I am so sorry to hear this. I knew his name from long time ago and always sad to see one catch the final westbound. I wish my best to his family in thoughts and prayers. And for those knew him well, my sincere sympathies.
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
Yes, I met Rich just this year while talking to Bob. I did not know that he also passed away.
This year was also the first time I became familiar with Bob's pin system. He mentioned it while we were talking and at first it sounded too much like Ed Ravenscroft's tack thing, which is just too visible to me - the club I belonged to many years ago initially went with Rail-Lynx IR control, and guys were drilling out the center of their radiator fans on diesels to locate the IR sensor for decent response, and no way was I going to mutilate my models that way. So Bob took me over to the HO layout and showed me some cars that were set up for the pin system - and wow, it does what the tack system does without having to mutilate anything! I may actually give it a try once I get a layout up and running - reading car numbers is not super easy for me now that I have bifocals unless I build the entire layout at chin height.
Like I said, Bob could sometimes come off as a bit of a curmudgeon, but in truth he was easy to talk to and very passionate about the hobby. I am very much an introvert and don;t go out of my way to meet people but a few years ago I noticed Bob with his name tag on and, while in an decent sized group there could be more than one guy named Bob, I took a chance and introduced myself, having previously been involved in conversations with him here. Glad I had the chance to know him in person as well as virtually, even if it was only once a year.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hello all,
I was one of Bob's regular operators and he was a wealth of knowledge. Our local members have lost both of our founding fathers since Christmas. Randy not sure if you realized, but if you were at the Cranberry Mall show, I'm sure you met Rich Steiner. He passed away while dismantling the display's at the mall show. As a group we were dismayed and we were concerned how Bob would react. He made the decision early on that he was going to keep the Clarion Model Railroad club in operation and the I-80 group active. One of Bob's last emails was sent March 24h at 9:36 AM to remind the I-80 Group members of an ops session in Erie PA that weekend.
Thankfully we're a resilient bunch and we plan to carry on. Currently both of Bob's adult sons plan on keeping the Conrail Low-Grade, and the various shorlines that interchange with Conrail, in opertation. I'm pretty sure if Bob has given you an invite to stop on a Thursday night, that offer still stands. I know Bob had some "heated" conversations with some on using the pin system and some of his other beliefs, but he held those because his goal was to get has many interested in the happy and have fun at operations! My proudest memory of Bob was his presenting a certificate to one of his youngest members after an OPTUD. I believe he's around 10 or twelve and he actually operated in excess of 12 hours! Bob was that kind of person. He will be missed....
Oh, that's a bummer. I liked Bob's PASSION and how he would CAPITALIZE lots of WORDS just to let us know how he FELT. Hearing that he had been a machinist like me makes me think all the more of him. Well, HAPPY TRAILS Bob, and I hope you know you're missed by all. I guess his passing is a warning to us all that life can end suddenly. Enjoy it.
Lou
My deepest sympathy to all who knew, admired and loved him. He will be missed. His words inspired me to try the gleem method, giving me countless hours to do something more productive than cleaning track.
Bob, now that you've marked up on The Final Callboard, be ready for action. Heaven has lots of trains to move, and they're a full crew place.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with ideas from CMR Products)
I just opened this thread and this was a shocker. It seems to me had been posting fairly recently. He had strong opinions and I always enjoyed reading what he had to say even when I didn't agree with him. He will be missed.
We cross paths with a lot of people in our lives even if it is only on the internet. Bob gave good advice to many of us over the years and I feel fortunate to have received some of that advice.
My condolences to all that were close to him.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
My sympathy to Bob's family & friends for their loss.
Dusty
Soo Line fan He helped a lot of new as well as experienced modelers.
He helped a lot of new as well as experienced modelers.
Yes he did. I appreciated his willingness to share his knowledge. My condolences to his friends and family.
Rest in peace.
T e d
Very sad about the news. We lost another valued friend and knowledgeable forum member. I remember Bob for his comments about operations on his large layout. He helped a lot of new as well as experienced modelers.
Rest in peace, Bob
Jim
Sorry to hear the news. Condolences to his family. As another has mentioned, news like this can serve as a reminder to cherish the time we spend with our friends and family.
- Douglas
Sad news.
