At this point you may be asking: "What's the catch? There is no such thing as a free lunch." That is true. All websites hosted at TrainWeb automatically have the web server insert a header and trailer containing ads on every page, usually but not always train related. These ads will always be appropriate for all ages. You will never find ads on TrainWeb that are inappropriate for children. These ads are the only method TrainWeb has to generate revenue to cover our web hosting costs. For an idea of what these headers and trailers on each page look like, click here to visit TrainWeb.org/chris.
TrainWeb began in 1996 and we have yet to update our hosting platform. Back then, there were few or no web design tools as there are today. The most common way to create web pages was to use a text editor and write your own HTML pages. There are better web design tools today, but a lot of us old times still just use a simple text editor manually typing in HTML code. We do plan to update our web server where one can either continue to manually code their web pages or create them right online as with most modern web hosting services.
If you plan to use a simple text editor and manually enter HTML code to create your web pages, see www.w3schools.com/html for an HTML Tutorial. Alternatively to using a simple editor and manually coding your own HTML web pages, there are some tools that make this process a lot easier similar to using Word Processing software. One of these is the CoffeeCup "HTML Editor" that costs just $29 that you can buy at: www.coffeecup.com/html-editor. CoffeeCup also sells a more sophisticated web page creation software called "SiteDesigner" for $99 that you can buy at www.coffeecup.com/designer.
Once you have created one or more pages, you will need FTP client software to upload your pages, photos and images to your website. Personally I've used "Filezilla Client" FTP Software for years. You can download a free version or purchase an upgraded "Pro" version at: filezilla-project.org. ONLY download Filezilla from this website. Filezilla is available from other websites, but many of them are filled with undesired "bloatware."
We'll be providing you FTP access codes. You will enter that info into your FTP software to access your website. The "Host" that you will FTP to is always just "trainweb.org". Do not type anything other than "trainweb.org" into the "Host" field. The FTP software will also ask for your "Login" or "Username" and also your "Password". We'll be providing you with this information.
We will also be allocating 50GB (50 gigabytes) of disk quota to your account. This will probably be enough disk space to last you forever. But if not, please send an email to steve @ trainweb.com. You should only upload web pages, photos, and images that visitors to your website can view. You should not upload any files just for personal file storage. Any files that a visitor to your website can not view should be removed from your website.
If you have a problem logging into your new website, please email steve @ trainweb.com . We do not provide phone technical support, just email. You'll often receive an email reply within a few hours. If for ANY reason you do not receive an email reply with 48 hours, please send your email again. The only reason you would not get a reply within 48 houts is because I never received your email.
Currently the TrainWeb.org web server does not have a security certificate. Thus, visitors to your website MUST go to http://TrainWeb.org and NOT https://TrainWeb.org . If your visitors attempt to go to https://TrainWeb.org, they might get a "Page Not Found" error. Visitors to your website will always get a "Not Secure" notation or symbol. We do plan to eventually move to a secure web server to eliminate this problem, but there is a lot we need to do first in the background before we will be ready to add a security certificate. This preparation effort is going to take a number of months. Also, people visiting your website can go to either http://TrainWeb.org or http://www.TrainWeb.org . The "www." is optional.
There aren't many restrictions for what sites can be hosted at TrainWeb.org, but there are a couple: (1) Your web site MUST be railroad related and (2) Your web site CAN NOT just be a gateway to a web site hosted elsewhere. In other words, you can't just obtain a web site at TrainWeb.org and then just use it to forward visitors to a web site hosted elsewhere.
We have removed some prior restrictions: (1) If you have a railroad related web site hosted elsewhere and would just like to upload a mirror image of it to TrainWeb.org, you are welcome to do so. (2) If you wish to host a commercial web site at TrainWeb.org where you sell things for a profit, you are welcome to do so. But, we do not guarantee up time even though we've had an excellent historical record. If you host a commercial web site at TrainWeb.org, we will not take liability for any business loses due to down time or technical difficulties. We don't recommend that you use TrainWeb.org to host a commercial web site, but we no longer have any rule that prohibits that.
There are a few more minor restrictions and additional answers to the most frequent questions that can be found at: TrainWeb.org/memfaq.html.
If you haven't been disuaded and would like to join the ranks of more than 1000 railroad related web sites hosted free at TrainWeb.org then CLICK HERE to send an email to steve @ trainweb.com . Please include the following information in your e-mail:
Please allow us 2 to 3 days to create your web account and to e-mail the access codes and upload instructions to you. Sometimes we are able to respond more promptly, but please wait 3 days before inquiring about the access codes for your new web site. Thank you!
