ontrackplant.com 20th Birthday
29th December 2019
As usual, the Christmas period saw the birthday of the website, and this year it was the big 20.
Back in 1999, OTP wasn't really covered in any of the railway enthusiast magazines and there hadn't been any books published since 1995 so I felt that there was a bit of a gap that needed filling. Inspired by other popular websites like The Doctor's gbrail website, I decided to work on a site specifically about OTP. After several months of work I launched the website on 26th December 1999 under the name of "OTPnet". The Doctor also mentioned the website and a few people came along and started contributing sightings and photos.
In the early days, the website was very time consuming to operate. I would receive 2 or 3 emails per day, and re-type it all up into the "recent sightings" and "list" formats. Likewise I'd have to resize and re-upload any photos sent in. The number of emails grew to 10-20++ per day and it soon became ridiculously hard to manage. This led to the creation of the "database" which enabled people to add sightings & photos by themselves and the website be updated automatically! Without these automatic update features, I honestly don't think the website would be here today.
If you're feeling nostalgic, you can view the very first version of the website here. It hasn't aged well, but it's amazing to see how far we have come!
You can also view past birthday posts which may contain snippets of info about the website's history... 19, 15, 12, 11, 10, 9, 4 & 2.
Thank you
I would like to take a moment to thank Ben, Nick, Paul, Roy & Roger for helping keep the records for various machines on the website up-to-date; along with numerous other dedicated correspondents who put in the miles checking things out, reporting sightings and uploading photos! Without everyone who contributes we wouldn't be where we are today.
I would also like to thank all the companies & managers for allowing enthusiasts around your depots.
Thank you.
Statistics
Finally, some of you may be interested in a few statistics!
Just before the birthday on December 22 2019 we hit the massive milestone of 1,000,000 sightings! AshfordSteve's sighting of APWebb's RL005 at Ashford takes that accolade.
DR73905 Eddie King is still the most reported machine, with 1287 sightings.
16,500 photos.
Over the years the website gradually expanded, initially covering large track machines, small machines and powered trolleys; to including road-railers, and more recently trailers & attachments. We now have over 11,500 vehicles in the database, comprising of:
Large Machines - 1809
Snowploughs - 124
Trolleys & Railcars - 908
Small Machines - 394
Road-Railers - 3977
Trailers - 2881
Attachments - 267
Wagons - 1055
Seatless/Miscellaneous Machines - 276
Categories
Comments
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Comments
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Ben Williams Editor
Posted: 2 January 2020, 21:45
20 years - quite a scary thought.
Thanks (I think) for starting it all off - it's turned into a bit of a beast - but a friendly beast, rather than one that might eat part of your leg.
And yes - thanks to those that keep it going and continue to contribute.
Hopefully we can plan something special for the 21st birthday...
Jon Horswell
Posted: 3 January 2020, 11:48
In the Help tab, did the three unidentified machines ever get ID'ed.
Vince Website editor
Posted: 3 January 2020, 12:11
They did indeed
Minima II #2834
DR75203
Volker Stevin #2831
Roy Hennefer
Posted: 3 January 2020, 12:32
Many congratulations. Long may the site thrive.
Jim Gillies
Posted: 3 January 2020, 15:23
I whole heartedly agree with Roy's last comment.
But is there any cure to the addiction to the site.
If there is please keep it to yourself.
william poleson
Posted: 3 January 2020, 18:31
Congratulations on the big 20.
I raise a glass to many more years of contributions.
All the best !
Cristoff
Posted: 3 January 2020, 18:53
A very happy Birthday to you.
Just had a look at the original site which was interesting. Also brings into perspective just how developed the current site is. The behind the scenes knowledge to make it work so well is truly something to be marvelled at. I think the thing that really makes the site so successful is the friendly, helpful and knowledgeable people running it. Hats off to you all.
Best regards
Chris
Robin Morel
Posted: 3 January 2020, 19:47
If any mainline registered machine was to be named, what would your preference be ! I'll iron the velvet naming curtains ready and let HQ know, you'd be surprised how much use the site gets internally....
Congratulations
Bryan Blundell
Posted: 3 January 2020, 20:04
Happy Birthday from me as well.
Andrew Martin
Posted: 3 January 2020, 21:14
Many congratulations and many thanks to all those who contribute in all ways, large and small and particularly to those who beaver away in the background keeping things up to date and making such a fantastic website and resource.
Jon Horswell
Posted: 4 January 2020, 00:25
The only thing I miss is a list of names. There was once a tab that showed the nameplate and the meaning of it but this seems to have disappeared. It would be nice to have a link back that lists ALL the plant that has been named over the years.
Vince Website editor
Posted: 4 January 2020, 09:04
Hi Jon,
This is actually something I've been working on lately - see here - it doesn't have name plate photos though, and some information is still a bit vague on some names; so if anyone can help update it (or supply good quality nameplate photos) then please get in touch!
Dennis Graham
Posted: 4 January 2020, 22:14
May I add my congrats to Vince for the longevity of the site.
Looking at the first version took me back. Doesn't seem that long since I discovered the first version from a mention on The Doctor's site in the very early days and have been hooked since. How it's changed. Long may it continue.
Nick Tompkin
Posted: 4 January 2020, 23:00
I can only agree with all the comments in recent days. Thank you for making the site the fantastic resource it has become.
On a personal note, it has encouraged me to visit places I would likely not have visited around the UK (who would have thought that Weddington Terrace, Nuneaton would ever justify an impromptu day out from West Sussex!) and meet friends who I otherwise would never have met. So thank you!