TomikawaTT, are you there?

[BigDaddy]

I don't think we want to call anyone, especially a veteran, MIA.  In medicine when a patient refuses to come back for a follow up appointment we call it Lost to Follow Up

Maybe we should have a category of Lost. That could include people still alive who made significant contributions to the forum but couldn't say away from the third rail of politics like a certain German friend.  Is there a railroad term? ....arrival delayed?

[Attuvian1]

BATMAN

I think Chuck spent a lot of time serving in Japan and he would tell of his trips around the country when he had some leave. I believe he married a Japenese lady that had given him many gifts for his layout over the years including some Japanese locomotives.

 

Brent (and Kevin),

 

I have verified that Mr. Beckman was survived by a widow with a Japanese first name.  The probabilities that this gentleman is NOT TomikawaTT have become extremely small.  As there are likely no hard and fast parameters for RIP Track determinations, I yield the decision to list him there to others.

 

John

[BATMAN]

BigDaddy

Is there a railroad term? ....arrival delayed?

How about "on the repair track" I spent the best part of a year there myself once until I learned I was banned for three days and that is why I could not log in. They had just forgotten to unlock the door for me after the three days and it took months for me to get around to asking why I couldn't get in, no one told me I was banned. I got lots of work done on the layout during that time.

[OldEngineman]

I'm hoping it's ok to post this link here:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184869673/charles-edward-beckman

[selector]

It appears we have our answer.  Can't get much closer to a 100% certainty than that. 

Thanks, OldEngineman.

[L. Zhou]

It looks like he had posted on here one day before his passing. I've seen him often around when I read through threads from the past, may he rest in peace. 

[SeeYou190]

I will add him to the RIP track for February.

He was a weeble, I made some possible avatars for his place on the RIP track. Let me know which one is most appropriate.

-Kevin

[energizer]

third one top row.

[Attuvian1]

Thanks, Kevin, for your offering to find an avatar for him. That's class.

As a vet myself, I'd venture he'd appreciate seeing his MSgt stripes or the USAF Seal.  He earned the former, the latter is a bit generic for a retiree. IMHO.

John

[ROBERT PETRICK]

Yes, I agree that the Master Sergeant insignia would be a very appropriate avatar. It is a significant rank, requiring many years of commitment and dedicated service to attain. It was obviously important to him and to his family so that it is included on his tombstone.

BUT . . . ours is a community of train enthusiasts, and when he was here, his outside interests and vocations seldom (if ever) came into play.

Going with what we know . . . his signature indicated he had a specific interest in prototypical Japanese railroading in September 1964. 1964 was a very significant watershed period in Japan. The '64 Tokyo Olympics showcased Japanese culture and industry and introduced the Shinkansen 'Bullet Train' to the entire world.

THEREFORE . . . I would suggest to somehow incorporate a railroad motif as his avatar, and specifically a Shinkansen Series 0. Here's an image from Wikipedia. This is a fairly recent photo. The original 1964 version had a distinctive black nose.

Robert

["JaBear"]

A big thank you to AttuvianJohn and Old Engineman for your respective efforts.

The following is from a post by tomikawaTT back in 2008…

“So, what's MY favorite kind of locomotive?

• A 762mm gauge Baldwin-built 0-4-2T woodburner with an industrial cyclone stack bigger than its boiler.
• A 762mm gauge 4-wheel diesel that looks like a Peterbuilt hood stuck into the back of the driver's end of a Volkswagen van.
• A 762mm gauge steeple-cab electric that looks like something designed by a pre-WWII tinplate manufacturer.

Or, maybe, all of the above.”.

While not wishing to pooh pooh the good work by Kevin, and Roberts good suggestion, and knowing the avatar is pretty small, I’ve come across of photo of a 762mm gauge Baldwin 0-4-2T, Chucks first mentioned locomotive, and am wondering if it would be appropriate?

 

Chucks loco by Bear, on Flickr

 

The photo is in the Public Domain.

Cheers, the Bear.

[SeeYou190]

JaBear

I’ve come across of photo of a 762mm gauge Baldwin 0-4-2T, Chucks first mentioned locomotive, and am wondering if it would be appropriate?

Thank you for the research Bear. I looked through a few of his posts and did not find anything as good as what you did.

How are these for possibilities?

-Kevin

["JaBear"]

Boy that was quick work, Kevin.

