I was really fascinated with model train sets when I was a kid. My parents in Princeton NJ had a converted basement and on top of a pool table my father installed a thick piece of wood that allowed me and my brothers to go crazy with whatever hobby we desired or any school project we endeavored. But when I got older, space was a limitation in small Los Angeles apartments I rented so I really gave up the idea of a hobby that I needed a lot of space for-- trains.
So it was really surprising to find out that Rock Star Rod Stewart has a secret obsession that you won't read about in Architectural Digest: he loves trains.
Not your father's train set
Stewart loves trains so much that he turned the entire third floor of his Beverly Hills mansion into a railroad Mecca with painstaking detail. According to the Gibson (Guitars) blog:
"[Architectural Digest] barely hints at [Stewart's] other obsession the singer keeps discretely separated from the residence’s sprawling collection of antiques, oils, and ornately framed photos that document much of his private and professional life. Until recently, very few have seen what Stewart has dedicated almost the entire third floor of the residence to: A model train set."
Jaw dropping detail
"[Stewart's train set] measures 23 feet wide by 124 feet long... a 1,500-square-foot HO-scaled diorama that captures the essence of post-war Manhattan in intricate, jaw-dropping detail, from its recreation of a crowded terminal station for the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads to the towering brick and stone skyscrapers that frame it."
"Its scale alone is mind-boggling, featuring over 100 buildings, some towering five-plus feet high, yet decorated to a level of detail that includes individual sale signs in its tiny shop windows. Even more remarkable, Stewart built much of the massive layout in hotel rooms while touring!"
Every man needs a hobby like this one
You really have to be impressed with his appreciation of his hobby. Called the “greatest white soul singer” ever by Elton John and James Brown, Stewart said:
"“I pity a man who doesn’t have a hobby like this one? It’s just the most supreme relaxation,” Stewart said of the train modeling passion he’s devoted decades of his life to. “Every person should have one hobby that really captures his interest.”"
What did we miss/Comments:
What do you think about Stewart's passion for the railroad? What hobbies do you have that may have over-taken the entire house? Let us know what you think here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check us out on Instagram (@johntrosko).
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