Long Island Rail Road-Oyster Bay Branch

Nice design. Seems to capture prototype operation well while providing good run length.

Thanks Matt. It should be fun to operate.

Andy

This is my room. The column has to stay put. It supports an I-beam, but I can work around it. I'm not an artist by any stretch, that's why I went with the solid blue walls.

Andy

I like commuter rail particularly when it captures something close to home.  One question/comment however.  Do you plan on running this as an out and back?  You have a return loop with staging and you may want to plan for a return loop on the upper level as well.  Otherwise, keep up with the pics, I am looking forward to seeing your progress.

Looking forward to pictures of your progress.....an exciting prototype to model!

Peter

necrails, Oyster Bay is the end of the branch. That's where I'll turn the engines and make up new trains to head West. That's the prototype, so I'll stick with that. I think it adds more operational fun too. The staging yard is only to turn and store trains. There is much more West of Mineola, but I don't have the space . Thanks Peter, I'm excited. I should be done with my first section of benchwork soon. I'll post a few pictures as I go.

Andy

Nice plan you have. The Oyster Bay Station looks as I remember it! I rode that turntable as a kid. We use to walk the tracks from Oyster Bay to Mill Neck then on to Glen Cove.

If my memory is correct, they never electrified this line, still remains as diesel.

FlatNickel, your memory is correct. They didn't electrify the entire branch. The Oyster Bay station is the future home of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum. They will be restoring the station, the turntable, and engine #35, a 4-6-0 G5s. I'm lucky, I live on the south Shore, and am able to visit Oyster Bay and Mineola as I need to. 

Andy

Andy,

That's a good track plan. If you do much way-freight switching, you may want to include a runaround track at each switching location.

Jim

I hear what you're saying Jim, and it would be more convenient. But I want to stay as close to the prototype as I can. I realize that may mean more work, but I think it will add more "play value". 

Andy

Love the track plan and the early benchwork.  Please keep us posted on your progress.  This one has the potential to be a world-class layout.

Thanks Pete, will do. 

Andy

You have a good size room there.One question I have is.Did they just have the 4-6-0 steam locomotives or did they have some biger steamers?As for your layout looks like your starting out on the good foot.

Thanks Streak. I believe the biggest they ran was the Pennsy K4s, which typically ran on the main. That engine was too big to run on the Oyster Bay Branch. Oyster Bay and elsewhere also had 2-8-0's (H10s) and they were primarily for freight. 

Andy

Nice looking benchwork! Obviously have some woodworking talent. Keep us up to date with photos.

Good work. Glad you explained the LIRR to everyone.

Thanks trainman, I have my wood shop next to the layout. I'm only a weekend warrior, but I enjoy it. Yardlet6, there is a lot of history on the LIRR. I hope that comes out in the layout.

Andy

Andy,

if the quality of your benchwork is any indicator this is going to be one heck of a layout. I hope you keep posting pictures. Those blue walls are just begging for some beautiful LI beach scenes.

 I spend many of my younger days on the LIRR Ronkonkoma line going into the city.  That was back in the days when they had smoking cars,  bar cars, and some double decker cars.  

Thanks for sharing your work,

Ed

Looks great!!  I am a big LIRR fan  I lived next to the Bay Ridge branch in Brroklyn  LIRR owned the yard and car floats and the New Haven ran rectifiers down the branch.  The H10 is probably the hardest MTH steam engine to find  I have been on the prowl ever since I saw one at the TMB club

Looks like its gonna be a great layout to operate, definitely.

Not to get off subject, but Oyster Bay was the first place I had a visit to a locomotive cab.  I was 6 and the loco was RS-3 #1555.  That was back in 1960.  Can still remember my Dad helping me up on steps.

AF 

You could add the Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club to the scene.  It is located in Locust Valley.  Not certain that it existed in the period you are building but it would be a nice scene (clubhouse with skating rink) adjacent to the track.  They have a private grade crossing to near the facility.

Thanks Ed. I'll try to show more water by the Jakobson Shipyard area, maybe even a tug sitting nearby. The LIRR had more interesting cars back then, didn't they? I'll keep posting pictures as I go. The benchwork is the easy part for me. It's the rest that will be a challenge .

Ben, what a cool place to live near! Lots of action, I'm sure. My two favorite engines are the MTH G5s (Sunrise Special), and the H10s. I got them from Charlie at Nassau Hobby in Freeport. If you're interested, I'd start there. My white whale is the C-Liner. I'd love to get my hands on one.

Artie, what a great memory from the past! I have a couple of RS-3's for the layout. Nice looking engines. 

PW, I remember reading about that club. I'm lucky, because I live on the South Shore and can visit Mineola, Oyster Bay, and Locust Valley to take some pictures. I have a few of the spur that went into the lumber yard and of course the stations of all three locations. Thanks for all of the encouragement and kind words.

Andy

Oh well, timing is everything Ben. I look for a C-Liner every time a catalog comes out. I'll look into Beaver Dam a little closer. Sounds interesting. But definitely check with Charlie for the H10s. If anyone can find it, it's him.

Andy

Here is the next section of Benchwork. Haven't been able to get much done with work, etc.

Andy

Andy, Looks like you are going to have an awesome latyout. From one big LIRR fan to another Good Luck! 

Thanks Greg! I am looking forward to every phase. Yes, even wiring. 

Andy

Coming along nicely!

Peter

Thanks Peter!

Andy

The next section of benchwork is complete. It's where the main comes up to grade with Locust Valley and Oyster Bay. If you look at the PDF in the beginning of the thread, this is the area of the layout that has Kurtz Iron Works, Latham Lumber, etc. This area had more sidings than I'm modeling, and was known to the LIRR folks as "The Hole". I went to Latham Lumber (which is now Riverhead Building Supply) last year, and the track for the siding is still visible in the shed! I'm also putting heavy duty lifting levelers on the bottom of the legs. $25.99 for a pack of four. I had a fair amount, so I only had to buy a few more. From Rockler  http://www.rockler.com/product...053&site=ROCKLERThey are a little pricey, but for me, ease of use outweighs cost. 

Andy

Andy Nice design and quality L-Girder bench work. We at the TMB are just starting to put the bench work together on a new 4000 SF layout and we are now locate din Farmngdale, if interested in joining let me know  we would love to have you visit.

Ben

I might have a beat on the LIRR H-10 Sunrise special. The one you saw at TMB MIGHT be available

Steve

Thanks Steve. I'll be in touch.

Andy

Steve, I would also be interested in the H-10 if you have one for sale.

Some progress...

I've been able to get the majority of sub-roadbed down, and have installed Homasote and track for the staging yard. Before I cover the staging area with the Oyster Bay yard, I'll wire it up and test the track extensively.  

Andy

Andy

Seems like you are making excellent progress. Nice work!

excellent work coming along real nice

Thanks for the kind words John and Mike. I'm getting more excited with each area I finish. I'm also finding that little adjustments need to be made on the fly. This is a blast!

Andy

That is shaping up very nicely.