It could be that folks have found the "Good" online "Forums" such as
The Gauge
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or Railroad-Line
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Unlike a text only newsgroup, both of these forums allow the use of Photos and active links. Also, the retention of messages is much longer, you can go back and access great information several months and in some cases a year or two.
I find much more useful information and find it faster and easier on the forums, newsgroups are just like the "coffee shop" of the internet. I come here to listen and joke. When I want to find real info, I go to the internet equivelent of the research library, the online "Forum".