A couple days ago around the 21st of July, 2023, I decided to perform an online search. I knew Rod Stewart has a model train collection. I also knew that Corneilus Vanderbilt made a fortune owning real trains in the mid 1800’s. And, I also knew that Walt Disney was obsessed with model trains — the size people can ride on (7-1/4″ Gauge trains). My search revealed a slew of other celebrities and wealthy people who own, have, collect, or model trains. It was fascinating to discover the myriad of people that LOVE or Appreciate TRAINS.
A lot of other websites have really done a great job of identifying train loving people. I decided to publish a list of people that love model trains and own real trains on my website. And, I have decided to ask viewers of this list to contribute names and links to other websites or sources of information about train lovers and their model trains.
List of Famous People that Love Trains
Person / Business
Train Type, Scale, or Gauge
Relation to Trains or About the Person
Link
Arthur Godfrey
TV Show Host
Billy Butterfield
Swing Band Conductor
Bruce Springsteen
Rock Star
Claude Bolling
Composer, Jazz Pianist
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Real Trains, 1:1 scale
Businessman, Railroad Tycoon, Owned 13 Real Railroads
Danny Sullivan
Race Car Driver
David Hasselhoff
Actor
Donald Sutherland
Actor
Ed Dougherty
Pro Golfer
Elton John
G scale (Garden Railway)
Rock Star
Frank Sinatra
O scale (Tin-plated / Lionel) layouts,
Trains in "All Aboard" room in his house.
Singer, Modeled his home town Hoboken, NJ; Sold 150+ million records, Train Collection worth a million dollars.
Gary Coleman
Actor, "Different Strokes"
Gil Melle
Jazz Saxophonist
Henry [me]
4 N scale Layouts,
1 HO scale Layout
Entrepreneur, Model Railroader, (As of 2023, owner of 5 Model Railroad Layouts)
Jay Leno
TV Talk Show Host, Car Collector
Jim Scancarelli
Cartoonist, "Gasoline Alley"
Joe DiMaggio
Baseball Player
Joe Regalbuto
Actor, "Murphy Brown"
John Entwistle
"The Who"
John Pertwee
Actor, "Doctor Who"
Johnny Cash
Country Music Singer, Songwriter
Kevin Costner
Actor, Producer
Lionel Ritchie
Singer
Mandy Patinkin
Actor
Mel Torme
Singer
Merle Haggard
Country Singer
Michael Gross
Actor, "Family Ties"
Michael Jordan
N scale Layouts,
(Chicago's landscape)
Former Pro Basketball Player, NBA team owner, model train enthusiast
Neil Young
O scale
Rock Star. 320 ft of traveling layout now on display at EnterTRAINment Junction, Investor in Lionel, LLC. Lionel commercial actor.
Patrick Stewart
Actor, "Star Trek's Captain Picard"
Phil Collins
Rock Star
Ricardo Patrese
Formula 1 Race Car Driver
Richard Crenna
Actor
Rick Green
Comedian, "The Red Green Show"
Rick Schroder
Actor, "NYPD Blue"
Ringo Starr
Roger Daltrey
Lead Singer of "The Who"
Roger Miller
Singer
Roseanne Barr
TV Personality
Roy Campanella
Baseball Player
Sally Jesse Raphael
TV Talk Show Host
Sam Posey
Race car Driver
Sebastian Bach
Sir Rod Stewart
Singer, Model Railroader, Has 2 Layouts (replicas of real cities)
Tim Allen
Actor, Comedian
Tom Brokaw
Newscaster
Tom Hanks
Actor, Producer
Tom Snyder
TV Talk Show Host
Tommy Hunter
Country Singer
Vaughn Monroe
Singer, Trumpeteer
Walt Disney
7-1/4" Gauge rideable Trains
Owner, Producer, Rail Enthusiast, honored wife by naming his railroad "Carolwood Pacific Railroad (CPRR)"
Warren Buffet
REAL Trains, 1:1 scale
Famous Businessman, 6th wealthiest man in the world in 2022, BNSF Investor
I will add a few more people to this list a little bit at a time. I have about 40 people to add right now, but doing so takes time. Keep checking back about once a week to see who else has been added to the list. There are lot of great stories about people and their trains. I encourage you to read the articles that the links refer to.
Eventually, you will be able to fill out a form and add names and links to sources. For now, I am going to allow comments on this post. If you would, please try to provide the 4 pieces of information that I have provided when you mention People that are model railroaders, hobbyists, collectors, owners, or enthusiasts. Feel free to mention yourself if you fit one of these categories and currently have a link to articles or postings about your trains. If you do not, don’t fret. I’m getting very close to signing up subscribers so that you can upload your owner train pictures, videos, etc. You can speed this process along by providing monetary donations via my Donations page.
Many thanks in advance for any and all contributions you make.