Celeb Railway Modellers

R M Williams · January 20, 2012, 05:28:13 PM

Does anyone have any tales of celebs into railway modelling? I know about Pete Waterman and have used some of the ideas in his book about scenics - using insulation sheets instead of polystyrene was a very useful one to me, much less messy.

And Neil Young has a vast HO layout in a dedicated building on his ranch.

Quite admire Neil's approach because when he found he was able to communicate with his disabled son via the medium of the model railway he designed and built special control kit that his son could more easily use; then asked one of the US model rail companies if they fancied manufacturing and marketing his ideas. When they turned him down he bought the company, and started getting his designs on the market. A major advantage of being a rich rock-star! Read more about it in a biography of him called "Shaky."

brbluewill · January 20, 2012, 05:34:38 PM

rod stewart is one it is a perfect 1:87 scale model of New York's Grand Central Station in the 1940s.

Sprintex · January 20, 2012, 06:29:04 PM

He also admits that when he's away touring he likes nothing better than sitting in his hotel room making kit-buildings to put on the layout when he gets home - very Rock 'n' Roll !!

Phil Collins officially retired from Genesis to "build a model railway in my basement for a couple of years"

Others include Peter Snow, Jools Holland, Eric Clapton, Tom Hanks, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr. Hughie Green also when he was alive

One more little story (if I remember correctly) courtesy of Dr. Alex Moulton, the inventor of the rubber-sprung Moulton bicycle (who remembers them?

). He also invented the rubber-doughnut springs used on the Mini instead of coil springs, and when he was first invited to meet Alec Issigonis (designer of the Mini), Jack Daniels (the chief engineer behind the Mini) and John Cooper (later of Mini racing fame) he was a little nervous. He arrived at Alec's house and was taken up to the attic where the aforementioned three 'important' men were happily playing with Alec's model railway whilst drinking merrily!! Apparently this was how most major design decisions were made during the Mini's conception

Paul

Pete Mc · January 20, 2012, 06:39:12 PM

The story of Neil Young is an almost carbon copy of Pete Waterman's story.

Pet Waterman models O gauge steam in a setting that is from his days before being a record producer.His layout is set at Leamington Spa in steam age and he asked an O gauge manufacturer to produce certain types of stock that would appear around the area and era he models.They refused for whatever reason they did so he either bought the company or set one up to produce what he wanted.Hos company is a prominant O gauge manufacturer these days and you'll find him at all the major exhibitions around the country on the stand promoting his company wares.

I have to say that they are very nice models albeit very expensive,very well detailed as well which befits him well.

Also,Paul Young,he who sang "Where ever I Lay My Hat" and Love of the Common People" and other well known songs from the 80's is also into his model railways,as is Roger Daltry from 'The Who".If at an exhibition tou come across a layout called "The Gresley Beat" you can see some of his handywork.He helped build the scenery and did build some of the buildings on this layout.

Going back to Pete Watrrman for a moment,on a program on Discovery Channel called Garden Railway,the chap who presented this program,Mark Found,who was building an O gauge narrow gauge garden railway went to Pete Waterman's home where he has a barn containing his very expansive layout.They talked about an anonimous rock star who used to enjoy a session of model making whilst on tour and took a small layout with him to while away the long hours spent in hotel suites and tour buses.I've no idwa who this is as he has had a rather big list of stars who he has worked with over the years and no doubt has made a lot of friends as well.

As an aside,Pete Waterman also owns an APT-P which is kept at a railway preservation centre near either Crewe or Derby.It is a static exhibit ajd the story goes that BR wanted shut of it si they let him have it for nothing so long as he kept it covered up and a secret,due to the failure of the train to get running reliably.He also owned the Flying Scotsman around the time of its ill faited US visit,and sold it due to the public uproar of its poor condition at the time.He apparently bought it so it could be run on the railways as opposed to being locked up in a museum to be looked at by visiting enthusiasts and public.

I'd heard the story of Phil Collins but wasn't sure if it was true or not.

