CTMQ

Destroying the myth that there is nothing to do here

green mountain modern house
  • CTMQ’s Town Guides
    • Town Completion Celebrations
    • Town Essays
  • Museums
    • Museum Visits
  • Hikes
    • CFPA Hikes
    • Land Trust Hikes
    • Town Land Hikes
    • State Parks & Forests
    • Peakbagging
  • Curiosities
    • Geography
    • Biology & Geology
    • National “Stuff”
    • Superlatives
    • Habitation
    • Transportation
    • Structural Engineering
    • Religious
    • Remembrances
    • Events
    • Cultural Trails
  • Food & Drink Intro
    • Restaurants
    • Food Lists & Trails
    • Breweries
    • Wineries & Meaderies
  • Blog
    • CTMQ&A
    • Books
    • Travel
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Family
    • Smith-Magenis Syndrome
    • Press
CTMQ > Curiosities > Transportation > A Cardinal House’s Train Layout

A Cardinal House’s Train Layout

Leave a Comment

One Cardinal Rule Here
A Cardinal House Train Layout

December 27, 2015

There are many lists on CTMQ. I like my lists. One such list I’ve maintained is the one over in the Railfan Depot, which is essentially “everything having to do with trains in Connecticut.” This of course includes “worthy model train layouts.”

IMG_0638

And as with all of my lists, once I took the time to compile this particular list, it grew and grew and grew.

Which is fine by me. I like model trains. And even better, my sons like model trains.

For some weird reason, many model train layouts have become seasonal things, and that season is always the Christmas season. I have no idea how or why this became a Christmas thing, but it has. I guess I could say that model trains warm up a room, so it should be in winter. Kids are always off from school for at least a week around Christmas. Um. That’s all I’ve got, but yes, at least a third of the “worthy model train layouts” are only viewable around Christmas.

IMG_8893

That boring preamble was setting you up to tell you this: This private train display is only viewable for a few weeks around Christmas. Or at least that’s the way it was in 2015.

I was aware of Dr. Mike Lepore’s layout before WFSB did a feel-good piece on it, but it was that story that prompted me to make an appointment to get over there.

IMG_8885

(Only a few visitors can view the trains at a time, so you must email to get offered a block of time for an appointment. This may have been just a 2015 thing though, as the WFSB thing brought WAY more attention than Lepore was used to.)

The Cardinal House on Glastonbury’s Main Street is a lovely house. Oddly, the owners refer to it as “A Cardinal House” and I don’t know why. It’s also a Bed & Breakfast and a place at which to get married. In fact, their website touts its “elopement packages,” which I’ve never seen before.

And I like it.

A Cardinal House

A Cardinal House

The boys and I arrived on time, but had to wait a bit for the train space to clear out. This meant that we got a little tour of the ground floor. A Cardinal House looks like your typical B&B; decorated in that classic “old lady” way designed to make everyone feel cozy. It was impeccable and my mom would absolutely love it.

Hmm… maybe instead of our guest room, we’ll send my parents here next time they visit.

IMG_8895

Okay, up the stairs to the attic and the train display!

The aisles to view the trains are VERY tight – hence the wait and the appointment times.

IMG_8919

From WFSB, because I’m lazy:

[Lepore] operates not just one or two, but 14 trains and two trollies that chug along in his attic.

“I lost count on the lighted buildings, over a hundred, I stopped after 100. I don’t even know how many figures we have,” Lepore said.

He first saw a train display at the old G-Fox in Hartford when he was 9 years old, and all these years later, his love for them has never derailed.

“My grandchildren help run the trains, it just makes it a fantasy world for a short period of time,” Lepore said.

His wife Nancy Lepore knew about his hobby when the two met in high school, and as far as she’s concerned, he’s always been on the right track.

“I think it takes a lot of his time and a lot of his thought and he enjoys doing it – and I know where he is,” Nancy said.

The display stays up all year, but it looks a little different each Christmas when they open the attic for tours.

“Some people who come up here are really collectors, I’m not a collector, I’m an operator – everything I have, I like to see run. I don’t like to see them on a shelf or in a box, I run them,” Lepore said.

Amen, Dr. Lepore! I love that last quote. I adhere to the same exact dictum.

Here are some more pictures.

Chilling in the waiting room

Chilling in the waiting room

IMG_8911

I always like the ice skating/skiing guys

I always like the ice skating/skiing guys

Hot.

Hot.

IMG_8906

IMG_8892

IMG_8891

Ahh, the circus.  Everyone loves the wholesome fun of the circus!

Ahh, the circus. Everyone loves the wholesome fun of the circus!

Yes!  (Of all the stuff here, this is the thing that Calvin asked me 50 questions about.  Why is that lady stuck there? Why are their knives stuck next to her? Etc.

Yes! (Of all the stuff here, this is the thing that Calvin asked me 50 questions about. Why is that lady stuck there? Why are their knives stuck next to her? Etc.)

See if you can find the most American thing ever here...

See if you can find the most American thing ever here…

Still blurry, but it's there...

Still blurry, but it’s there…

Why yes, it's Santa Claus riding on a train car with a military helicopter. USA!

Why yes, it’s Santa Claus riding on a train car with a military helicopter, behind a car holding a giant missile. USA!

Cool flying planes!

Cool flying planes!

The plane tower. By the way, here's what Jasta 26 was

The plane tower. By the way, here’s what Jasta 26 was

Ok, that’s enough. Definitely worth a visit when you get a chance. Our hosts were unfailingly nice and the boys very much enjoyed the trains.

A Cardinal House
Back to all things trains in CT – CTMQ’s Railfan Depot!

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusreddit

Filed Under: Curiosities, New Post, Transportation Tagged With: Calvin, Damian, Glastonbury, Hartford County, Model Trains, Railfan Depot, Trains and Trolleys

Sponsored Links

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Visit our sponsors

Hops http://www.ctmq.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/HB-250-X-125-Animated.gif

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
Press & Media Inquiries
Advertise on CTMQ

Latest Museum Visits

The heart of CTMQ

Totally Random Post!

  • Day 7, La Mongie, France (TdF)Day 7, La Mongie, France (TdF)

Sponsored Links

Recent Comments

  • John Martine on 346. Gene Pitney Stuff
  • Lois Palmer-Alderson on 379. Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center
  • Mopar4wd on Worst I-84 East Transition
  • Lester Smith on Sunrise Park
  • Tim on Breweries & Brewpubs & Cideries
Disclaimer
Mission Statement

Copyright © 2019 · Connecticut Museum Quest