Sir Rod Stewart shocks model train shop in Western Sydney with surprise visit ahead of Wednesday’s concert

Rock legend Sir Rod Stewart stunned a small family-owned business in Western Sydney today, singing as he browsed for collectibles. Find out what he bought.

Rod Stewart. Picture: Peter Pap Photography

Opera House? Harbour Bridge? Bondi?

No, Sir Rod Stewart wandered off the beaten celebrity track on Wednesday, spending his preconcert downtime model train shopping in Western Sydney.

The British rock legend was spotted in Pendle Hill outside the Woodpecker Model Railways shop, posing for a picture with the staff.

The shop owner, who wished to be identified only as Marilyn, told The Daily Telegraph that she immediately recognised him.

“You can’t not,” she said. “We’re definitely fans of his and he was brilliant.”

Rod Stewart added to his extensive model train collection at Woodpecker Model Railways in Pendle Hill on Wednesday, ahead of his concert at Qudos Bank Arena. Picture: Facebook.

She said Stewart came in looking “for bits and pieces (for his collection),” and “just wandered around, singing away.”

The 78-year-old looked every inch the rock star dressed in distressed white denim shorts, a semi-unbuttoned white collared shirt and Converse sneakers.

“I was working at the front and heard him singing in the back,” Marilyn continued. “I knew he was train collector. Has been since he was little.”

Model trains are Stewart’s second great passion.

He even featured on the 2019 cover of Railway Modeller magazine, revealing the results of 26 years spent building a replica city.

The 53m-long creation, meticulously crafted, features skyscrapers with hand painted brickwork, little people walking around, and of course, trains.

“He’s got everything,” Marilyn enthused. “A river runs down through the middle, there are bridges, cars, and tall buildings. I’ve only seen it in magazines but he’s got a big room for it. I asked him how it was, and whether he’d finished it. He said ‘Oh it’s never finished’ and bought some American model cars.”

Marilyn emigrated to Australia from the UK in 1979 and the family business opened in 1985. She said model trains aren’t quite as popular here as they are in the UK but the hobby is far more widespread than most people realise.

Rod Stewart is playing Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday night with Cyndi Lauper and Jon Stevens.