Model Railroading > Question from a non-modeler railfan re Tom Miller

Some friends of ours here in Salinas CA are parents of Joel Bragdon who is apparently quite well known to serious modelers for his scenery making materials. They lent us a 2 DVDS set of "The Making of Tom Miller's Fabulous F-Scale Layout" by Pacific Vista Publishing in Newburg, OR, which we found quite fascinating. However, we are curious about Mr. Miller himself and cant seem to find out much other than his layouts, model efforts, etc. in Oregon. What is the source of his wealth that allows him to create such incredible stuff? Where is the exact location and is it open to the public? Thanks for any info you can give.
C.

Carol Voss
Bakersfield, CA

CarolVoss Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Some friends of ours here in Salinas CA are
> parents of Joel Bragdon who is apparently quite
> well known to serious modelers for his scenery
> making materials. They lent us a 2 DVDS set of
> "The Making of Tom Miller's Fabulous F-Scale
> Layout" by Pacific Vista Publishing in Newburg,
> OR, which we found quite fascinating. However, we
> are curious about Mr. Miller himself and cant seem
> to find out much other than his layouts, model
> efforts, etc. in Oregon. What is the source of
> his wealth that allows him to create such
> incredible stuff? Where is the exact location and
> is it open to the public? Thanks for any info you
> can give.
> C.


To ask how Mr. Miller acquired his "wealth" is rude. Unless he chooses to share that information, it's no ones business. Just my opinion.

needles_sub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CarolVoss Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Some friends of ours here in Salinas CA are
> > parents of Joel Bragdon who is apparently quite
> > well known to serious modelers for his scenery
> > making materials. They lent us a 2 DVDS set of
> > "The Making of Tom Miller's Fabulous F-Scale
> > Layout" by Pacific Vista Publishing in
> Newburg,
> > OR, which we found quite fascinating. However,
> we
> > are curious about Mr. Miller himself and cant
> seem
> > to find out much other than his layouts, model
> > efforts, etc. in Oregon. What is the source of
> > his wealth that allows him to create such
> > incredible stuff? Where is the exact location
> and
> > is it open to the public? Thanks for any info
> you
> > can give.
> > C.
>
>
> To ask how Mr. Miller acquired his "wealth" is
> rude. Unless he chooses to share that information,
> it's no ones business. Just my opinion.

Ordinarily I would agree with you but people who put themselves forward into the limelight and public scrutiny such as he is willing to do by publicizing and sharing his marvelous layout via a commercial video, beg the question of how can you afford and time etc. to do it?? I see someone has said that he made his money in avionics
which is highly profitable. Like many of our Silicon Valley gazillionaires who take their wealth and pursue things such as sailing (Larry Ellison)
and Bill Gates hiring a private train a few years back, or Disney's Ward Kimball and his backyard railroad etc.
C.

Carol Voss
Bakersfield, CA

Tom Miller of Microsoft fame? The geographical location matches.

Ray

I know him and he is a very nice person who gladly shows his various train activities in many different gauges including live steam up to 2 1/2" scale. He is a very gracious host. He lives in the Portland, Or. area. But, as one has already said, it is not anyone else business how he got his money although I will say he got it honestly.

Toms home and layouts are open by invitation only.

Andre Anderson
Portland Oregon



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/10 17:45 by Andre.

Might the question, how he got his wealth to create such details simply mean, where did he learn all this? It might just refer to someone with some natural, God-given talent which equals "wealth" of knowledge/talent, etc.

Jim