Long Island Rail Road-Oyster Bay Branch

 

Hey Mike,

 

Looking forward to seeing your pictures. Enjoy this layout before you build the next one!

 

Andy

Impressive!

Peter

Thanks Peter!

 

 

Andy

This is my first scenery attempt on the layout. I just installed the retaining wall for the grade. I'm no expert, but i'm pleased with the results. 

 

Andy

Andy,

 

Great job on the wall, it looks amazing!  What grade is that track going up at?

 

-Mike

Andy,

It looks awesome well done!

 

Mike

Hi Andy, It looks very nice, did you make the wall yourself, or buy the panels? I enjoy seeing your progress. Keep up the good work. Rich

Mike,

The grade is a shade under 2%. Rich, I bought the Pennsy flex walls from Forum sponsor Scenic Express. The walls are 1/2" thick, and bend very easily. 

 

Andy

This is so nice to follow.  It is giving me inspiration as I begin my layout.  Looking forward to see progress!!!

Thanks Mike, I appreciate that. Good luck on your layout!

 

Andy

 

 

 

Thanks John!

 

Andy

That looks great, and my favorite engine to boot! Thanks for posting updates, I can't wait to see more LIRR equipment in action.

-Tom

It's my favorite engine too, Tom. And that will be the first one I run when I make my first official run when the layout is complete. 

 

Andy

I've been installing the signals for the past few months. They are PRR Single Color Position Light signals. Haven't been able to work on the layout as much as I would have liked, but I'm pleased with the progress. I got the signals from Terry Christopher at Custom Signals. I wired the main panel myself, and have most of the signals in. I'll begin testing the signals in the near future. These signals are unbelievable!

 

Andy

 

 

Wow! You are doing some great work there, keep it up. The layout looks great, and so do the signals. Rich

This is turning out great, Andy. Like the attention to detail with the signal placement and the industry layout along the route is great.

 

The plan appears to be a point-to-loop/point-to-point operation. Have you set up a continuous run operation as well?

I just found this post. The layout is looking fantastic. Keep up the great work and progress photos.

Thanks Rich, I think the signals give the layout a nice touch. Matt, that's a great description of the operations. I won't have continuos running though. I guess I'll have to pay attention at all times! Oyster Bay is the end of the branch, and is just the yard and turntable. There are local organizations that are trying to restore the turntable, and one of the last 4-6-0 G5s engines, as well as the station itself. Thank you for the kind words Spence.

 

 

Andy

Andy coming along nicely, love the pic of the :LIRR sunrise trail loco

steve

I grew up in a town called Bayville and commuted to NYC for almost 5 years on that line, so I can't wait to continue to see how this turns out.

 

Are you going to include a Mill Neck station?  Quite possibly the most cool looking small train station I've ever seen, here's a picture...

 

Thanks Steve, that engine is my favorite. Murnane, I agree that is one of the coolest looking stations, but unfortunately, I don't have the space for it. I'm transitioning from Locust Valley into Oyster Bay, even though Mill Neck would be a logical choice. Check the layout plan earlier in the thread, and I think you'll see what I mean. If I had the room, I would have shown the whole branch! Lots of interesting stuff, as you well know.

 

Andy

My grandparents lived in East Norwich. I used to visit them from Minnesota in the summers. My grandfather would take me down to the turntable at Oyster Bay several times during each visit to watch the diesels get turned. I even got a couple of cab rides on to the table, around and back off again. We also rode the line together on several occasions, sometimes just a stop or two and back, and sometimes all the way into the city. This was early 70s.

 

I was last there as an adult in 1993 to visit my grandfather a couple of years before he passed away. My wife and I had been in Manhattan and took the Port Jefferson branch out to Syosset. After our visit we stayed in Oyster Bay overnight and took the first train from there back into the city the next morning. Alcos had changed to EMDs and no cab ride this time, but the experience was still great. Lots of memories.

 

I look forward to see how your project comes along.

Great memories Len. Hopefully I can bring some more of those back for you as I go along. The turntable was taken out of service sometime in the 70's. But, as mentioned above, they are trying to restore the turntable, and one of the last steam engines, and will be turning the Oyster Bay station in to a museum. 

 

Andy

I've made some pretty good progress recently. I finished the benchwork for the yard area, and laid most of the track. I just need to install the turntable, and the lead. The second picture is the open area, to allow for an access hatch in the yard. The open space in the third picture is where the 24" Millhouse River Studio turntable will be installed. The open space in the last picture is the same spot for the turntable, only covered by sub roadbed and Homasote. I will need to cut out the staging area below the turntable for ease of installation and access. I just need to move a joist, and reinforce the area.

 

Andy

   

Andy your work is GREAT!!!  We have made some tremendous progress on the TMB train club layout and hope you visit us during open house season starting thanksgiving weekend

Steve

Thanks Steve. I look forward to paying you guys a visit.

 

Andy

Andy 

 

Looks Amazing, great work!!! Keep it up!!

 

Mike

Looks great!

 

Peter

Mike, Peter,

 

Thanks for the kind words. I just cut the hole for the turntable this morning. I cut and moved a joist below the staging area that gives me access to the turntable. The turntable has to fit in a tight space, with the staging tracks below, and a yard track right next to it. All I need to do is install the turntable. The quality is outstanding. I'm looking forward to the finished product. I'll post pics and a video when it's up and running.

 

Andy

Andy

 

Your work is looking very good.  Nice and neat, clearly very nice bench work as well.

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks Rich. You and the guys here inspire me!

 

Andy

I grew up in Glen Cove and rode the Oyster Bay Branch into the city many times. Your track plan looks outstanding and captures the flavor of the area. I'll be following your progress with great interest.

Thanks Joe, glad you like the plan. I hope it brings back more memories as I complete some buildings and scenery. I just installed the turntable today. I'll post some pics. Because of space limitation, I had to compromise on the number of stations that I could model. I wish I had room to model more, but I'm happy with my choices. 

 

Andy

Just installed the turntable today, and then had the Golden Spike ceremony! Next, I'll start wiring the yard for power, and install manual ground throws for the yard switches.

 

Andy

 

This is my first attempt at Ballasting. First I painted the track a flat camo brown, then ballasted. Instead of using wet water, I tried using some isopropyl alcohol. I mixed some brown paint and water with the white glue to tie it in with the track. in the first picture, the track to the left is painted, to the right is unpainted. Let me know what you think! 

 

Andy

 It's been a while, but I've been painting track and ballasting as time will allow. I recently finished painting all of the track on the main level, and all of the visible ones in the staging area. The second to last shot shows part of the staging track, and the last one shows the glued ballast on the left, and unglued on the right. 

 

 

Andy

 

 

 

Andy, thanks for the excellent photos and descriptions.

 

Suggestion:  Use the "Edit" function and edit the thread title to insert the date of the new photos.  Makes it much easier to follow your progress if you do so.  Thanks.

 

You already do.

You know can't wait to see it further. Anything LIRR is amazing to see. Best of luck .
Mike