1: After departing Andrew on its way back to Gorre, the westbound
Centennial Train crosses the Dana-Shelly High Bridge in the the
majestic Ten Mile Range. The Schwarzchild and Sulzberger Co.
reefers were a common sight on John’s Gorre & Daphetid RR.
John Allen was born
100 years ago, in July of
1913. Here’s a tribute to
a man who influenced the
hobby’s beginnings greatly
in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.
by Tom Hokel
T
he Pine Ridge Railroad
celebrated model rail-
roading great John
Whitby Allen’s 100th birthday
on July 2, 2013 by running a Gorre & Daphetid Railroad
“Centennial Train” pulled by GD No. 8 – the “Sgt. Ennis”
4-4-0 locomotive.
Prior to the eastbound excursion from Gorre to Great Divide
on the morning of July 2, 2013, banners reading “HAPPY 100th
JOHN !” were added to both sides of a GD caboose as the
crowd sang “Happy Birthday.” Even Emma, the No. 13 stego-
saurus, showed up!
My friend Dave Gorelle and I had fun putting all of this togeth-
er! Hope you enjoy the tribute photos and video.
John Allen Centennial Tribute - 1
John Allen
Centennial
Tribute
1
As a footnote, members of the Yahoo GandD Group got the
word out around the world and honored the occasion by hav-
ing a John Allen Memorial (JAM) breakfast on July 2. John Le
Forestier, who suggested the JAM Breakfast idea, even made
signs in several different languages. More photos and video can
be found on the
website.
Tom Hokel
Photos by the Author
MRH-Aug 2013
