Gorre & Daphetid

I’m sure that name will ring a bell or two among a few of the “older gents” of Model Railroads. I was out digging through some boxes in the garage, took a break and opened up an old footlocker that I had packed away with all of the HO stuff years ago. To my surprise I found stuff that I did not remember until I opened the boxes. In the early 80’s Roundhouse came out with a commemorative edition series of the full set of John Allen’s Gorre & Daphetid. Most of the cars are fully assembled, some have as yet to have the parts bags opened.

Does anyone know of a web page on John’s old layout?

MR Staff:

Here is a pic you cane share with someone in your office.

to give you an idea I found the following,
the 4 car (named) consist of the Overland coaches
Overton coaches, (1 built/1 kit)
ribbed ore cars (2 built/ 2 kit)
40’ Hvy Ore car (1 built/1 kit)
80’ gondolas w/ scrap steel loads (2 kit)
cattle cars (2 built)
freight car (1 built/1kit)
ventilated freight (2 kit)
combine (2 kit)

All still in their original boxes, the ones not yet built (kit) still have all their parts in the original plastic bags. all with Kadee couplers installed or in the boxes of the ones in kit form. Guess I’m going to have to build a special shelf to display this assemblage of cars.

If you are interested I’ve got the full set of pic’s out at my “webshots” album

Great find. I remember monthly anticipation of what would be in the next Varney add. I’m going through old MRRs and enjoying them again, but nothing like what you found.

MDC was still selling those Gorre & Daphetid Overton passenger car sets just a couple of years ago before they were bought out by Horizon Hobby. I bought two full sets. Maybe they were liquidating old stock in anticipation of being sold.

Just came from the “Check out this Ebay auction” topic. Wonder what an authentic G&D item would fetch? I’ll bet the dinosaur lettered and numbered as a G&D locomotive would bring a nice price. Too bad all of that perished in the fire after John’s death.

[:(]
Chuck