Allen Keller's Great Model Railroad website has disappeared. Is Allen OK? Are his videos no longer available? I know Allen did retire, but stated on his website he was going to keep the website up and running and continue to sell existing GMR videos via the website. I tried to visit the website today, I found a message asking the owner to contact the hosting company?
To my knowledge, Mr Keller is alive and well.
Allen's material is now being used in one of Kalmbach's DVD subscription services (Great American Layouts?), so there would be a conflict of interest if he continued to sell videos as well. This was mentioned in a thread here on the forums, but I cannot recall which one.
Can someone supply a link to the thread in question? I had no luck with the search function.
Chris Ballinger
Modeling the Clementon Branch of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines in HO scale
Chris, I know Allen's videos are being used in Model Railroader Great Model Railroad DVD's. I have been receiving the Model Railroader's DVD's, but there are a few they have skipped. One in particular that Model Railroader sent was a update DVD on a Great Model Railroad. I'm interested in getting the original first visit to that Great Model Railroad. I figured I'd pick up the part 1 video on Allens website, but when I saw Allen's website gone, I began to wonder if everything was OK with Allen?
Richard
I was/am a big fan of Allen's work. I know he did 3 videos on George Sellios' work, and two videos on the RPI's NEB&W. I THINK he did 2 with Allen McClelland, one on the original V&O, and one on the new before it was dismantled. There might also have been 2 on Chuck Hitchcock, but I can't swear to it.
Like I said, I have not heard anything that would indicate Allen is suffering any health issues. As for finding original GMR videos/DVDs I can only suggest keeping an eye on the second hand market, and getting to train shows. I see them on a regular basis at Greenberg Shows here in the Northeast, but again it is hit or miss.
Good luck in finding what you are looking for.
Edit: Just confirmed 2 Allen McClelland videos, and you can add Harold Werthwein's Erie to the list of layouts with 2 GMR videos as well.
Hi Chris, Thank you for the info. I met Allen years ago at one of the clubs open houses. He's a great guy and even though he probably does not remember me, it was a real pleasure meeting him and talking railroads with him. He had planned on doing a video of our clubs layout when we had more of the layout completed. But you know how that goes, we lost our lease and the layout had to be dismantled.
I spoke with Allen on the phone last year to order a DVD and to replace a damaged VHS tape. (Some of the original tapes are not available on DVD from Allen). I believe he was still advertising/web site-ing last year.
I was a thrill to speak briefly with him and to be able to thank him for all he has done for our hobby over the years.
I haven't checked lately because I've subscribed to some of the Great American Layout series. the DVDs from them still have the VHS "artifacts" and have not as far as I can tell, remastered much if any.
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.