Long Island Rail Road-Oyster Bay Branch

Just added some ground cover in the area in front of the recently installed retaining wall, and in the area behind the grade. 

Andy 

Nice collection of loco's Andy. I'm very jealous. Lucky for me some don't fit on 027 or I'd have gone broke by now.

Glad your corner clearance issues were minor.

Bob

Just an FYI -

I'm using 2r track on part of the sidings of my next build. Looks much better in spots where power units don't need to operate. You might want to think about that when you do some sidings.

Layout is much more realistic than that other toy one that posts every 5 minutes on here. He seems to think he's the only one that ever made a layout before.  OK I guess if your not a period modeler.

Love the layout, looks like the Long Island I remember. I lived two houses from the Patchogue station for years.

Are you going to pick one paint scheme, e.g. Good Fellow, Worlds' Fair or mix things up?

Thanks Bob, I’m happy with this fleet. This is what would be seen in that era (1948-1955). Thanks Steve, I appreciate the kind words especially from someone of your caliber. I’m doing a lot of these tasks for the first time, so there will be a need for a redo every now and then. Thanks for the idea about the sidings, I never would have thought of that. Thanks for the kind words Scotie. That must have been an interesting location to live, very busy, but fun. I’d like to change the paint scheme on the RS-3 to the orange ends to match the other diesels. I’d also like to get rid of the Dashing Dan logo on everything. I wouldn’t mind making one of the engines Goodfellow gray. I think that’s sharp looking. And to have the right paint on the passenger cars. I think the Tichy scheme on the C-Liner is pretty nice too.

Andy 

It is remarkable how far along you have come since 2013!  Amazing job Andy 

Mike and Aidan

Thank you Mike and Aidan! It’s been six years already! Wow, where has the time gone?

Andy

I'll have to check this out thoroughly. Just saw a link post here, can't wait till I get home to see.

Thank you Dave! I hope you enjoy it.

Andy

I’m working on the long retaining wall between the grade and the industrial area above. As with the small wall I recently posted, the wall and vertical pieces are 1/8” Masonite (hardboard) and the cap is 1/4” MDF. I’ve already glued the cap on, and today I’ll glue the vertical trim pieces in place. Then I’ll break all the edges (lightly sand) to get it ready for primer. The paint will adhere better than if all the edges were sharp. After that, I’ll spray paint it with the textured Desert Bisque I’ve been using and install it. Then I’ll give it a dark wash. It’s all one piece, and measures about 81” in length. The last picture shows where the wall will be installed. After the wall is in, I’ll put some basic ground cover down. 

Andy 

Excellent craftsmanship as usual. 

Thank you Arthur! 

Andy

Retaining wall is primed and ready for paint. 

Andy

The retaining wall is now painted. I’ll let it dry thoroughly, and install it. 

Andy 

Looks very nice Andy. Are you using Rustoleum textured paints? I've used the gray/ black for my roads and it gives a nice finished appearance.

Thanks Bob. Yes I’m using Rustoleum Desert Bisque. I like your roads, the paint gives them a nice texture.

Andy

STEAMFAN77, Andy, I began at the very beginning of your post, from an empty room, to where you are at this time, Amazing. I like your bench work, your trackwork, your use of Signals, your Turntable, (is it a Millhouse?) Your sidings, your ballasting, your structures/buildings, and your fleet of motive power. What Control System or systems are you using? Lionel or MTH? It appears that your using Atlas O track, which turnouts are you using?  Thank you for the pictures as they allow us to share in your progress of a fantastic layout. That’s why I really like this OGR Forum. Happy Railroading 

Wow, Larry, thank you for the kind words. Good eye, yes, it is a Millhouse turntable. I’m using both MTH DCS, and Lionel Legacy. I’m using Atlas track and most of the turnouts are Atlas too, but where there are curved turnouts or the four way track in the staging area, I opted for Ross turnouts. I’ve learned so much from you and members like you. There are a lot of firsts for me when I started this layout. I’d never done many of these tasks until I built this layout. The benchwork, wiring, ballasting, buildings, and scenery are all firsts for me. I had an N scale layout on a 3’x7’ bench some years ago, and an HO layout when I was a kid, but nothing this large and with this much detail (the layout is 21’x32’ in an L shape).  I’ve always been a big fan of the Long Island Rail Road (I grew up in Mineola), and certainly enjoy the history of the LIRR, and the Oyster Bay Branch.

Andy

I installed the long retaining wall and put down some basic ground cover. I made this wall the same as the small one I installed recently, because they are one continuous run. The last picture is an overhead shot, and shows how the two walls meet towards the top of the picture. I’m glad I finally got an opportunity to do this project, it’s been a long time coming. Thanks for looking.

