I read, some time ago, that the only piece of Lionel equipment the old man had was a small transformer that he rigged up to some lighting in a china closet. Other than that, no trains were kept in his home.
If what I have read and heard is correct, he was a tinkerer. Being such, one never looses an interest in all things mechanical. I believe it was in Ron Hollander's book that I read where JLC would marvel at the trains and accessories on the Lionel showroom layout. And then point them out to spectators, with pride.