I have 3 N boxcars featuring presidents: Zach Taylor, George Washington, and 3rd, nameless as he is still living. As a genealogist, I don't mention the living, only the dead.
wjstix FWIW legend has it that Hermann Goehring had an extensive O-tinplate layout / collection, mostly Marklin I would assume. Don't know that it's ever been proved.
FWIW legend has it that Hermann Goehring had an extensive O-tinplate layout / collection, mostly Marklin I would assume. Don't know that it's ever been proved.
I only know of one for sure - me.
I was a councilman in the Borough of Merchantville NJ for three years (elected and everything!), and I'm into model trains in a big way.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
More on this:
http://marklinstop.com/2011/12/marklin-at-carinhall-hermann-goerings-miniature-railway/
Simon
This thread reminds me of a few things:
There was a National Government official who was supposed to have been a model railroader in the 1950's. I think it was John Foster Dulles, but I'm not sure.
As for model railroaders who actually ran for public office, I recall a letter to the editor in MR in the 1950's in which the writer said he had lost a local election. The opposing candidate had placed ads that asked whether a public official should be playing with toy trains. I have no idea of the qualifications of either candidate in that election, but it has always seemed pretty strange to question a person's professional ability on the basis of his private recreational pursuits, and it showed a complete ignorance and disregard for the creative aspects of the hobby and the theraputic benefits of relaxing with a pleasurable hobby. It always seemed kind of sad.
Tom
Mike R. White, former mayor of the City Of Cleveland, Ohio, who held that office from 1990 to 2002 was a model railroader. I passed him in a corridor at a train show once and he had armloads of packages with him. I asked, "Having any luck?" he made a big grin and said "It's all good!"
The media would often make light of his hobby sometimes saying he would rather play with his trains than run the city. He must have done something right to hold three terms.
I don't recall which club was involved but for several years there were model railroad modules set up in the Cleveland City Hall rotunda during the Holidays.
Ed
Donald Schaeffer, longtime mayor of Baltimore and Governor of Maryland, was probably not what we would call a model railroader, but he was friendly to the hobby. Under his guidance, the Chesapeake & Allegheny Live Steamers were allowed to build a 7-1/2" gauge track at Leakin Park and offer rides to the general public on specified run days at no charge (donations accepted). This continues to the present day. I'm sure many successful politicians like Schaeffer could be considered sympathetic.
I had heard that DeBlasio, mayor of New York City is a model rail...any information?
HZ
Know of a Parish (County)Police Jury Administrator in Northwest Louisiana, that is a BIG Lionel Nut.
ACY This thread reminds me of a few things: There was a National Government official who was supposed to have been a model railroader in the 1950's. I think it was John Foster Dulles, but I'm not sure.
Good example of my earlier point. While he was Sec'y of State, he was visited by someone - perhaps reps from Lionel? - and posed with a Lionel 4-4-0 General wearing an engineer's cap and kercheif with his business suit. No record he ever had any more contact than that with trains, but because of the publicity photo his name comes up every so often when a "famous people who were model railroaders" comes along.
BTW Carol Burnett's big break was her 1950's hit record "I Made A Fool Of Myself Over John Foster Dulles".
Not a politician per se, but the late Justice Thurgood Marshall was known to have a model railroad. There has been at least one movie that showed him with one. (Lionel, if memory serves.)
This is a tangent, but let's not forget that MR printed an article and plans for "Jimmy Carter's Plain Old Plains Station" back when I was in grade school.
The reason why some people candidates others as "oddballs" for liking trains is because they want voters to think the train guys are either senile coots or immature idiots, and thus a person who's unfit for office. Unfortunately, a lot of people are willing to buy either argument, maybe because they have no interest in real trains or frame of reference for models. It's funny that people see trains as a frivolity, but golf, piano playing, and poker (among others) are perfectly fine avocations for pols.
Both Roosevelts, Truman, Dewey, Nixon, Ike, and Bush 41 all engaged in whistlestop tours. I seem to recall Reagan and Carter doing them, too, but I can't swear to it.
Last thing: I think Biden's rides on the Metroliner and the Acela had more to do with convenience, saving money on housing in the D.C. area, and giving him extra prep time on the way to and from the Senate than with actual love for trains, though I could be wrong.
Uncle_BobLast thing: I think Biden's rides on the Metroliner and the Acela had more to do with convenience, saving money on housing in the D.C. area, and giving him extra prep time on the way to and from the Senate than with actual love for trains, though I could be wrong.
Actually, Mr. Biden was not the only Politician to regularly ride the Metroliner / Acela between his home and the capital. He was a regular rider on Metroliner # 101, and later on, the First Southbound Acela. Other Congressmen and Senators from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey regularly rode trains in the NEC. Regional # 181 was quite popular with politicians and lobbyists.
I met Mr. Biden the first time, when he visited PCs Edgemoor Yard to meet the workers and seek their votes.
Being a frequent rider, doesn't translate to being a Model Railroader whether the rider is a politician, or a businessman. It just means that the train was a convenient way of getting to and from work.
However, it would not be surprising to find that a number of politicians are either railfans or model railroaders.
Well,
It is now obvious why things are so messed up in government....not enough of our elected officials play with trains. Many of the finest folks I have met in my many years are model railroaders. There could be something to this as stress not only can cause illness, but it brings out the worst in some. I can remember in the several businesses I ran and owned and being quite stressed out on several occasions, going into the train room and spending hours at something I loved made a notable difference in my mental state and then some.
I once heard there was a university study done on stress. One thing that was mentioned was that having a hobby that required some kind of manual dexterity increases life spans dramatially. I have built for the last 50 years several model railroads, model planes, and model ships. I'm now a "collectible" at 78, but I feel like I could do laps with Michael Phelps....then most likely go down like the Titanic...bow first..... but at least I felt well enough to try. I attribute much of my decent health to this hobby ( and possibly luck).
Howard:
...and maybe a bit of ornery stubbornness?
Since this thread seems to be wandering again into "what's wrong with our country" territory again, and because I have actual work to do that's more important than monitoring this thread for the inevitable infraction, I'm calling it. This thread has served its purpose.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com