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
I vote for B
Sheldon
I would agree with image B too.
"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang
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BN7150 makes a great point, B is probably the best choice.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
"B" gets my vote.
Here's to ya Chuck. I'll have a pour of the expensive stuff in the diner for you later.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BN7150The 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.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
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)
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.
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.
Either the master sargent stripes orb the crossed flags.
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
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.
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.
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.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
JaBearI prefer the “plain”avatar.
I do too. It is a great locomotive to use as a small avatar.
JaBearI’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?
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
LINK to SNSR Blog
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.
third one top row.
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.
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.
It appears we have our answer. Can't get much closer to a 100% certainty than that.
Thanks, OldEngineman.
I'm hoping it's ok to post this link here:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184869673/charles-edward-beckman
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.
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.
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.
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?
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Chuck submitted a lot of very descriptive posts with photographs about building modules for the Free-Mo group he worked with. Those threads always drew me in. They were great how-to threads about module building and scenery.
If he really has moved to the Great Roundhouse in the Sky, I would also think he is worthy of a spot on the Diner's RIP track.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.