, this list would get extremely boring very fast.
However, if you are having a problem with someone or something, please write the listowner (Peter/Milantram) PRIVATELY at <[email protected]> or
<[email protected]> for help in solving it. Please do not create an uproar on the list first. Most times, these issues can be resolved immediately behind the scenes without disrupting the flow of the list.
If flaming or personal attacks continue, I will send a warning to those involved to desist. If the persons I have warned persist, I will place them on moderated status immediately, which means that I have to approve their posts. A listmember will then be barred if I see that his/her moderated posts continue their vitriol.
This is an adult list, and therefore monitoring the list isn't desirable.
However, if a member needs to be addressed for any reason, that will be done by the listowner only (Peter/Milantram). If you receive any other email, privately or publicly, which you consider inappropriate, offensive or attacking in nature, please bring it to the attention of the listowner immediately to be dealt with accordingly.
Everyone on TramsDownUnder is welcome to post, respond or create their own messages to express their opinions about Australia/New Zealand tramway history, operations, etc. No member has special status or preferred treatment over others. If you are new to the list, please jump right into the conversation and get to know your fellow listmembers!
Mr. Val Golding <[email protected]> is assistant moderator of this group. He has all of the privileges of the listowner (Milantram) and will be running the group in the absence of the listowner. He is here to help you and answer questions.
* MONTHLY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
On a somewhat irregular basis, announcements will be sent to the list by Peter (Milantram, the listowner) entitled "ALL PLEASE READ" in the subject line, and will contain information such as changes to the list, new features, introducing new members, etc. Please take a moment to quickly read it, it's provided for your benefit.... and if no one reads it, I'm going to have to change the title. :-)
* TramsDownUnder WEB SITES & HOMEPAGES TO CHECK OUT
From Peter Ehrlich:
Peter's Pix--Melbourne trams in San Francisco, Seattle, Memphis and
elsewhere
(Photo albums containing pictures of Melbourne W2s in the US, US and
foreign transit, railroads, etc.)
http://community.webshots.com/user/milantram;
<[email protected]>
From Joe Thompson and Peter Ehrlich:
The Cable Car Home Page
(A site about cable cars all over the world, including Australia and New
Zealand.)
http://www.geocities.com/cable_car_guy/cablecar.html;
<[email protected]>
From "nswtramways":
Australian Trams
(The best overall site for Australian Trams.)
http://www.railpage.org.au/tram
From "melb_tram":
Ballarat Tramway Museum
(The site for the tramway museum in Ballarat. Has over 200 links to
tramways all over the world> http://www.btm.org.au
From Peter Vawser:
Bendigo Tramways
(The site for trams in Bendigo.)
http://www.swanhillsc.vic.edu.au/home/trams/index.htm
From Peter Vawser:
CHRTSA
(The site for the Council of Historic Railways and Tramways of South
Australia.)
http://www.chrtsa.org.au/Index.htm
From Peter Vawser:
COTMA
(The site for Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia)
http://members.optushome.com.au/cotma/
From Andrew Cox and Peter Ehrlich:
Citadis Commercials (3 clips) (Windows or Macintosh)
(A site for viewing three commercials for Melbourne's new Yarra Trams
Citadis LRVs. To download Windows Media Player, go to
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/download/default.asp
Site URL:
http://members.optushome.com.au/tramways/files/
From Peter Ehrlich:
Hot Victorian Transport Pages web site
(Complete list of Melbourne W class trams, and other info on Victorian
tramways.)
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/9507/wclass.html
From Peter Vawser:
Melbourne Tramcar Preservation Society
(The site fo preserving and restoring selected examples of Melbourne
Trams.)
http://www.railpage.org.au/mtpa/
From Peter Vawser:
Sydney Tramway Museum
(The web site for the Sydney Tramway Museum.)
http://www.railpage.org.au/tram/loftus.html
From Peter Vawser:
Tramway Museum, St Kilda, South Australia
(Adelaide Tramway Museum web pages.)
http://www.railpage.org.au/aetmsa
You can add your own web page or appropriate TramsDownUnder-related web pages to this list by going to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TramsDownUnder/bookmarks/
*SPECIAL THANKS TO:
...... each and every member of [TramsDownUnder], for helping to make this a
fun, interesting and entertaining list. Without you, all of the hard work that is put into this list would be useless.
If you have any questions, suggestions, corrections, or comments regarding
this FAQ or [TramsDownUnder] in general, please email Peter Ehrlich directly
at [email protected] or [email protected].
Thanks,
Milantram (Peter Ehrlich)
TramsDownUnder listowner
[Note: This message is also included in the Files section of TramsDownUnder.]
Rev. 3 -- 12 August 2002
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