Rod Stewart reveals the astonishing way he transported his beloved model railway to the UK after insisting he’s no longer ’embarrassed’ by the hobby

Rod Stewart reveals the astonishing way he transported his beloved model railway to the UK after insisting he's no longer 'embarrassed' by the hobby

As a seasoned observer of human nature and a connoisseur of life’s intricacies, I find myself deeply moved by the tales that unfold before me in this narrative. On one hand, we have Sir Rod, a man who has weathered the storms of fame with grace and resilience, now found in the serene pursuit of his passion for music and artistry. His life journey is a testament to the indomitable spirit of humankind, a beacon that guides us through the complexities of our existence.

Rod Stewart has disclosed the remarkable measures he took during his mission to transfer his cherished model train set to the United Kingdom.

Last week the music legend, 79, revealed his unlikely hobby for the first time, after deciding he’s no longer ’embarrassed’ by it.

Currently, it has come to light that Rod has taken steps to store his model railroad setup securely. He rented three large shipping containers, and remarkably, constructed a complete wooden workshop in California specifically for this purpose.

Rod engaged the same organization responsible for overseeing the logistics of his concerts, to handle the transportation of his model railway collection instead.

A grid plan of the old layout was made recording the location of all scenery, structures, and details, and the contends were then securely packed and split into 46 sections, making re-assembly as easy as possible.

Rod likened stepping into his workshop to feeling like he was entering a celestial realm, and confessed that this pastime has become all-consuming in his life. (This maintains the original sentiment while using more contemporary language for a smoother flow.)

Rod Stewart reveals the astonishing way he transported his beloved model railway to the UK after insisting he's no longer 'embarrassed' by the hobby

Rod Stewart reveals the astonishing way he transported his beloved model railway to the UK after insisting he's no longer 'embarrassed' by the hobby

However, Rod expressed apprehension about disclosing his novel pastime since he believed that “model railways and rock’n’roll seemed incongruous,” which is why he kept it concealed for a long period.

For the very first time, Rod unveiled his remarkable model train setup, affectionately named “Grand Street & Three Rivers Railroad”.

He told Railway Modeller magazine that he finds working on his set ‘relaxing’ and often spends ‘four to five hours’ in his workshop.

In simpler terms, Rod expressed that walking into his workshop feels like stepping into heaven for him. He enjoys it immensely and tries to spend around 4-5 hours there each day, even if it’s just a short visit of 20 minutes.

In just twenty minutes, I can accomplish a fair amount. It has become quite dominant in my life, although in a delightful manner. At one point, I tried to avoid it, but… there’s something captivating about it.

Initially, I felt that model railways and rock’n’roll were incongruous, and I had a sense of awkwardness about it. However, I’ve come to embrace it now, feeling proud rather than embarrassed. It’s true that music plays the lead role in my life, but this hobby definitely ranks second.

Rod has transported his 900ft of track 5,000 miles from LA to his Essex home, with plans to expand the model even further. 

As a passionate train model enthusiast like no other, I’m always on the lookout for unique pieces to add to my collection. And guess who I trade these treasures with? None other than my dear pal and kindred spirit, Jools Holland! It’s all about the camaraderie and shared passion in our little train model world.

Rod Stewart reveals the astonishing way he transported his beloved model railway to the UK after insisting he's no longer 'embarrassed' by the hobby

After Rod’s wife, Penny Lancaster, spoke up about MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace, Rod expressed criticism towards the host. This came after Rod left the BBC show due to several allegations of misconduct.

On Thursday, the model, aged 53, appeared on Loose Women and spoke about the allegations for the first time, stating that she was both a victim and an observer of Gregg’s behavior which could be interpreted as bullying.

As a devoted observer, I can affirmatively state that I experienced both the role of a bystander and a target for certain instances of unacceptable bullying and harassment at the hands of Gregg Wallace. Regrettably, it appears that several members of the production team were also privy to such behavior.

She went on: ‘I really feel that he used his position of power to I believe intimidate and cause distress to a lot of people on set.

It’s truly regrettable that he can act with impunity while others look on, and it’s clear many individuals are speaking up about it now.

60-year-old Gregg chose to depart from MasterChef following accusations by 13 individuals, among them Kirsty Wark of Newsnight, that he engaged in unacceptable and sexually suggestive behavior while on set.

After he left the stage, singer Rod delivered an angry outburst towards the presenter, labeling him as a “chubby, bald, rude brute” who had “embarrassed” his wife Penny during her appearance on Celebrity MasterChef in 2021.

According to Penny, her husband reacted angrily because he found it unbearable not to respond when he overheard discussions about troubling actions.

The concerned spouse decided it was necessary to speak up, thinking, “I can’t remain quiet, I must express myself,” as he recognized how distressed I was in that moment.

She mentioned later on that she had not been aware of her husband’s Instagram outburst beforehand, explaining, “During that time, I was serving on a jury, which means we have to switch our phones off entirely. Consequently, I was disconnected or ‘off the grid’ for a while.

Upon powering up my phone again, I received a message from a friend exclaiming, “Wow, that message your spouse posted was fantastic! Have you seen it?” To which I responded, “Which message are you referring to? What did he do?

Meanwhile, Penny admitted to feeling a sense of validation when others spoke up about their own experiences as well. She expressed, “Initially, I was taken aback, but soon I started contemplating all the possible consequences.

A couple of days later, I felt a sense of validation as something was made public. Reflecting on the MeToo movement, it’s startling to realize how many women experience abuse by men in powerful positions and choose not to speak up due to fear, believing they won’t be believed or supported.

Occasionally, it may be several years before someone else brings up an issue, which then encourages other victims and those who have endured similar hardships to find the courage to speak out.

During her performance on the program, Penny found herself shedding tears upon receiving a stern rebuke from Gregg due to the significant hold-up in serving her meal, followed by his unwillingness to consume her prepared dish.

The instance when Gregg declined Penny’s tartar sauce, criticizing her for using “whole eggs rather than egg yolks,” resurfaced following Rod’s labeling of him as a “plump intimidator.

Rod Stewart reveals the astonishing way he transported his beloved model railway to the UK after insisting he's no longer 'embarrassed' by the hobby

Additionally, Gregg scolded Penny, a dedicated volunteer special police constable, for her tardiness in delivering meals to the critics during the quarterfinals, causing her to shed tears.

Gregg, who was involved in allegations concerning inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature during the production of the popular BBC series MasterChef, chose to withdraw from the program instead.

After the announcement, Sir Rod expressed: ‘It seems fitting Wallace has left… You embarrassed my wife during the program, but they edited that part out for you, didn’t they? You’re an overweight, bald-headed, rude brute. It looks like karma caught up with you.’

13 individuals, which include Kirsty Wark, have lodged complaints regarding his behavior during their professional association spanning 17 years, covering five different programs, starting in 2005 and lasting until 2022, as disclosed by the BBC.

Kirsty claims that Gregg made explicit stories and humorous remarks of a sexual nature during filming of Celebrity MasterChef in 2011 on two separate instances. She further stated that his jokes and comments were highly inappropriate and out of line.

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2024-12-18 11:51

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