Also, I am unsure how the list is sourced or confirmed, but, according to Wikipedia, the following people are model railroaders:
Tom Brokaw
Warren Buffett
Winston Churchill
Hermann Goring (I don't agree with his politics, but he was successful at what he did, no matter how bad it was)
Gene Hackman
Tom Hanks (modeling a Southern Pacific line)
Michael Jordan (N scale of Chicago)
Frank Sinatra
Bruce Springsteen
Rod Stewart (multiple magazine features)
Bob Costas
Johnny Cash (did Lionel TV ads as well)
I doubt the old man is more successful or intelligent than any of the above.