 

While the Hinomaru is appropriate, without the outline, for clarity I prefer the “plain”avatar.

 

 Cheers, the Bear.

[SeeYou190]

JaBear

I prefer the “plain”avatar.

I do too. It is a great locomotive to use as a small avatar.

-Kevin

[riogrande5761]

I was doing a search the other day on a topic which led to some posts a few years ago on this forum, and saw TomikawaTT's posts among them and it reminded me that I had not seen him post for quite some time.  It appears we have lost another veteran of the US military and a veteran of model trains.  RIP Chuck.

Speaking of veterans, there is a small connection to the hobby I was reminded of when my father passed away on April 26 of last year at the age of 90.  He was a veteran of the USAF same as Chuck.  My dad retired Lt. Col. USAF in 1973. 

Knowing I was a train nut, he told me the story of a flight crew mate of his he served with while flying missions out of Korat Thailand who had a case with model trains in them and he would work on them in his free time.  After my father passed away, I happened to mention it on TrainOrders forum and a gentleman named Ken Nagel reached out to me, as I have the same name as my father, only with Jr. appended.  It turns out he was the guy who my dad flew with and worked on model trains in his free time while stationed in Korat Thailand.  It was kind of cool that I was able to talk to him and he also sent me some photo's from those days in 1967.  In a way it was bitter sweet.  I wish I could have put him in touch with my dad while he was still alive.

Anyway, hopefully Chuck had a long and rich life and enjoyed his hobby along with his life with is Japanese wife. 

[NHTX]

     Kevin and all,

     As a retired Air Force Master Sergeant who also fell in love with the Far East, its people and, its railroads, I would opt for the U.S. and Japanese flags.  It signifies a man that loved his country enough to give it the best years of his life but his heart was big enough for him to love another land and its people as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NittanyLion]

I've recently been searching threads about handlaid track and his name comes up a lot.  Given the long time since his last post, I assumed he had quietly gone on, which I see is likely true.  He was a prolific and insightful fellow.  For whatever reason, I recall his frequent use of the term "dessicated desert," which had lovely alliteration.  

[Attuvian1]

Kevin,

Upon reflection, I agree with Robert that the nature of the forum and Chuck's apparent life-long MRR passion make a railroading avatar preferable.  I'm with Bear on that great 0-4-2T, without the border.  Thanks for your labors.  In the end, I think the great appreciation for Chuck's character and extended contributions on the forum will far override personal preferences for his new avatar.  It's the man, not the symbol, after all.  But you've honored him greatly with your efforts.  Thank you.

John

[rrebell]

Either the master sargent stripes orb the crossed flags.

[SeeYou190]

Thank you for everybody's help.

It looks like these three are the most appropriate.

Honestly, after some thought, I am leaning to the crossed flags. It seems that these might reflect him well for a memorial.

Please think about which is best, A, B, or C, and I will make it so.

-Kevin

[SD45M]

I honestly would have to go with C, the crossed flags, because his love of Japanese railways was the most prevalent aspect he shared on this forum, from what I've read.

May he rest in peace.

[BN7150]

Thank you for your suggestion. I will vote for "B".

The reasons are that he liked the locomotive and that the image of a bridge between the United States and Japan is the same. Since 1915, 10 locomotives manufactured by Baldwin were active in the so-called Kiso Forest Railways. After the abolition in 1960, one was preserved locally, and two were returned to the US. (Official site of the heritage railway)

["JaBear"]

BN7150

The reasons are that he liked the locomotive and that the image of a bridge between the United States and Japan is the same

B for me, for the same reasons.

Cheers, the Bear.

[BATMAN]

"B" gets my vote.

Here's to ya Chuck. I'll have a pour of the expensive stuff in the diner for you later.

[SeeYou190]

BN7150 makes a great point, B is probably the best choice.

-Kevin

[L. Zhou]

I would agree with image B too. 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

I vote for B

Sheldon

[Southgate 2]

There are things in my life that are FAR more important than my hobby, regarding faith, family, etc. But my involvement here is specific to model trains, and my avitar is an HO vehicle that is on my layout. Eventually I want my favorite locomotive, but I have to finish it first. If I was to have someone choose for me an avitar for this discussion group, I would hope it was something related along those lines. I wasn't familiar with Chuck enough to speak for him, may he rest in true peace, so take it as just my 2 cents.

I choose B   Dan