Ukts Will Close 31st Of August 2023

Thanks for your response. I assume the backup is just for the file library so I'll keep working on the uploads of the forums and reviews. Just for clarification, is the T&C issue with files not being able to be uploaded to different sites only to do with the domain name? I guess it would be a (useful) loophole if they could be uploaded to a different site with the same UKTS domain name.

PS: Also sorry if my post came across as rude, my intention was less that the problem was a simple as responding to an email, but rather concern with the situation described earlier about the lack of communication with the people trying to take on UKTS.

 

That's brilliant news, thanks for your help.

 

Understandable, Matt. Having just read the release announcement for TSW 4, I can see why you've been so busy.

When I took on trainsim.com and migrated it to new hosting, that became a 30-day project between getting servers up and running, and working through all the particulars of moving not just the database backups but all of the image files and file Library data. And that's just the technical stuff. There's a business side to all of this as well, and that's what people overlook.

 

Something I've done which is quite useful is going to the download page and getting a complete file listing downloaded. As it's a CSV file I can't upload it here sadly, but it's easy to get yourself. It lists every single file currently available on the site, and will be useful when downloading things that reference UKTS assets to know what you're missing.

 

I've been trying to download things and the site is running extremely slowly and my downloads aren't at the premium speed, even though I'm not put in a queue it's still running even worse than the free speeds. I'll try again later.

 

There is probably a lot of people trying to download things they need/might need before the 31st.

 

After I posted that message it got slightly better but it was still dodgy. It seems to be better now.

 

*Sigh*

Nope it's still up, yet another premature "it's gone" post, I don't get it.

 

Still working for me at the moment too.

 

I posted because "today" in the UK is August 31 and we were told this was the last day. Myself and another contact agreed this was probably it. I'm actually surprised it's still up, but I'll take the chance to grab that last copy of the file spreadsheet now.

Even so, my thread idea can go forward as it was planned for site termination. I'll just edit it in 24 hours or so.

 

nothing wrong with using this thread which is active already no point in making another one to cover the same thing.

 

Hard to beleive this was announced on 17th January how time has gone so quick

 

Also, I had a source for my presumption of closure. It wasn't me.



I've since pinged to delete that announcement and repost it tomorrow.

 

lol

 

Well, Eric from Trainsim.com posted back on 7 August that "Either Matt or someone else within UKTS renewed the domain thru 2025 back on July 18, so perhaps there's some hope for a Plan B."

Perhaps that Plan B is a go!
Dave

 

We have a stay of execution then, so that's a bonus!

 

WTH?

 

Or perhaps Matt decided to cover his bets so that he had some breathing time to find an appropriate buyer after his TSW4 rush was over. Time will tell ...

 

Indeed.

 

Would like to say that as of 16:50, 1/09/23 UK Time, that UKTS is still up

 

Still up now. I don't think much of it though, I suspect it's a manual shutdown so somebody (likely Matt or Peter) hasn't had the time to do it. I guess the short time I suspect it'll remain up for is great for those who thought they ran out of time to download stuff.

 

So it closes on 4th September instead of 31st August then?
Lets have our last weekend before its switches off, a wee extra!

 

If the site is managed from the US, then quite likely Tuesday, as Monday is a public holiday.

 

Not a public holiday in uk which I imagine is where the servers hosted

 

Just to confirm, it's just for UKTS? And not TrainSimDev.com ? They are both on the exact same server I believe!

 

Same forum software (PHPBB3), different servers, hosts and bill payers.

 

So, not only UKTS is shutting down, but also Train Sim Dev! Would that sound right?

 

I know them from the forums, which are basically dead.

 

No, that sounds completely wrong. Read the post above yours.

 

Different owners, servers and hosting. Both sites used PhpBB - a common open source forum package that you can install on your own server so will have a similar look. It's extremely unlikely that both sites will close.

 

Thanks

 

It's common for a hosting provider to have only one management service that supports the global network of servers and that could be based anywhere. That's why I speculated that the site could be managed by a US based support team.
Anyway, the site is now a zombie, waiting for the final switch off. Looks like the final backup has been done, so anything posted there won't be archived.

 

Something I've been intrigued by was Atomic Systems as a company. In the end only UKTS and Onehouse Model Railway (I think) were the final services available under Atomic Systems, but I've always been interested in the other services and what the original plan for Atomic was. I remember a page, possibly archived, which listed all the services. I think there was a photo hosting service and a diary site of sorts but as I only really started using the internet around 2011/2012 I never saw most of these services.

 

Off topic: Now I know the fate of Making Tracks Absolutely loved the Irish Enterprise routes, I still have both today and merged! Unfortunately, I didn't get other Making Tracks routes.

 

DTG Matt Assuming the servers go dark this coming week, I'd be happy to host a closure/farewell landing page for the domain if that's something you'd be interested in. Email me (eric@trainsim.com) and we can work out particulars.

 

Can i just say i find your dedication to help try and keep this going is outstanding THANK YOU for everything you have been trying.

 

I second that, it's brilliant Eric wants to keep UKTS going and hopefully it all goes through - if it does I expect UKTS could be back up in a few months' time.

 

I never played MSTS while they were active and remain curious about the full Norwich route on there. Too bad I cannot find it.

 

Used to love the Making tracks routes still have them in my box of disks in the loft lol

 

Appreciate the sentiment, folks. From what I've already seen, it could be stood up again as quickly as a fortnight if we could get the database backups...

If someone has moderator rights (or knows a moderator), there are posts waiting in the UKTS forums that have been there for well over a month. If someone wants to post an open invitation for folks looking for a place to continue their daily conversations, we'd gladly welcome some new or even returning members at Trainsim.com -- we've got MSTS/ORTS, DTG, Trainz, and Run8 forums that are still somewhat active.

 

Here we are approaching the one month mark beyond closure, and the hosting company still hasn't flipped the switch.

Or did someone step in?

 

I was kinda hoping it was you, but I guess not. The mystery deepens ...

 

I just renewed my £2.50 Premium Membership for the next month as the site is still going.

Every so often I spot something that is required in a Freeware route.

 

Probably such low traffic that it is running under the radar, as well as subs that probably are paying slowly towards the running costs.
While the ISP has no issues, it could go on for a while yet - until someone realises that the service has been terminated.

 

Sadly, I have everything currently there, so my spots are unavailable.

 

Less than a cup of coffee from a coffee chain and a whole months access to an incredible file library. Bargain if you ask me.