Gorre and Daphedid

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello;

Does anyone know where I can find a trackplan and photos of the great John Allen’s original Gorre and Daphedid? I’d like to build an N Scale version of John’s orginal 4 x 8 (approximately) layout.

Thanks!

John

2

Search threads on this forum, this has been brought up in the past.

Bob Boudreau

3

There were three versions of this railroad. The first was very small and is in the “101 Trackplans for Model Railroaders” by Linn Westcott about 3 by 6. The final version has been featured in MR (Search the Index of Magazines at the top of this page) and in the book on John Allen by Linn Westcott currently out of print, but may be available from used book dealers.
Enjoy
Paul

4

First, welcome to the forum, johndrye.

Here’s a link to the most recent thread where we discussed the G&D. There are a couple of good leads there.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=26991&REPLY_ID=265799#265799

Regards

Ed

5

6

Sweet!

7

There is a group dedicated to the G&D on Yahoo. I’ll post the link if I can find it.

Wayne

8

Here’s a link to a good G&D site which includes a link to the Yahoo site.

Wayne

9

Is this the link you were mentioning?

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GandD/

Regards

Ed

10

Hello
I know this is probably not going to help but I want to tell you of the book I purchased in 1952. It was edited by A.C. Kalmach. Facett No. 133. This book is why I am in the hobby. The book also has other articles.
The following contents:
G&D Railroad with layout plan and photos.
(Shows original 4X6 layout underconstruction)
John Allen builds Mount Alexander
(Shows mtn from start to finish)
John Allen makes Miniature Figures (From Scratch)
John Allen Makes a Lake (From start to finish)
The book is 6 3/4 Wide by 9 3/8 Long

11
  1. MODEL RAILROADING with John Allen" In Softcover $45-65 Hard Cover up to $100.00. (Got mine from a member at G&D site.
  2. Historic Rails has the Video on the G&D.
  3. The track plan I saw in this forum was the 1st G&D the 2nd (never finished then burned) was a 27fy x 35 ft masterpiece. ( I am trying to build it in HO now)
  4. The man was a MASTER!!
12

I have a jpg photo of Allens original drawing, but its at work, e-mail me thru my profile link and I’ll reply with it on Monday, its the same plan as Cheese3 shows but with Allens callouts on it.

13

George;
John Allen had three G&D’s. Not two. The second is featured in Sunday Rivers video of the G&D. It was built when John lived down near Cannery Row, in Monterrey. This layout was long and narrow. John even tried to sell it with the house when he moved but was unable to do so. The one that burned was the third incarnation of the G&D, and was located on Cielo (spelling?) Court, further up in the hills.

14

I actually had one of John Allen’s original passes for the G&D. I was quite active exchanging model railroad passes as a teenage model railroader in the 1960’s.

When I got back into the hobby 20 years later, I checked out my pass collection and noticed I had one from John. I guess at the time it was just another pass from another model railroader. It looks exactly like the one shown in the Kalmbach book, including spelling the word “guage” wrong. It appears to be made photographically - it is printed on actual photo paper . John was a professional photographer,so this seems right.

I later got into eBay clearing off much of my excess stuff, and offered the pass up for auction. I thought I’d get a few bucks for it, and did I - $202.00! Of course before I mailed it off I made a high quality scan of the original and printed it off for my scrapbook. Looks just like the original.

Bob Boudreau

15

Keneo, the 1952 Facett magazine that you refer to on John Allen is why I switched from Lionel to HO scale when I was twelve yeas old and why I am stil active in model railroading. I wish I could find my original copy.

Peter Smith, Memphis

16

I was lucky enough to buy a bunch of HO scale track at a garage sale that had packed in the bottom of the box the magazine you are talking about. It was really amazing what John Allen could do in such a small space.

John

17

I need to re-read the book I thought it was just 2, OOPS a Senior Moment![:D]

18

That’s OK George! According to my daughter, I’ve been having them for years! In fact, she says I better be nice to her as she gets to pick out my nursing home!

19

Regardless of how many layouts Allen built after, this is the first.[:D]

Here is my copy of then same plan, a little different but this is from the first published drawing of his G&D RR back in the day![8D]