Northern NY, rebuilding some MR History

Great Divide Line Sep 12, 2021

  1. Great Divide Line

    Great Divide Line TrainBoard Member

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    I noticed an older thread on the Gorre & Daphetid and thought I'd stop in and say hi and let this group know that John Allen's famous layout is finally being rebuilt as a museum quality recreation. I owe much of my career as a museum exhibit specialist to John and his amazing influence as a master craftsman on me since I was a kid back in the 1960's.

    Now in my retirement, I put a few additions to the second floor space in the large garage I built years ago for a layout so I could recreate the odd (diagonal) room shape of the G&D. I have been enthralled with John's place for so long I ended up deciding to treat this like a museum exhibit project of my own making, rather than just build my own design for a layout. So far the task has me super busy and I am having the time of my life keeping up with this man and it is beginning to look right in some of the areas now.

    Here's a couple of links and a short video. Please take a look and stop by to see how I am doing on this. There is some wonderful support from the modeling community so far and it is fun to see something a little different as it unfolds. So please hit the follow option or send in an email on the web page so when I get all that all figured out, I can update everyone on the list as things progress here. Hope ya have some fun seeing this progress...
    Randy Decker

    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063657332404

    www.greatdivideline.com

     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2021
  2. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome to TrainBoard! Nice video
     
  3. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Randy, welcome. You're creating a lovely layout in the style of John Allen. That's an impressive video. Thanks for sharing.
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome to TrainBoard!
     
  5. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Welcome aboard, Randy. How far north in NY are you? My late wife was raised in Watertown.
     
  6. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Welcome to TrainBoard!
     
  7. Great Divide Line

    Great Divide Line TrainBoard Member

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    Hey Jim, Northville NY closer to Saratoga Springs than Watertown.
     
  8. Great Divide Line

    Great Divide Line TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you all for the welcome.

    I realize this is sort of an odd project. But the history alone should be interesting to see unfold. So far many modelers are enjoying what is, more or less, like private access to the work shop of a Museum.

    Recreating someone else work as closely as possible, following John's 95% scratch built approach to his layout is one incredible task. As odd as it sounds, John more or less created me from his massive influence on me as a craftsman since I was young. So it will also be fun to see if I can do it. Nothing is guaranteed. This man was a model making hurricane, so my skills and supplies and tools are tasked to their limits all the time.

    Hope anyone who follows along enjoys seeing new areas as they unfold. MR is going to run a series on this build and also run some great older shots of John's original at the same time as a comparative sort of article series. Will begin with Tony Koester's Annual Planning Guide in January then more articles in MR Mag on a random schedule.

    Joe Fugate and the MRH is hosting a nice history Trainmasters TV program on the 18th. He has asked me to show some of my layout and speak of John along with Richard Bale who has some wonderful stories of John and those days. Please sign up for the show.

    https://trainmasters.tv/programs/qat-09-invite
     
    Hytec likes this.
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Are those shows downloadable? Or must they be viewed on-line only?
     
  10. Great Divide Line

    Great Divide Line TrainBoard Member

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    I am sorry but I really do not know much about it.
     
  11. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Didn't I used to go to Boy Scout camp in Northville many years ago?
     
  12. Great Divide Line

    Great Divide Line TrainBoard Member

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    I think it is long closed but yes in a small hamlet just north of here called Hope Falls there was a beautiful camp along the River.

    Randy
     

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