Amato's Train and Toy Exhibit: Hours

See Exhibit Hours

Bring the family to see the Operating Model Train Display at Amato's Toy and Hobby on Main Street in Middletown. The Amato Amato's staff  has created a wonderland of operating model trains and Antique toys in their Middletown store's lower level.

Click For Pictures Of The New Display!

This huge 3,000  square foot holiday celebration of the fun, history and action of toys and trains showcases:

  • An exhibit  of the antique toy and train collection of owner and founder Vincent Amato.
  • An Interactive Lionel toy train layout with trackside accessories that can be operated by our visitors.
  • A new whimsical Thomas the Train layout. 
  • A large G gauge train layout from local model railroad club.
  • An all new exhibit of operating antique Erector sets from the A.C. Gilbert company of New Haven.
  • Many new pieces are on display including many new New Haven Railroad pieces.
  • The exhibit is Free with nonperishable food items that will be donated to a local food bank.

See the brand new giant Lionel Train Layout with interactive accessories for you to operate! Recapture your childhood with the sounds of model trains chugging along the multilevel layout, puffing smoke, lights and sounds of days gone by. Explore the antique Toy train collection of Vincent Amato featuring Pre-War Lionel. Watch the giant G gauge trains run on the huge 3 train layout brought in by the Central Connecticut G Gauge club.

Marvel at the Antique Erector sets whizzing and whirling amidst a large display of Antique Erector sets from the AC Gilbert company of New Haven. Throughout the 3000 sq foot train room you will find Connecticut Railroad Historical artifacts, and Antique Buddy L Metal Toy trucks.

Amato’s Toy and Hobby was started in 1940 by then teenager Vincent Amato selling his friends wooden model airplanes. The tradition continues today with his 3 children and their families bringing happiness to Connecticut’s young and young at heart.  We invite to celebrate with us and participate in the the 70th anniversary events we have planned throughout the year.  

 

The Amato family invites you to enjoy this exhibit and asks that for your admission you bring a bag of nonperishable food items which will be donated to the Amazing Grace Food Pantry.

See below for exhibit hours.



Organizations, clubs or Scout groups interested in setting up a private viewing of the display  should contact the Middletown store manager.

Our 70th Anniversary Train Exhibit  was a huge success!  

Over 3,000 people viewed the exhibit of  operating model railroad layouts and The Vincent Amato Antique Toy Train Collection.  It was presented to the public for the first time during July, 2010. 

Tour Our Anniversary Exhibit  

 

Watch our two slide shows and take a virtual tour of our exhibit!

 Operating Train Layout Slide Show (Below) and Antique Train Collection Slide Show 

(Note: Move your mouse off the image after you click on it to enlarge it or to change to the next slide. )      

Amato's Train Display features three wonderful operating train layouts

A traditional porcelain Christmas village with an On30 Christmas train, a brand new giant multi-level Lionel Train filled with interactive accessories for you to operate, and the Central Connecticut G Gauge club huge layout running 3 large scale trains.

The non- stop action of these operating layouts combined with our display of a fantastic collection of toy trains ( some large enough to ride on) is sure to thrill model railroaders, children of all ages, and anyone who wants to step back to a time when all metal toys made in the USA were as large as a child's imagination.

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The Amato’s family and friends look forward to having you and your family visit our store and displays. 

Train and Toy Collection Slide Show

Mr. Amato's personal collection of toys and trains which has been in storage for over 30 years is on display to the public for the first time.

The collection features many rare pieces and consists of pre-war model trains, train memorabilia, and antique toy vehicles.
This impressive display of Lionel, Ives and other  pre-war tinplate toy trains, plus  O Gauge Lionel, and American Flyer trains  will delight collectors as well as children. A Doepke Yardbird engine and car which once operated outdoors in the Amato's yard are large enough to ride on!

Other local private collections of Lionel, American Flyer, and Louis Marx Trains will also be a part of the large toy train display. In addition, Mr. Amato's collection of  Keystone, Buddy L and other  pre-war die-cast and steel toy vehicles is on display.

Train Exhibit Hours

Please check back for more train display hours coming soon. AND... 

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