OK, I picked up a copy of MR the other day (something I rarely do these days), and there is a spread on on singer Rod Stewart and his layout (and if you have not seen it you need to get the magazine...its is REALLY a cool layout). So, it got me thinking about what other celebrity types are model railroaders? At one time I think Paul Newman had a layout, but anyone else? What scales do they do? Enquiring minds want to know! J
I don't know for these for certain, but I believe Bruce Springsteen is a model railroader. Frank Sinatra was as well. Maybe David Letterman, but I can't say for sure. Though not a entertainment celebrity, I heard (or read) that Winston Churchill liked trains or was a modeler. Michael Gross the actor was a champion of model railroading and of railroads generally speaking. I'm sure there are many more, but most of them are definitely quiet about it.
The only one who comes into mind, right now, is Gary Coleman. Who played the youngest kid on Different Strokes. Boxcab E50
Mel Torme...'the Velvet Fog'.....had a HUGE collection. Infact, it became part of a divorce settlement at one time..Oh...and since it's Xmas...He wrote t 'The Christmas Song'. Also, Merl Haggard,
Man, I totally forgot about Neil Young. Don't think has any ownership now though. Love the "Velvet Fog" his music is really great! J
What impressed me most about Stewart's layout was his devotion to continuing modeling while on the road. The guy has select projects sent out on tour with him so he can "model" between shows, etc. To me his seeming passion and devotion in doing much of his own modeling was as cool as the layout he has had built.
That's right. I remember I had an old issue of Railroad Model from the late 80's early 90's. If I remember right, he was an N scaler. He also worked at a hobby shop.
From Model Railroader Top 10 celebrity model railroaders 10. Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri Tony Soprano's late brother-in-law seemingly spent more time running a Lionel layout in his garage than on family business. Bacala was "whacked" in a model train shop while negotiating the price of an antique train set. 9. The Rev. Timothy Lovejoy When not preaching to Homer, Marge, and the choir in his Springfield church, this regular on "The Simpsons" TV show spends time daydreaming in the basement of the parish house while operating his model railroad. 8. Joe DiMaggio There was more to the famed N.Y. Yankee's slugger than baseball and later in life Mr. Coffee machines. Joltin' Joe was a pitchman for Lionel trains during the early days of television. 7. Frank Sinatra On the grounds of his Palm Springs, Calif., estate, Sinatra constructed a separate building modeled after a railroad depot to hold his Lionel train layout and collection. After Sinatra's death the estate -- including the trains -- was purchased and has been maintained by a Canadian businessman. 6. Michael Gross Best known for his fatherly role on the 1980s' sitcom "Family Ties" (which introduced Michael J. Fox to the world), Gross actually owns a small section of a real railroad in New Mexico, and he has been the spokesman for the "World's Greatest Hobby" (greatesthobby.com) model railroading publicity campaign. 5. Mandy Patinkin The actor/singer has a large train layout in the loft of a barn at his rural New York state home. His character Dr. Geiger on the 1990s TV show "Chicago Hope" even ran a train on the floor of his office during one episode of the medical drama. 4. Buster Keaton Starring in the silent film comedy "The General" along with a real steam locomotive bearing that five-star name, Keaton later in life was so enamored by model railroading that he had American Flyer trains running through his backyard to carry snacks and beverages to pool-side guests. 3. Tom Snyder The career newsman, best known as the host of NBC's "Tomorrow Show," had an elaborate 1930s-style Lionel layout that weaved through two rooms in his California home. He regularly spoke about model trains on his late-night talk show. 2. Neil Young The famed rocker has been a minority owner of Lionel L.L.C. for years and also has been instrumental in the creation of the company's first- and now second-generation digital train-control system. 1. Rod Stewart Stewart's impressive HO scale layout, shown on the cover of the December 2007 issue of Model Railroader magazine, features a towering city built piece-by-piece while he is on the road touring. Stewart said that being on the cover of a model railroad magazine meant more to him than being on the cover of a music magazine. You can only see his layout by purchasing the December 2007 issue of Model Railroader magazine.
fROM National Model Railroad Association Model Railroading is not just for Geeks Finally, some people may be a bit uncomfortable about "adults playing with toy trains" or may be worried about what their friends and relatives might say. Who cares what they think? But just to set your mind at ease, there are many celebrities who are (or were) also model railrailroaders, such as Winston Churchill Tom Brokaw Phil Collins Joe DiMaggio Walt Disney Michael Gross, the actor Ed Dougherty, the professional golfer Merle Haggard Tom Hanks Elton John Michael Jordan Ricardo Patrese, the Formula-1 race car driver Frank Sinatra Joe Regalbutto, the actor Bruce Springsteen Rod Stewart Donald Sutherland Mel Torme Neil Young, the rock star. He's also a part-owner of Lionel...
Pete Waterman (of Stock, Aitken Waterman) is a keen enthusiast and is I believe building a large HO scale layout based on Leamington Spa in the 1950s, housed in a 200ft barn! His specialist company can be found at Just Like The Real Thing - 7mm and 10mm kits from Pete Waterman's Model Company for the dedicated modeller
Sally Jessy Raphael and her rose colored glasses was a Z scaler field marshall Hermann Wilhelm Göring Lived perhaps the most sybaritic lifestyle of any of the top Nazi leaders, having built a lavish palace known as the "Karinhall" (in tribute to his deceased first wife) where he indulged in lavish dressing gowns, large feasts and an elaborate model train set.
I have never been motivated that much by what people might think. That's why I was in band, journalism, and on the math team in high school. Model railroading isn't going to make me real famous amongst the cool kids, either, but I provide for my family and my kids seem to think I am doing a pretty good job as a dad so who cares. Gotta go. Bruce Springsteen and I are doing some scenery work on a new module.
Great thread!:thumbs_up: I knew celebs like Frank Sinatra, Gary Coleman, and Rod Stewart were modelers but I had no idea there were so many others!
Red Skelton was an N scaler. His estate sold his trains on eBay. I picked up a couple things.:thumbs_up: