"Gorre and Daphetid" from Sunday River Productions

[@mikefahey6606]

I saw this in person whe I was about 15. John's house was in Toyon Heights area of Monterey, CA. A friend, Steve Willis knew about it, called John and one evening we visited. I recall a large unfinished tressel with tiny serveyors facing each other from each, yet to be finished, ends. Ill be 79 in Nov. My friend Steve passed away a few years ago.

[@jamesfleenor4161]

I too remember this railroad as a child growing up and my own model railroad. I still have magazines with his railroad depicted.

[@JohnDavies-cn3ro]

Rest in peace, John. Thank you for leaving us those inspirational photographs. Somewhere in heaven, you and the other model railway greats are busily laying rails on a supremely wonderful layout - look forward to seeing it.

[@davecheney8501]

I remember this as a child, the model railroader issue with John's layout inside was like a holy grail ❤☺

[@richardmugg2132]

I still have the issue.

[@samh3029]

Isn't that the truth. I was in awe.

[@gregbowman9741]

I've been a model railroader for years, mostly during my youth. That's when I heard about this great model layout. It's good to see that some actual footage survived the fire.

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

I remember the RMCs and MRs filled with articles and photos of John's incredible layout. It saddened us all when he passed away, then there was the fire soon after (exactly how I lost everything I had built and all I owned, as well, so at least he was spared this). I remember well building some of those old kits like the Purina feed mill and spending hours poring over his images and often humorous little scenes he'd created.

[@CarmineRC]

Like many others, John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid was inspirational to me. It was the first freelance model railroad I had ever seen. It inspired this then 13 yr. old boy to start and build my own Pacific Belt RR! He was so far ahead of his time, and the true pioneer of EVERYTHING that we take for granted today. I do tend to believe people when they say, this Benchwork Layout could never be reproduced.... Besides the time involved, with today's prices, it would COST over a million dollars to do. What a Legacy this man left us!

[@curtisheath6432]

John was the model railroading legend!! I grew up admiring his masterpiece!

[@suelinerr]

Great job. John is so missed. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheDrummerman1951]

John Allen's eye for detail was amazing.

[@markfortin421]

If I were to try...after 30+ years of modeling...to build a layout of this magnitude....I too would be Gory and Defeated.!! This sets the bar really high for most modelers, and considering that it was built in the 1950's, still holds that honor today. Thanks for posting it.

[@banjoman101145]

That he made all the human and animal figures in diminuative HO scale amazes me. Like real people reacting to real situations and in great numbers they were as fascinating as the engines, buildings and scenery he created.

[@gregsmith1719]

Glad that some videos were made and have survived. Thanks!

[@Crintingnut]

When I was about 12, my favourite edition of Model Railroad was the one with this in it. It become dog-eared from constant study and was one of the reasons I wanted to ride on the now Durango & Silverton.

[@robcampbell3235]

Me too!

[@wizardofodds8239]

In 1962 I was stationed at Fort Ord, CA., near Monterrey where John lived. I made contact with him, which allowed me to make many visits to run the HO scale G.& D.R.R. One had to see the layout, crowded in a small basement, in person to appreciate how fantastic it was. Photos/films did not do it justice, and because it was "growed over time," was not easy to operate because of the track plan. I was able to make more trips in ensuing years to see it. He was to set the standards for modeling railroads. "Sadness" was the word when news broke of it being mostly destroyed in the fire. Particularly when the "mountains" were constructed out of concrete. A very small portion of it was salvaged.

[@EMDSD14R]

I have a one f the original model railroader mag's with this layout. Always enjoyed it ever since I knew about it. I never thought I would see these trains running because of the fire.. I must buy this dvd.

