essential part of my rr collection

Additional remarks by dw:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Excellent Value!
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

We have verified that this reviewer has purchased this item from Train Video Depot because this reviewer is a member of our loyalty program and was signed in when they purchased the item and when they left the review.

This disc was a good accompaniment to a Kalmbach book I also have! I accidentally bought two copies of this disc, because my original dissapered beneath the sofa for a few weeks. :/
The story of John Allen is both great and sad. It is sad that he passed, as we all must someday. It is odd & sort of appropriate that his home followed him so quickly. Maybe that was appropriate to?
I'm a bit of a narrow gauge fanatic, I think his railroad had some NG on it, but I was unable to identify it.
I would say in general, the film is quite well made and a testament to his genius. The book mentions many mirrors that were used on the layout. They are very hard to identify! It also speaks of some peculiarities of John. Like makin rules about smoking, for the purpose of the scenery rather than health. It was also quite brave to attempt real water on a layout! Apparently that didn't work out.

Additional remarks by Pauly R:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Yes.

The DVD is an historic masterpiece. A must have for every serious railwaymodeller. It's in NTSC color and could be played on most European DVD players/TV sets if it were not for the 'region'protection destined for North America. Fortunately I still had an old program that could copy it without the region-code and so I now can enjoy the DVD I bought in all it's glory. It's superb! Erik from the Netherlands

Additional remarks by Erik:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

I have been a John Allen fan for over 25 years, when I heard there was a video of his railroad, I had to get one.
I enjoyed it very much, and recommend it to other model railroad fans.

Additional remarks by Dennis:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Definitely.

A must have for fans! Like it very much and would recommend it absolutely! It was a present for my boyfriend and he was very happy with it.

Additional remarks by Claudia:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

The main thing that kept me from buying this was the steep price. All my other RR videos were around $5-$20. Other than that I was very amazed seeing the G&D "live" compared to every picture in a book.

Additional remarks by gbwdude:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Seemed a little high, but not too bad.
Recommend to others? A "Must Have"!

Gents, I never write to magazines or newspapers but the Gorre & Daphetid DVD requires comment but not necessarily to criticize the production.

I would like to write plenty but will probably run out of space. Please take note of my initial comments and apply them to my review. I assume the poor quality was due to the early attempts to record John's work and the lack of depth of field was because of the lighting conditions in those early days. Also, I think that much better quality recordings would probably have been made in later years if not for John's passing and the destruction of his layout.

I am old enough to have read copies of Model Railroader Mag's which featured Gorre & Daphetid and it was those articles and John's work which have inspired me to keep an interest in model railroads over many, many years. I have been collecting since I was given a Marklin (3 rail) set as a child and later various bits of rolling stock during business trips to San Diego.
I was disappointed in the performance of John's trains as shown on the video as in many shots they appeared erratic with dramatic speed changes and the rolling stock seemed to roll and jerk along sections of track. Finally, the G&D was so good that it is a terrible tragedy that it was not more extensively filmed for both the model railroading community as well as the general public as an example of what can be achieved.

Additional remarks by Phil2317:
Narration: Just enough.
Image quality: Poor.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Yes.

Hard to find any video on this layout. I was excited to find this one. Wish there were more videos on this historic layout.

Additional remarks by d. s.:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: A little rough around the edges.
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Yes.

I have the book and this is a great companion. I will be watching this DVD many times over. Filled with great information - and it's always good to see these trains running.


Additional remarks by Rick:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Seemed a little high, but not too bad.
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Rare footage, well produced video. A keeper for model railroaders.

Additional remarks by Phineus:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Yes.

I really enjoyed the dvd. I just wish I had Johns talent, I think I have his sense of humor. Just wish he'd lived longer and his pike had not been destroyed by fire.

Additional remarks by dirtyharry:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? Yes.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Yes.