My very sincere condolences to Bob's family and friends.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Condolences to friends and family.... Sorry for their loss.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
zstripe Truly sad new's indeed. Very likable person, knowledgeable and compationable. Thoughts and prayers, to His family. Makes me wonder why all these people passing younger than I.... Take Care! Frank
Truly sad new's indeed. Very likable person, knowledgeable and compationable. Thoughts and prayers, to His family.
Makes me wonder why all these people passing younger than I....
Take Care!
Frank
Very well said Frank, and I as well will miss his input on subjects here. He was very knowlegable and well spoken. I wish I could have known him better.
Condolences to his Family and Friends.
Double Green to you Bob, we will remember.
Johnboy out..........................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Very sad news..My condolences to his family. Sad news also for the Clarion MRR Club. Very nice layout.
Randy, thanks for letting us know. I appreciate all of Bob's contributions to this forum and his knowledge and experience will be missed.
Sorry to read of fellow forum member and machinist Bob H's passing. My condolences.
Peter
Yes, very sad news, his family will be in my prayers.
Sheldon
Thanks, Randy.
Do you have a link to photos of his layout?
Rich
Alton Junction
From talking to him, I knew he had some heart issues, but he lost a lot of weight at the direction of his doctors and was eating healthy and around Christmas when I last met with him, he seemed to be in fine health. From the post of another member of the Clarion club, apparantly his wife found him unresponsive in the basement where he was likely preparing his layout for an upcoming op session.
I know he mentioned it a few times, but never in full detail, but prior to retirement, Bob worked for one of the large mobile home manufacturers in the area. Using his knowledge, he had a large basement built with steel beams on top, and custom designed a 28x80 double wide to sit on top and cover the hole, giving him a huge space to build a layout. He had a photo album he always had at the show which mostly had shots of the scratchbuilt sctructures he made for the layout, but he did show me some pictures of getting the house in place - they had a few interesting moments, imagine something 80 feet long (plus the tongue and truck pulling it) and not enough of a grade transition. All worked out int he end. Though I only ever saw it in picture, the layout was pretty amazing. The structures he was making were exact duplicates, some still stand, others he just worked from historical pictures, but the album contained botht he protoype photos and the finished models, and they were something else. At the show he'd always be working on the next one. In between talking with people, he'd glue on a wall, or roof, or some details, weight it down, and wait for the joint to set up.
Often, death can come unexpectedly. Does anyone know if Bob was experiencing medical problems?
To his credit, he never complained publicly on this forum about his health.
Sadly, a lot of us are getting to the age where we are losing loved ones, friends and family. I'd like to add my condolences to his friends and family.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
AS I would for anyone in the Diner Thread, I have lit a candle for his passing.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Sad news indeed!
Bob was a strong advocate for realistic operations on our layouts and, deriving from his posts, a straight forward person. He added a lot of value to this forum.
He will certainly be missed!
Condolences to his family.
Wow, very surprised to hear the sad news.
Bob posted on this forum a fair amount and was always issuing invitations to members to visit his layout.
He was also a proponent of the Metal Polish method of cleaning track.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/244745.aspx?page=1
He will be missed.
Very sad news..My condolences to his family and friends..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
My condolences to his family.
I always enjoyed his posts. He will be missed.
Paul
This is so very sad. I didnt know Bob like most of you. I would like to say this....
I only knew Bob from this forum. And only recently. On my coupler thread Bob had made a few mentions, posed a couple good things to think about, and ultimately, even if he didnt know it, he helped indirectly with some of its re-designing. Because of his good ideas.
Bob must have been that much into operation as you folks say he was. He certainly mentioned it, and I tried to accomodate. I think he would have liked my results. And because of him, everytime i use them now i am sure i will think of him.
I wanted my project to benefit ALL modellers. However, I think that when i am able to return to my project (still unfinished), I would like to dedicate it to his memory.
I think its the least I can do for such a nice guy i never met, who helped me without hesitation or being asked. Even if he didnt realize he was doing it. THAT, is a modellers modeller! Im sorry i didnt get to know him better. My sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and the club he loved so much.
Very sad news indeed. Thank You Dave for posting his Obit.
In sadness and heavy heart,
Douglas C.
PM Railfan