[@jerryeads4084]

O.M.G., as we say. THE most famous model rr in the world. Never saw it until now except of course in the mag. Especially wonderful for me as once between jobs when I was hanging out in Raleigh at the stores, ran into the guy who built many of the structures on the G&D. Got to go visit HIS rr. Took up the entire basement. You coud take a magnifying glass to the structures and the detail was ALL there. I dearly wanted to have the patience (much less the expertise) to do one of these, never have. Did a G-Scale for my kid, even owned a model RR shop with some other guys, but I fell short. WONDERFUL to see this. \

[@roadsscholar4012]

I look at this layout and I marvel how he created such a realistic layout without the help of the myriad scenery products that we have available to us today. And this layout ranks right at the top the heap still!

[@vincebreen3-55]

A man ahead of his time for building a model RR. No single person has come close to having a museum quality home layout. Can you imagine DCC on John Allens trains...... holy moly talk of greatness

[@UnknownIdaho]

Great little snippet, I have the old VHS of this, it is wonderful, added sound effects and all!

[@steamgent4592]

Probably like nicest home layout ever built. Shame it burned in a fire right after John's death......Bought the book on this layout when I was about 12 or 13. It was a great inspiration into the hobby and my continued love of steam railroading.

[@davecheney2314]

Thank you so much for sharing this... it takes me back to when I was a child and I was inspired by John's work

[@GiantArtProductions]

Oh man I have not seen this video in years! When I was a kid I had a john Allen VHS with this particular clip in it.

[@Wag2112]

Great catch Thanks for the Upload ! Many memories of MRR magazine here ! I never thought I would see it live :)

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

John Allen was so ahead of its time, The G&D RR got many of us into this great hobby, Such shame that only photos remain of this revolutionary layout.

[@riparianlife97701]

This layout was my dreamworld as a kid. We were quite poor, and I had a tiny, loop layout with a few buildings. Mom would take me to the library, and I'd look at the pictures of the G and D in Model Railroader Magazine.

[@rippersix293]

Docktor Jim it was the same with me! My 7th grade teacher gave me an issue of MR because he knew I was into modeling. I saw an article about John Allen's G&D and was blown away!

[@99ize18]

This model railroad featured occasionally in the "Model Railway News" magazine (UK) during the 1950s

[@MarkSeconi]

Hi. Thankyou for posting this video clip of John Allen's model railroad. I have only known the G & D through static images and the written word, so seeing moving pictures is a new experience. I found this clip to be beautiful and in a way, haunting. I learnt about John Allen when I was a teen in the 1990's. This was by finding Linn H. Westcott's 1981 book at the public library in my little hometown in New Zealand!

[@pauls.3486]

Kia Ora Mark. Glad you found L.H.W's book. John's pics featured in many MRM's, and are an inspiration . Cheers from Bonjing Valley Railroad in NZ.

[@talebatsaleha4491]

+Paul 66rryg hyty 5thc v ct c vvrb111 wwwwwwewwaxddxddsfjjjkk

[@trainknut]

Such a tragic story not only did he die, but all his hard work and such a beautiful layout were destroyed just after, along with most of the records of it. I sure hope somebody recreates it using what little documentation is left. I'm sad to say I'm just now discovering this magnificent layout. But I actually came from a video where somebody had almost completely rebuilt this to scale in Trainz Railroad Simulator, and I had come to That from a recreation of one of his locomotives for the same program, so we can say that at least one locomotive and at a variation of the layout still remain.

[@MrROTD]

Wow I took out a book from the library about this guys set up years ago, was totally enchanted and looked it over read it multiple times, I wondered if I could find something about it just now and this popped up, I love it still remember Archbar Pete.

[@markarrivi3818]

My Hero John Allen The Greatest By Far

[@atsf81rj]

What a railroader ! I found a n scale micro trains box car today with johns g &d on it.

[@williamhackler3307]

This is a great video. I wish it lasted longer

[@chrisnichols4962]

How did he add sound to his engines all those years ago? Was this just added to the sound track?

