I just read an article that nationally syndicated Dallas political cartoonist Ben Sargent is a volunteer with the Austin Steam Train Association. The guy who played the dad on the 80's sitcom "Family Ties" is apparently a part-owner of a California short line. Through Ross Rowland's connections (who incidentally posts on this board), Barbra Streisand, Ernest Borgnine and John Wayne rode on High Iron Trips back in the 60's. Lee Marvin who starred in "Emporer of the North" on the Oregon, Pacific & Eastern was a grandson of a Baldwin Locomotive Works employee. All of these folks have something in common--they are/were famous and have toes to railway preservation.

Can you think of any celebrities who volunteer at railway museums?

> I just read an article that nationally
> syndicated Dallas political cartoonist Ben
> Sargent is a volunteer with the Austin Steam
> Train Association. The guy who played the
> dad on the 80's sitcom "Family
> Ties" is apparently a part-owner of a
> California short line. Through Ross
> Rowland's connections (who incidentally
> posts on this board), Barbra Streisand,
> Ernest Borgnine and John Wayne rode on High
> Iron Trips back in the 60's. Lee Marvin who
> starred in "Emporer of the North"
> on the Oregon, Pacific & Eastern was a
> grandson of a Baldwin Locomotive Works
> employee. All of these folks have something
> in common--they are/were famous and have
> toes to railway preservation.

> Can you think of any celebrities who
> volunteer at railway museums?
Not only is Mr. Sargent a volunteer locomotive fireman and conductor,he is also Chairman of the Board and a great man to work with and work for.

Kenneth Cotton
General Superintendent
Austin and Texas Central Railroad


kbcotton@flash.net

> Not only is Mr. Sargent a volunteer
> locomotive fireman and conductor,he is also
> Chairman of the Board and a great man to
> work with and work for.

> Kenneth Cotton
> General Superintendent
> Austin and Texas Central Railroad

Ken,

Yourself and Bill Nash were the two "celebrities" I was hoping to meet during my visit this past weekend. I have talked to both of you via the internet; Bill also provided me the picture below; but I have never met the two of you. Maybe next time.

-Take Care;
James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Steam Along the Mississippi Delta

james@survivingworldsteam.com

> Michael Gross was the "dad" on Family Ties. He is also an avid N scale modeler.

Ken,

> Yourself and Bill Nash were the two
> "celebrities" I was hoping to meet
> during my visit this past weekend. I have
> talked to both of you via the internet; Bill
> also provided me the picture below; but I
> have never met the two of you. Maybe next
> time.

> -Take Care;
> James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a


wallis@netdoor.com

The guy who played the
> dad on the 80's sitcom "Family
> Ties" is apparently a part-owner of a
> California short line.

*Correction: Michael Gross is/was involved in the Santa Fe Southern, the tourist and freight operation that operates over the former Santa Fe line between Lamy (possibly Amtrak's least populous station stop, with perhaps 30 residents) and Santa Fe, NEW MEXICO.

And as long as we're rating celebrity rail preservationists, let us not forget the great Walt Disney--live steam enthusiast and operator, card-carrying railfan, and the man behind the real vintage steamers at Disneyland and Disney World.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

> The guy who played the

> *Correction: Michael Gross is/was involved
> in the Santa Fe Southern, the tourist and
> freight operation that operates over the
> former Santa Fe line between Lamy (possibly
> Amtrak's least populous station stop, with
> perhaps 30 residents) and Santa Fe, NEW
> MEXICO.

> And as long as we're rating celebrity rail
> preservationists, let us not forget the
> great Walt Disney--live steam enthusiast and
> operator, card-carrying railfan, and the man
> behind the real vintage steamers at
> Disneyland and Disney World.

Architectural Digest occasionally features celebrities who are model railroaders. Recent issues have highlighted—in beautiful color photography—the train layouts of Mandy Patinkin (sp?) from ER and the late Frank Sinatra. There was also a G scale layout depicted in some guy's stunning house situated on the Maine Coast. The owner was anonymous. In addition to the train layout, he also owned twenty meticulously restored classic automobiles. What a find this guy would be for a lucky museum!

Sloan



sloan@auchincloss.com

I believe that Gene Autery was one of these celeberties. I beleive that the 463(Denver and Rio Grande) mudhen was one of his engines.

Please correct me if I am mistaken.

JD

mnfrailhist@hotmail.com

If we include model railroaders, the late orchestra leader and composer David Rose had a garden railroad on his estate. Also, singer/composer Mel Torme maintained a collection of brass locomotives and was featured in some ads in various model railroading magazines in years past. -- Ray

> I just read an article that nationally
> syndicated Dallas political cartoonist Ben
> Sargent is a volunteer with the Austin Steam
> Train Association. The guy who played the
> dad on the 80's sitcom "Family
> Ties" is apparently a part-owner of a
> California short line. Through Ross
> Rowland's connections (who incidentally
> posts on this board), Barbra Streisand,
> Ernest Borgnine and John Wayne rode on High
> Iron Trips back in the 60's. Lee Marvin who
> starred in "Emporer of the North"
> on the Oregon, Pacific & Eastern was a
> grandson of a Baldwin Locomotive Works
> employee. All of these folks have something
> in common--they are/were famous and have
> toes to railway preservation.

> Can you think of any celebrities who
> volunteer at railway museums?


raymondreter@aol.com

At one point I understood that ex-Reading 4-8-4 #2100 was owned, in part, by Neil Young (of Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young fame).

An earlier Dallas Morning News cartoonist, Bill McClanahan, was a model railroader and did cartoons for MR mag.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

> Ken,

> Yourself and Bill Nash were the two
> "celebrities" I was hoping to meet
> during my visit this past weekend. I have
> talked to both of you via the internet; Bill
> also provided me the picture below; but I
> have never met the two of you. Maybe next
> time.

> -Take Care;
> James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a

James:

Hate I missed you while you were here! AS far as from me being a "celebrity", I 'm just a railroader.

kbcotton@flash.net

OK, so they might not be "preservationists" but the next time someone kids you about liking trains, here is a list of high profile people who also like trains
Frank Sinatra
Nicholas Cage
Ward Kimball
Groucho Marx
Johnny Cash
Elvis Presley
Rod Stewart
Dudley Moore
Barbara Streisand
Buster Keaton
Mandy Patinkin
Bill Gates
Emmitt Smith
Merle Haggard
Boomer Eisiason
Roy Campanella
Jimmy Rodgers
King George VI

Now - here's a list I would really be interested in: A list of people who have significantly contributed to the preservation of railroads and American history (cash or equipment). Those are my heroes!

Jim@psrm.org

> Now - here's a list I would really be
> interested in: A list of people who have
> significantly contributed to the
> preservation of railroads and American
> history (cash or equipment). Those are my
> heroes!
Neil Young bought the Lionel Train Company when it was in danger of going out of business.

bas1210@comcast.net

I think I also read that Diane Keaton bought some of O. Winston Link's original prints.