Some folks (and Walthers' Catalog) use the name Big Trains to
refer to anything larger than HO. Most people use the term to
refer to trains larger than O scale, especially trains built
large and rugged enough to use dependably outside. The term
"Large Scale" generally refers to that "sub-class" of Big Trains
that run on 45mm track. These represent a variety of scales,
depending on whether a narrow or standard gauge prototype is
chosen.
The BT mailing list is an e-mail "club" (perpetrated, er,
maintained by Eric Schnoebelen) that copies every e-mail you
send to the list to everyone on the subscription list (as long
as you've subscribed first). People use it to ask questions
about Large Scale trains, to make plans for excursions and
conventions, and to post pointers to related information of
interest.
Members of the BT mailing list include clueless newbies and
internationally recognized experts, and everyone in between.
Modeling interests are diverse, expertise levels differ, and
many countries are represented as well. This means that a
question you ask may result in several good answers, and you
have to choose the answer that best fits your situation. (We
also hope you reciprocate when a question you may have a good
answer for is posted.)
Theoretically, anything related to railroading, model railroading,
garden railroading, etc. that would be of interest to other
"big train" hobbyists. However, some "clueless newbie" general
questions like "Tell me everything you know about garden
railroading" are likely to go unanswered, because such a wide
variety of resources is already available to answer that
question. The BT mailing list is NOT the place for forwarding
"touching Internet stories," chain letters, jokes, political
diatribes, charity appeals, virus alerts, home business
opportunities, or any of the other "general interest" stuff
that eats up so much internet bandwidth elsewhere.
Well, some of us have known each other for years, partied
together at conferences, etc., and it's hard to resist taking
a jab once in a while. We try to keep it in good fun, of
course, and not make comments that are racist, sexist, or
otherwise offensive.
No. He acquired the nickname back when he was the chief
peacemaker on the list, a function that became less important
when Eric started pulling the plug on really offensive folks.
One listmember had his indoor layout destroyed by raccoons who
collapsed the ceiling over his trains. Ever since then, raccoons
have been the unofficial mascots of this list.
By being continously obnoxious, hurtful, profane, or otherwise
detrimental to the ordinarily fun, helpful, and friendly tone
of the list. If you don't like a particular product, you may
say so. However insulting people who use that product is NOT
appreciated. It's one thing to say that some product, scale/gauge
combination, or other aspect of the hobby looks "funny" to you
or doesn't meet your requirements. It's another thing to say
that anyone choosing otherwise is a clueless moron.
Because people who don't model the scales I do are a bunch of
clueless morons. Oh, sorry, wrong answer. This is a "newbie"
question that has already been addressed many times on this
list. One article that will give you enough information to
discuss this subject intelligently is Paul Race's article at
http://www.btcomm.com/trains/primer/whyscale/whyscal.htm