[@iggygoobie8838]

John Allen was my inspiration when I bought my first Model Railroader Mag. He was so ahead of his time how he got to get those early engines to run so well I have no idea. Todays Kato engines in N scale are outstanding. HO has seen its glory years, N Scale is Back .Let's support the future. Just think What John could have done with todays N scale. I bet he would have chosen N Over HO.

[@99ize18]

Doubt it.

[@mercury7590]

Thankfully, apart from these recordings, at least one of the locomotives, 4-10-0 No. 34, was also saved. Someone made a replica model using pictures of the original, and a video about it is now on KZbin.

[@ghostrider6267]

I've seen it, it's awesome, the guy had a hell of a time building it right, but just imagine what John went through, 😳 likely though was having a lot of fun 😀.

[@whoohaaXL]

Love that engine.

[@stanleydomalewski8497]

The Granddaddy of HO Model Train Layouts !

[@FerroEquus-262]

Probably the most famous model railroad ever created.

[@pacificostudios]

John showed that a "free-lance" railroad could look as appropriate as a model railroad. All his engines looked like they came from the same shop, basically the Southern Pacific and/or Santa Fe. The world it depicted was already 30 years in the past when John started his final pike.

[@whoohaaXL]

Love seeing number 34 run!

[@krazygurl579]

wow!!! My Dad has spoken about this amazing John Allen and his Railroad for years! He was a fan of Johns as a little boy back in the 1960's always wanted to meet him and visit his G &D RR. My Dad is ill now, so this would really lift his spirits. How would it cost to get this DVD for him for Fathers Day? I'm a broke student, so anything reasonable would be appreciated!

[@mjarail]

Does anyone remember the book Scale Model Railroading by Leslie Turner White and his pike the White Anchors and Potomac? He was a prolific scratchbuilder and writer.

[@engineerskalinera]

i'd love to see this route reproduces in some train simulator

[@blackstone1a]

Engineer Skalinera well there’s one that’s pretty close in Trainz: A New Era

[@mjarail]

I wonder if there was a similar movie made of Leslie Turner White's White Anchors and Potomac model railroad featured in the book "Scale Model Railroading" which was written by Leslie Turner White.

[@jrayproductions7790]

There will never be another as great as this layout. These rtr manufacturers have made it too easy with DCC and whatnot.

[@99ize18]

There's no reason why you can't do it the hard way.

[@historic_trains_Sunday_River]

fyi: We’re running a special on this DVD this month in the “Dynamic Duos” category. 20% off all sets in this category with code DUOS. Go to: www.sundayriverproductions.com/category.aspx?id=42

[@davidfrancis3348]

What is the price of this DVD? [e-mail]

[@marcoperez6952]

How did he get sound back then?

[@mrfrontranger7911]

I love round houses

[@thecaliforniantrainchaser5620]

How can I find the City of Portland tape?

[@ВалерийФилиппов-д8о]

Supervisor 👍 🤝

[@MJC19]

I'm stll working on my own Model of G&D 34

[@djmpvae27091978]

What scale is it?

[@MarkInLA]

Greatness of Allen aside, Am I to believe those engines had sound ? ! Wuzz zup here ?

[@trainknut]

+Mark Harris I'm new to the subject of this man and his layout, but I'm pretty sure those were either played from speakers on the layout itself, or were added into the recording later. The latter being more likely.

[@orangemanonsteroids8569]

It’s amazing he used his owned stamps and the postal service didn’t fine or jail him for counterfeiting .

[@MarkInLA]

Who added the sound ? No DCC Then !!

[@progressiverockvocal]

New G&D Video all of John's fans might like to see. These great scenes are being brought back to life and although it will never be John's magical miniature world it will be so close in construction you can actually see again what was so tragically lost. 50 years ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJi0e4ltmtpnpZI

[@joopvanewijk5651]

ik heb een boek van deze baan John ALlen

[@bladeobrian2144]

what scale was this?

[@hornhospital]

HO scale

[@djmpvae27091978]

From what year?