Just saw this video of millionaire Warren Buffett playing a ukulele for Chinese New Year, sitting in front of a layout, wearing a shirt that says “Still Plays with Trains”. Who knew?
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/video/warren-buffett-sings-plays-ukulele-for-chinese-new-year-
An article in the NY Times indicated that he is a “collector of model trains.” On the other hand, his Berkshire Hathaway company has a “train set” of its own, known to us as BNSF.
Doug:
Didn’t you know that many of us moguls play with trains. Glad to see he can relax with a great hobby. I have a nice HO layout, his looks like Lionel. I want to build one of those as well in the garage.
Robert Sylvester, WTRR
Yes, and I’m reminded of the fact that the difference between crazy and eccentric is a billion dollars.
Sometimes the difference between wrong and right is about the same…plus or minus $100M.
I was a little surprised from what they showed of his layout. You would think with the money he has it would look way more grand and professorially built.
Good for him, looks like something anyone here would have built.
Cuda Ken
Yep, and he owns a bigger train set and layout than all of us…the BNSF Railroad!!!
He said he “always wanted a train set”.
WIth his money he can do just about anything he wants!
Now, which screenname on this site belongs to him???
[8-|]
Whatsamatta…??? You don’t think this is grand enough or professorially built???
[(-D] [swg][(-D] [swg][(-D] [swg]
John
He obviously is not a “Real Model Railroader” since he bought all his trains RTR.
Yeah, and from the looks of his layout, he spent all his money on the trains and then couldn’t afford any buildings or trees! Heck, he could have at least sprinkled around some green ground foam or maybe a clump of lichen or two… Sheesh!
John
Well, he does have some nice looking ballast and trackside details, and whoever did his backdrop did a pretty good job.
John,
Nothing at all wrong with your comment – and you do like philosophy [:)] – but it did inspire me to think. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not, but I’m definitely not picking on you about it…
All I can say is “Model Railroading Is Fun!”
Rule #1: It’s my layout and I do it my way.
Rule #2: Wanna rivet count? See rule #1.
It’s his layout and he’s doing what gives him satisfaction. Don’t like it? See Rule #1…[:D]
My first reaction was also, “Heck, he doesn’t need a model, he can go out and play with real trains any time.”
But I think there’s a lesson to be learned here about the value of model railroading. Buffett could enjoy real trains more, if he chose, a private car or even a whole private train. He could build his own large scale model railroad with live steam and diesel if he wanted to do that and get away from all the paperwork and regs that go with playing with real trains on a live railroad. He could pay the very best custom layout builders, give them a huge indoor facility and turn them loose.
But he’s not doing any of that. He’s got his layout and he’s modeling the way that he enjoys, despite having a range of options that most of us never will.
It points out how model railroading involves some primal satisfactions that aren’t constrained by money or other limits.Do what gives you pleasure and don’t worry so much about what others think.
That’s an important point in itself, I think. But there’s another that it brings to mind. I get so tired of reading about how expensive some new models are, how they fail to sati
Mike
You are so correct on your note!
Too bad Modelers begin to expect others to do as they think they should.
The big problem is that we put our time and money into a project - so it is ours to do with as we wish.
Now those that want to criticize what I am doing - would like to make a LARGE CASH donation to my layout - we can talk - but I will probably still do things my way!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
[quote user=“mlehman”]
John,
Nothing at all wrong with your comment – and you do like philosophy – but it did inspire me to think. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not, but I’m definitely not picking on you about it…
All I can say is “Model Railroading Is Fun!”
Rule #1: It’s my layout and I do it my way.
Rule #2: Wanna rivet count? See rule #1.
It’s his layout and he’s doing what gives him satisfaction. Don’t like it? See Rule #1…
My first reaction was also, “Heck, he doesn’t need a model, he can go out and play with real trains any time.”
But I think there’s a lesson to be learned here about the value of model railroading. Buffett could enjoy real trains more, if he chose, a private car or even a whole private train. He could build his own large scale model railroad with live steam and diesel if he wanted to do that and get away from all the paperwork and regs that go with playing with real trains on a live railroad. He could pay the very best custom layout builders, give them a huge indoor facility and turn them loose.
But he’s not doing any of that. He’s got his layout and he’s modeling the way that he enjoys, despite having a range of options that most of us never will.
It points out ho
Gentleman. This is laughable. If you took the time to stop, think, and pay attention once in awhile before going off half-cocked and jumping on a soapbox, you might notice that the comments regarding the scenery, lack of structures, et cetera, were in reference to the prototype photo, not the model railroad in the video.
Maxman, Thanks for pointing this out to them. [bow]
As for the layout out behind him while playing the Ukelele it may or may not be his. If it is his then I’m sure it is the way he enjoys having it.
I always wondered why so many assume that just because one has lots of money the layout needs to be huge and perfectly built. Not more basic and fun they way the owner enjoys it.
[quote user=“mlehman”]
jwhitten:
Yeah, and from the looks of his layout, he spent all his money on the trains and then couldn’t afford any buildings or trees! Heck, he could have at least sprinkled around some green ground foam or maybe a clump of lichen or two… Sheesh!
John
John,
Nothing at all wrong with your comment – and you do like philosophy – but it did inspire me to think. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not, but I’m definitely not picking on you about it…
All I can say is “Model Railroading Is Fun!”
Rule #1: It’s my layout and I do it my way.
Rule #2: Wanna rivet count? See rule #1.
It’s his layout and he’s doing what gives him satisfaction. Don’t like it? See Rule #1…
My first reaction was also, “Heck, he doesn’t need a model, he can go out and play with real trains any time.”
But I think there’s a lesson to be learned here about the value of model railroading. Buffett could enjoy real trains more, if he chose, a private car or even a whole private train. He could build his own large scale model railroad with live steam and diesel if he wanted to do that and get away from all the paperwork and regs that go with playing with real trains on a live railroad. He could pay the very best custom layout builders, give them a huge indoor facility and turn them loose.
But he’s not doing any of that. He’s got his layout and he’s modeling the way that he enjoys, despite having a range of options that most of us never will.
It points out how model railroading involves some primal satisfactions that aren’t constrained by money o
Yep, Still plays with trains, real ones 1:1 scale, its a real bugger when he derails one backing over a switch
[:-,][oX)][(-D]
Yes, I do. But my point is that he’s having fun with the layout, not BNSF.
Now, if it was me, it would be cab rides most places I want to go, if the BNSF tracks ran anywhere close. But I’d still have the layout, too.[Y]
Can what was seen in the background be classified as a model railroad or is it more a collection of model railroad trains?
Warren Buffett owns BNSF and Bill Gates is the biggest shareholder of Canadian National. I wonder how often they get together for an op’s session. And on who’s track.[(-D]
Warren Buffetts layout is so big it comes into Canada and I can hear it at my house!
Brent[C):-)]