Pete

Sprintex · January 20, 2012, 06:50:37 PM

The APT set is indeed at Crewe Heritage Centre

He also said on his "Trains with Pete Waterman" series that he got shot of Scotsman because of the fanatics - he got hate-mail and even death threats because he repainted it in BR dark green as he remebered seeing it, not in original Apple Green

Paul

EtchedPixels · January 20, 2012, 07:02:19 PM

Ben Ando (the man on the BBC news) is another - he's the same Ben Ando who does so much stuff for the N Gauge Society.

Whackipedia has a list here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rail_transport_modellers

longbridge · January 20, 2012, 07:48:29 PM

When he was alive Frank Sinatra was a model railroad nut.

Irish Padre · January 20, 2012, 08:39:55 PM

Not really a celeb,more a notoriety but Hermann Goering was also a big fan and had a massive layout in his country estate.

Newportnobby · January 20, 2012, 08:43:49 PM

Not entirely sure but I believe Sting is also a model railway nut. (no jokes about tantric modelling please)

4x2 · January 20, 2012, 09:56:58 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on January 20, 2012, 07:02:19 PM
Ben Ando (the man on the BBC news) is another - he's the same Ben Ando who does so much stuff for the N Gauge Society.

Whackipedia has a list here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rail_transport_modellers

You learn something everyday.... Quite obvious - now !

Lawrence · January 20, 2012, 10:27:53 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on January 20, 2012, 07:02:19 PM
Ben Ando (the man on the BBC news) is another - he's the same Ben Ando who does so much stuff for the N Gauge Society.

Whackipedia has a list here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rail_transport_modellers

Seeing the Hoffs' name on that list made me feel quite unwell, Goering I can deal with but the Hoff

thos · January 20, 2012, 10:53:03 PM

What is the fascination with celebrities? Are we so afraid of being considered anoraks that we seek to hide behind the skirts of celebrities?

I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but Rod Stewart/Elton John/Phil Collins plays with trains too.
I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but Celeb X had illicit relations with his wife's sister too.
I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but George Michael also went cottaging, took coke and drove into a shop window.

longbridge · January 20, 2012, 11:01:27 PM

Funny that, I am a model railroader and in my Wifes eyes I am a bit of a celebrity.

You are right Thos the world has become fascinated by celebrities and I suppose its because we are brainwashed by the media.

From what I have seen of celebrities I wouldn't swap places with them for quids.

Irish Padre · January 20, 2012, 11:13:17 PM

Quote from: thos on January 20, 2012, 10:53:03 PM
What is the fascination with celebrities? Are we so afraid of being considered anoraks that we seek to hide behind the skirts of celebrities?

I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but Rod Stewart/Elton John/Phil Collins plays with trains too.
I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but Celeb X had illicit relations with his wife's sister too.
I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but George Michael also went cottaging, took coke and drove into a shop window.

It's funny , but I look at it the other way round! When I hear of a celebrity who likes trains, it just makes them appear more normal in
my eyes, rather than them making MY interest look cool!

Mustermark · January 20, 2012, 11:35:34 PM

Quote from: thos on January 20, 2012, 10:53:03 PM
What is the fascination with celebrities? Are we so afraid of being considered anoraks that we seek to hide behind the skirts of celebrities?

I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but Rod Stewart/Elton John/Phil Collins plays with trains too.
I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but Celeb X had illicit relations with his wife's sister too.
I know you think I'm wierd, darling, but George Michael also went cottaging, took coke and drove into a shop window.

Funny - i dont remember listing all my other hobbies on the Other Hobbies thread... Who have you been talking to?

Personally i dont care particularly who they are, but some of the better off (and well known) folks have some fabulous layouts that really are worth a look. Though it is interesting when there is someone whose work you admire say Roger Daltrey or David Shepherd, and you also find out that they are a fellow modeller. Cant say its much more than "hah, who knew", but it makes for an interesting thread with some of the old and probably apocryphal anecdotes.

I agre Irish Padre, it does somehow make them seem human... After doing coke and tantric wotsit, a bit of N gauge to get back to the real world, eh!

I wouldnt swap with them either oldrialbug. Mind you David Shepherd has a team of people he has helping build and maintain his layout... which was in Model Rail a while back and it is the wrong scale but the scenery is fabulous.