Traction Talk update and the future

You will all know that David has set up and run TT for the general benefit of the steam traction engine movement for many years. I believe it has been a great success and a credit to him.

He has decided to take more of a “back seat” and will concentrate on the technology behind TT leaving me to act as coordinator and moderator. Steamscenes is unaffected.

Many members will have noticed that several TT features have mysteriously stopped working over a period of six months or so and this is because the backbone software is now old and needs upgrading.

How the system works is that the software is a proprietary brand for message boards. This software has been improved to allow improved appearance and web safety. The upgrade will mean TT will be off line for 2-3 days while everything is changed over by David. I understand that the archive and messages will be moved over, but there may be some changes to formatting and appearance.

This message board software is hosted by a separate web host which is subject to a monthly fee which David and some TT supporters have been funding and those monies have now run out.

So we want to upgrade the software and fund the running of TT for another year and the cost is about £500. I am therefore appealing for your support to improve TT and to keep the system running.

At the risk of being criticised I have decided to use a personal PayPal appeal account as 100% of the money can be used for TT rather than paying some middleman. I have placed £50 in as an initial amount. I will publish at regular intervals the value raised. Hopefully you will trust David and I with your hard earned cash. The link is https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/122656217211818500. I thank you in advance for your donation.

Russell Bulley C.Eng B.Eng MIET