Hello and welcome to the Hiawathamr Trainz Add-ons Community Forums!

The Hiawathamr Trainz Add-ons (HTA) Community Forums is a Trainz community group that is open for anyone to join. Come on in, start or join conversations, share your screenshots/pictures, etc. Similar to other Trainz groups where they use an online chat service platform, we’ve opted to use a forum software which offers more benefits that can’t be offered with any online chat platform.

Real time chat platforms usually have trolls that can conduct raids which is easy to do as everything is real time. Forums are viewed as outdated so they are left alone for most of the time but they do get spambots. However, thanks to the anti-spam filters that are in place, the forums hardly get any.

Sometimes, there will be early releases that will be shared with the forum members prior to being released to the general public.

Questions and Answers:

What is the Hiawathamr Trainz Add-ons Community Forums?

If you are familiar with other Trainz group sites, they have a “join our discord server" button or link somewhere. The forums are a similar thing except you don’t have to join for viewing most areas. The only real time you’d need an account is if you wish to view attached images/files (unless hosted using a 3^rd party hosting provider), to access certain areas, or to join the conversation.

Random question – why did you create a forum community instead of a discord community? And do you have any plans on making a discord server?

The answer is simple – forums don’t attract trolls unlike chat platforms due to the lack of real time communication. Most times, real time chat platforms can get out of hand quickly when a troll raid happens that will require a massive cleanup.  Forums on the other hand, are viewed as outdated material so trolls for the most part leave them alone. However, they do get spambots but thanks to the anti-spam filters, the forums hardly get any.

As for a discord server, the answer is no – there are no plans for any official HTA discord server. If an interest of an real time chat platform does come, it’ll be added to the forums instead.

Do I need an account?

For viewing most of the categories, you do not need an account but if you want to join the convocation, view the attached files/images, or view certain categories, then yes you will need an account.

 I keep seeing the following: “In order to view the files / images attached to this post please either LOGIN or REGISTER.” How do I fix this?

If you are only viewing the forum without being logged in, then the files and images are replaced with that message. This is to both help reduce bandwidth and to make it one of the benefits for becoming a member.

If you are indeed logged in, the message will go away and instead you will see the actual image/file.

Sometimes browsers need their cache cleared to correct the error – please check you’re your browser developer for instructions on how to clear your browser cache.

Will my info be safe? Will you use it for marketing?

Please see our privacy policy (https://forums.hiawathamr.com/help/privacy-policy/) for detailed information regarding on how we protect your information.

Your information will not be used for marketing use.

Am I allowed to make any topic?

Yes, you can start an entirely new topic – that’s what the forums are for.

It is however not permitted to make posts that violate the forums terms and rules.

Can I upload images/files to the forums?

Yes, you are permitted to upload images to the forums without the need to use a 3^rd party hosting service.

Regardless of where the image is hosted on, they cannot violate the forum terms and rules.