Gene Allen
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Gene Allen founded Allen Models.
10 Wheeler Test Run
Gary Armistead wrote on Chaski.org:
- The photo below was taken Sunday, November 16th, 1980 at the layout of Seymour Johnson in Montecito, Ca. My Dad, his business partner, Dan O'Brien and I had talked to Gene on the phone about wanting to build a steam engine. Gene invited us up to Seymour's place and said he would let us "test drive" his new ten-wheeler. Couldn't let that opportunity pass us up! That's a much younger me running Gene's "baby" AND this was the first time I had ever run a steam engine. I was in Hog Heaven! Gene was eyeballing everything I was doing. Dan is sitting behind Gene. Well, we all drove back to Gene's shop and purchased two ten-wheeler kits that afternoon, one for me and my Dad and one for Dan. Gene Allen, what a gentleman!
Gary Armistead testing driving Gene Allen's 10 Wheeler at Goleta Valley Western Railroad, 16 November 1980. Gene and Dan O'Brien are seated behind Gary.
Build Rate
- Terry McCauley said on 17 May 2014:
- "Gene Allen told me that only 30% of the live steam models sold are completed by the original purchaser."
Death
Peter Bryan wrote, 25 April 2016:
- A very sad day as we have lost an icon in the Live Steam hobby. Gene Allen has passed. He was a regular attendee at the CIG RR for many years. He also made the brass markers for Tower 17 and always told me if they blew off, “get out of the tower!!"