Allen's death was first mentioned in an obituary penned by editor Tony Koester in the March 1973 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. Allen's death was also covered in the April 1973 issue of Model Railroader magazine. It contained an obituary and Allen was featured on the front cover. There was also a retrospective on John Allen in the January 2003 issue of Model Railroader in remembrance of him 30 years after his death.