An Upper Valley man has created what is perhaps the longest home model train display in New England.
Over the holidays, Bob Kivela opens up his home to anyone who wants to stand in wonder in front of the display, which measures over 60 feet. VPR鈥檚 Betty Smith took him up on the offer.
Listen to the audio postcard above.
Under the eaves of an old farmhouse in Piermont, New Hampshire, Kivela鈥檚 setup stretches across most of his home鈥檚 second floor. There's a train station at one end, a Christmas village at the other, and a crazy quilt of scenes in between.
Kivela pointed out one that reflected his own house.
鈥淲e got the pond across the street, and this is Piermont railroad station,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 gave Cabot Creamery a little plug over there.鈥�
It鈥檚 taken Kivela 20 years to construct it all, and it includes a replica train that used to run through White River Junction, authentic-sounding bells, track noise and conductor calls, and real, liquid smoke puffing from an engine.
Once upon a time, model train sets were at the top of many a kid鈥檚 Christmas list, and Kivela himself remembers a toy train set under his childhood tree. These days, he holds an open house for two weekends around Christmastime, offering guests a glimpse into holidays past.
For more information or to schedule a visit, call 603-272-5878 (before 8 p.m.) or email r_kivela@yahoo [dot] com. Entry is free, but donations are accepted.
