First, let me say thanks to everyone for the dozens of emails I got complimenting the site and offers for help. And, the offers of help actually materialized into a new highly competent group of managers who now control the site.

I have every reason to believe that not only is RyPN safe for the foreseeable future, but in all likelihood it will be better than it was.

Second, let’s give thanks to Doug Bailey. Doug is no longer on the RyPN board but he has done, and is doing, an incredible amount of work to resurrect the site and prepare it to move forward.

The amount of work required just to keep the site, in particular, the work associated with the Interchange is staggering. For example, we get about 20-30 requests for new accounts each day, and 99% of them are bogus (spammers). Somebody has to read each one and decided if it’s legitimate or not, and activate or delete accordingly. Say thanks to the moderators for handling that chore.

The PHPBB software is very reliable and easy to install, but because of its widespread popularity there is a cadre of hackers out there who spend all their time (or at least it seems that way) figuring out how to wipe the forums out. This actually happened to RyPN once. Consequently, the software gets update frequently as new threats are identified, and if you don’t keep your board up to date eventually it will get hacked, just a question of when.

And, finally, the PHPBB software used on the Interchange/Classifieds is heavily modified to make the software match the RyPN format and motif, and enhance the user experience. This level of modification requires a great deal of effort, way beyond the scope of RyPN in terms of activity the site generates.

Many thanks again to Doug and company for taking on the Interchange maintenance task and also the backend web duties for the whole site. Most of you, if you aren’t internet and software savvy, will never understand how much work it is.

So, thanks to John Smatlak and Mark Bassett for stepping up and taking it over. Thanks to all the former and new RyPN staff members, and there are more than there were before. And, thanks to all the people who contributed to RyPN in whatever form over the years.

I plan to step away from it for a while. Work lots of hours the next few years as a contract engineer at Boeing so I can afford to retire and have some time to enjoy myself. And I hope to someday return in a low level capacity, maybe contribute some briefs and articles from my planned world travels.

Adios for now….

Hume: Let me add, you were the best at building a site of critical importance to all of us. So many times I'd submit a photo to you and you'd do the extra work to put it into the text. Thanks, and be assured of enduring friendship for everything you brought to bear, to make RYPN the keystone site it is.

Dick

Hume, I'll just say that you don't know the full extent of RyPN's influence and support worldwide. After announcement of the recent difficulties, I got a number of emails expressing concern, disappointment, gratitude, and a desire to help put things right, from Australia, Canada, Germany, China, and most especially Mexico. I didn't even forward them to you because I knew you were buried, and I also figured you had it under control..... thanks to you and to all the other hard working, long suffering, RyPN staff from a lot of good folks you don't know.

.

Hume and The RyPN staff (past and present)

I am sure you are aware, but I will state it for the record anyway:

There is a human factor to RyPN that is not often mentioned. Many of us out here have made some great friendships that would have never developed without RyPN. You don't meet rail preservation people waiting in line at the bank or at the grocery store! Unfortunately we are spread rather thin throughout the world. However, many of us "belly up" to the RyPN bar during our weeks and can a feel connection to our hobby that is not found easily. I have some, good neighbors and coworkers, but they could care less how many locomotives C & T S or Strasburg has ready for the season!

Thank you and good luck!

Alan S. Levy