The Mona Lisa of model trains—then it all burned down.
With the creation of the Gorre & Daphetid (Gory and Defeated), John Allen single handedly moved model railroading from a children's pastime to a form of art. These rare films - discovered after a fire tragically destroyed the model masterpiece in 1972 - capture the devotion and sly humor that Allen infused into his miniature universe. Trains in two gauges cross snow-capped mountains and more than 100 soaring bridges. Despite outlaws, train wrecks, trolleys, bustling cities and thousands of miniature people inhabit this world. Get a peek into the mind of its creator to see his innovative techniques now in common use by model railroaders around the globe. From track-side close ups to sweeping vistas, the expert photography of Richard Reynolds and Glenn Beier will inspire train fans and model railroaders alike - indeed anyone with an imagination!
Cinematography
Reynolds and Beier make 1:87 scale feel like IMAX.
Production
100+ hand-built bridges—one man's 25-year fever dream.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Allen's 'Gorre & Daphetid' name came from railroad phonetic alphabet slang—G-D for 'gory and defeated,' his joke about the grim fates awaiting his tiny citizens.
Before Allen, model railroading was toy department stuff; after, it was museum-worthy. The 1972 fire turned his living work into a ghost that could only be experienced through film.
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