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Anyone Know Randy Rinker? - UPDATE

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  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 661 posts
Posted by IDRick on Sunday, April 25, 2021 3:06 PM

Just found this thread...  I had noticed no posts from Randy but figured he was going great guns on his dream layout, on vacation, business travel, or something else...  So very sad.  Way too young.  Randy was such a valuable contributor to the forum.  He could make the complex simple for a newbie like me and discuss the minutiae on all the advanced topics.  Randy gave me advice on several topics over the last couple of years.  I always told him that he was my go-to-guy on all topics related to MRing.  He will be missed...  Prayers and deep condolences to the family over their loss, a fine man and one of the good guys that impresses all that he meets.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Sunday, April 25, 2021 3:29 PM

LION will add the two cents of him. I am 73... 54 seems liker a long long time ago. The march of the clock does not stop, though one day it will leave us behind.

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, April 25, 2021 3:34 PM

BroadwayLion
LION will add the two cents of him.

Great to hear the mighty roar of the LION!

Some of us were concerned with your well being, also!

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, April 25, 2021 4:19 PM

I'm very sad to hear about Randy passing away. Sincere condolences to his companion, Linda, as well as his family members and his friends. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • 383 posts
Posted by Billwiz on Sunday, April 25, 2021 7:04 PM

gmpullman
Great to hear the mighty roar of the LION!

Yes, many of us were concerned about the Lion as well.  

And, wouldnt it be great if we could take Randy's 30,000 post and put them in a file?  He helped so many of us in so many ways, his legacy is secure in this forum.

 

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 542 posts
Posted by Tophias on Monday, April 26, 2021 6:04 PM

Sorry I'm late here.  Such sad, sad news indeed.  As someone who models alone, without the benefit of club members or friends in the hobby, I've come to rely on all you forum members for guidanc.  In particular, I switched over to DCC around 2014. My LHS owner helped me take the step, then soon after he closed his store. It was here    that I was able to learn quite a bit about DCC and electronics.  But without question, and in all due respect to all of you who have helped me, it was Randy that guided me the most. All my questions were answered promptly, but more importantly, in a manner a novice like me could understand.  I never met Randy, never spoke to him, never even PM'd him, but today I have such a heavy heart. It was like a good friend, or close neighbor, has passed.  We will all soldier on here, it's part of life.  But, for me anyway, it just won't be the same. Such a loss of such a caring man.  RIP Randy. May all your signals be green.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, April 26, 2021 6:51 PM

I received my Reading Boxcar today and quickly added decals.  It’s a Walthers Ready-to-Run No. 931-622 40' X-29 Steel Box Car.




Great guy, I sure miss him!!!

 

Mel


 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Monday, April 26, 2021 7:00 PM

That is really cool Mel.  I'm sure It made Randy smileAngel

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Monday, April 26, 2021 7:38 PM

Very cool Mel, a nice way to remember him.Angel

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Monday, April 26, 2021 8:11 PM

RR_Mel
I received my Reading Boxcar today —

A fitting tribute, Mel Yes

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Lancaster city
  • 682 posts
Posted by cats think well of me on Monday, April 26, 2021 8:42 PM

So sorry to hear about Randy as he had contributed so much to the hobby and this group with his knowledge of DCC and the Reading. 

Alvie

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • 383 posts
Posted by Billwiz on Monday, April 26, 2021 9:27 PM

RR_Mel

I received my Reading Boxcar today and quickly added decals.  It’s a Walthers Ready-to-Run No. 931-622 40' X-29 Steel Box Car.




Great guy, I sure miss him!!!

Mel

Beautiful, Mel.

I was hoping to meet Randy at a local train show - we didnt live far from each other.  Probably saw him at different shows without realizing it, communicated with him about the Reading Technical and Historical Society.  Truly will be missed.  

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 4 posts
Posted by CN-CP-Chris on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 1:38 PM

Sorry to hear Randy has passed away. I did not know him personally however I did read his posts and I did take his offered advice for topics that I wanted learn more about. He came across as a very knowledgeable and nice person always seemed to want to help you out I will miss him and his post on the forum. 

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Seattle Area
  • 1,794 posts
Posted by Capt. Grimek on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 3:47 PM

I hadn't been on this forum for a long long time until today, when I saw this very sad news. I can't begin to thank Randy enough for the help he gave me and everyone else. A truly wonderful human being.  If anyone knows the cause of his passing and wouldn't mind PMing me, I'd be most appreciative.

Someday I had hoped to revisit the Pennsyvania RR Museum and to visit Randy.

I hope that his family takes a tiny bit of comfort knowing how well regarded he was and is by so many people...

 

Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.

  • Member since
    July 2018
  • 661 posts
Posted by IDRick on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 10:05 PM

Beautiful car Mel!  An awesome way to remember a man who was a friend to all and always freely shared his knowledge with total class!

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 11:07 PM

Capt. Grimek
If anyone knows the cause of his passing and wouldn't mind PMing me, I'd be most appreciative.

According to Andy, a former co-worker of Randy's, Randy was hospitalized and died from COVID.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 12:19 AM

tstage
According to Andy, a former co-worker of Randy's, Randy was hospitalized and died from COVID.

That just breaks my heart. I'd say more but I'd get in trouble.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 12:58 AM

Enjoy watching one of Randy's videos.

Once more around the layout in his remembrance:

Love the signals.

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 7:16 AM

Thanks for posting that video, Ed. I took one last ride with Randy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    August 2020
  • 581 posts
Posted by Southgate 2 on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 1:25 PM

I just enjoyed the video. Nice tribute, as is Mel's Reading boxcar. When covid started, I had no idea it would go this far. It becomes that much more personal now. 

I read every reply in this thread, and would like to add my condolences, to all who knew Randy. Dan

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Georgetown, Maine
  • 573 posts
Posted by herrinchoker on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 4:50 PM

 

Randy,

Fair seas, and following winds, you now ride with the Master---

You will be missed---

herrinchoker

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 6:08 PM

tstage
According to Andy, a former co-worker of Randy's, Randy was hospitalized and died from COVID. Tom

Vaccine distribution was still half caboosed when Randy last posted.  He may or may not have been eligible, but I was and all the websites that supposedly directed you to a vaccine site ended in No Availability.

I know several medical people who wore masks, gowns and goggles and still got infected.  Masks were no guarantee. Life was never fair. 

To be sure, to die near the end of an epidemic or the end of a war sucks.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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