Geoffrey Freeman Allen (16 March 1922 – 7 July 1995) was an English author specialising in the field of railways.[1] He authored many books and magazine articles on this subject, and for a time was editor of Jane's World Railways. His name was usually styled G. Freeman Allen. Greater Anglia used to operate a class 321 electric multiple unit named “Geoffrey Freeman Allen”.

Life and career

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Born in England in 1922, Geoffrey Freeman Allen was the son of Cecil J. Allen who was also a writer on railways and was editor of the magazine Trains Illustrated in the late 1940s.[1] Geoffrey left a career in the British Army in 1948 to join the writing staff at Trains Illustrated, and in 1950 succeeded his father as editor.[1] He developed a new style of railway journalism which focused more on business than on train performance and technological innovation and design.[1] Under his lengthy tenure the magazine was rebranded to its current name, Modern Railways.[1] He also served as editor of Railways World for many years.[1]

Allen eventually left his role as editor to become the managing director of the publishing firm Ian Allan Ltd., the publisher of Modern Railways and other magazines and books.[1] Uncomfortable in this role, he stepped down after a few years to take the position of editor of Jane's World Railways.[1] He retired from that position in 1992, but continued to contribute as writer after.[1] He died in 1995.[1]

Publications

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  • Modern Railways magazine – first editor (and final editor of its predecessor, Trains Illustrated).
  • Allen, G. Freeman (1959). British Railways today and tomorrow. Ian Allan.
  • Allen, G. Freeman (1982). Great Railway Photographs by Eric Treacy. London: Peerage Books.
  • Whitehouse, P. B.; Allen, G. Freeman (1982). Eric Treacy: Railway Photographer. Newton Abbott: David and Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8367-1.
  • Geoffrey Freeman Allen (April–May 1983). "The Warship Story". Rail Enthusiast. pp. 6, 23.
  • G. Freeman Allen (1981). Modern Railways International Review. Ian Allan, London. ISBN 0-7110-1123-0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Roger Ford (16 August 1995). "Geoffrey Freeman Allen: The model railway writer". The Guardian. p. 10.