Andy

Very nice work on all of it - retaining wall, ballast, ground cover, railroad right-of-way, upgrade and s-curve. I grew up near Mineola and rode the LIRR as a youngster, so I'm waiting to see your completed version of Mineola Junction and Nassau Tower. Your power plant model is superb.

MELGAR

Thank you for the kind words Mel. Mineola, Locust Valley, and of course the Oyster Bay yard had some pretty unique structures. I grew up in Mineola, and hope to do it justice as I bring it to life on my layout. 

Andy

The wall looks great Andy. How did you do the curved section?

Bob

Thanks Bob. The wall is 1/8” Masonite, and bends very easily. I glued it in place, and for some extra holding power around the curve, I tacked in some finish nails.

Andy

I missed seeing your progress over the years. Retired  now but work used to keep me away from home days on end. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it. Anyways impressed by your skill, talent, and vision. 

Thank you Jackie, that’s a big compliment coming from someone with your abilities. 

Andy

I finally got around to addressing the lift out section on my layout. I wasn’t happy with the fit, and decided to go with a hinged lift up section instead. I used some hinges I had hanging around, mounted on 3/4” blocks of plywood. The shiny track sections will be painted, ballasted, and then I’ll put down some ground cover. I’ll also paint the blocks to help them blend in a little better. 

Andy

Andy, 

  That looks like you did a pretty nice job. the fact that its on a curve did not make it easier for you. One thought...maybe you can disguise your hinges with gluing piles of railroad ties as though the railroad was renewing ties and piled them in those three areas. 

Tom  

Thank you Tom, that’s a great idea!

Andy

I installed a short retaining wall on the other side of the lumber yard property. To the left of the notch in the wall is where the lumber shed will start. The first few pictures show the wall installed, then show it with some ground cover. The last two pictures indicate where the office and shed will be. The shed will be 8" wide by 16" long. The office and shed will be built sometime in the future. 

Andy

Hey Andy, what is the material that leads up to where the lumber shed and such is(the Greg surface), foam board painted Greg or some other material?

Hi Dave,

The gray surface that is flush with the track height, and where the lumber shed will sit is Masonite spray painted flat gray. I'll do some weathering once the shed is built and installed. The material between the rails is joint compound dyed with black paint. Hope that answers your question.

Andy

Yes you did. Always good to find out what people use. Thanks Andy.

Andy,  the quality of your modeling is top notch.   I just discovered your layout thread and really appreciate the detail and regularity of your progress posts.   I would love to see a layout plan with room dimensions so that the track work photos have a bit more context.   If you did post a plan please provide a link.   Or perhaps an overview video?   Thanks in advance.

Ken

Glad to help Dave! 

Andy

Ken,

Thank you for the kind words, especially from someone with your talent. My first post on the first page gives some background. My room is 21 feet by 32 feet. The track plan is attached to my first post, but I'm also attaching it here. If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them. 

Thanks,

Andy

While I was spray painting the newly installed track for the lift up section, I painted the hinges and mounting blocks, just so they don’t stand out so much. 

Andy

Steamfan77 posted:

Ken,

Thank you for the kind words, especially from someone with your talent.? My first post on the first page gives some background. My room is 21 feet by 32 feet. The track plan is attached to my first post, but I'm also attaching it here. If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them. 

Thanks,

Andy

 Andy,

Thanks for sending me the .PDF of your awesome layout.   I have a much better understanding now of the layout pictures you've posted.   You and others like Norm C. and Craig Greathouse have inspired me to complete/improve my scenery.   I especially appreciate that you are modeling real locations in O.   Part of the reason I've been reluctant to finish my scenery is that Realtrax simply doesn't give me the scale look I want to see on the bridges and trestles that exist in Harpers Ferry.  I'll be switching to Atlas O once I enlarge my train room (still working on getting a permit from the zoning commissioner (wife) ;-).

Here is a 1931 Harpers Ferry Aerial:

This is a RR-Track 3D render of my future Atlas O plan:

Ken

Ken,

In the planning stages, it took me a while to decide on the type of track. I chose Atlas, and I’m still happy with the decision. As far as the layout, a lot of these tasks are the first time I’m doing them. But through the talent on this forum (you included), books, videos, I’ve been exposed to many different methods and ideas. The only thing holding me back is my own abilities or lack there of. And believe me, not everything I’ve done has come out so wonderful the first or second or third try. But I’m persistent if nothing else . I think your new plan is great, and I look forward to seeing your progress. I hope you get approval from the zoning commissioner! 

Andy

I’ve come to the point of what to do about disguising the hinges on the lift up section. The photos below show newly installed, the hinges painted, and now disguised. I think it looks pretty good. I also put down some ground cover on the lift up section.

Andy 

Andy,

   I think that looks great. After I gave you the idea on the ties, I thought more about it that they would be banging against each other. The soft ground cover makes sense and blends in well.

Tom