Long Island Rail Road-Oyster Bay Branch

@Steamfan77 posted:

I have not been posting much in the last several months due to various other projects that have popped up this year. Lots of woodworking projects (not complaining), we are now in the middle of a kitchen “refresh”, so my time and energy have been devoted to that. Hopefully that will be completed within the next month. My focus is still the park area and pulling that scene together with many more details to come. I’d like to get back to the layout soon. I am enjoying watching everyone else’s progress, it helps keep me motivated. Happy 4th to everyone!

Andy

I've been in the same boat this Spring/ Summer Andy. And I still have a kitchen to renovate!
Hard to spend hours in the basement when the boss has other plans.

Happy 4th to you!

Bob

Hard to spend time in the basement when you don't have one AND the boss has other plans.

Great pics Speedo.

Thanks Bob! Happy 4th to you as well.

I hear you Coach Joe.

Andy

I was able to spend a few minutes working on the layout. I started to install the fence for the park scene. This is the opposite end from where the park is, closer to the turntable. Not much, but it’s a start.

Andy

That looks real Andy. I like the little build up of ballast on the rail and general area. Very nicely done. I’m going to incorporate something like that.

Jay

Thank you Jay! I appreciate the kind words.

Andy

Andy,

  It all looks very good!

Tom

@Steamfan77 posted:

I was able to spend a few minutes working on the layout. I started to install the fence for the park scene. This is the opposite end from where the park is, closer to the turntable. Not much, but it’s a start.

Andy

Looks like the real thing!

That really looks great, Andy!  The fence and bumper really look realistic, and the trees and backdrop blend in well!

Thank you Tom!
Thanks ThatGuy!

Thank you Mark!

I appreciate the kind words from everyone.

Andy

My last day of work was yesterday. I’m officially retired after 45 years of working.
That being the case, I can now devote more time to my layout.

In the short term, I have the following projects in mind:

Complete the park scene next to the Oyster Bay yard

Finish the Mill River bridge scene

Build some kits that I’ve been meaning to get to.

Run some trains…

I have lots more work to do on the layout, but now I have more time to enjoy it.

Andy

Congratulations Andy!

Looking forward to your new projects.

Is your wife on the same page with expanded layout time?

Bob

Andy,

Congrats, what a milestone. 45 years shows your dedication...now time for more train time. Look forward to your upcoming projects.

Dave

Thanks Bob, she’s on board, she mentioned it before I did!

Thanks Dave, can’t wait to get started.

Andy

Great to hear Andy, Congratulations to you & your wife. 45yrs down the rails is a milestone - much happiness & progress on your incredible Oyster Bay Branch.  looking forward to your schedule.   Doug

Thanks Doug, I look forward to the next chapter.

Andy

Being a native Long Islander albeit from the Montauk branch side of the island I love what you are doing.

Congratulations Andy!  Enjoy doing what you want, when you want, any day you want to.

Congrats, Andy…….you will love retirement!

Peter

@Steamfan77 posted:

My last day of work was yesterday. I’m officially retired after 45 years of working.
That being the case, I can now devote more time to my layout.

In the short term, I have the following projects in mind:

Complete the park scene next to the Oyster Bay yard

Finish the Mill River bridge scene

Build some kits that I’ve been meaning to get to.

Run some trains…

I have lots more work to do on the layout, but now I have more time to enjoy it.

Andy

Andy,

  After all the recent rain events in the Northeast, I am starting to get back to fun things. Yours was my first topic that I have posted on lately. Best wishes for a long and healthy retirement.

  Very happy that you have gotten to this point...I am right behind you literally as my last day is next week.

Tom

Thank you Scotie, high praise from a fellow Long Islander.

Thank you coach Joe, I can’t wait.

Thank you Peter, I look forward to more time to do what I want.

Thank you Tom, I appreciate you commenting here. Best of luck to you next week. Please post about it!

Andy

Andy,

Congrats on your retirement Andy, and yes, the grass is greener on this side of retiring.  Enjoy your newfound time with family friends and the layout!  All the best!

Mike

@Steamfan77 posted:

Thank you Scotie, high praise from a fellow Long Islander.

Thank you Tom, I appreciate you commenting here. Best of luck to you next week. Please post about it!

Andy

Add me to the list Andy. Your build is one of my favorites. And the fact that it's in my backyard adds to the cool factor. I was just at Davenport for lunch last week. The area is just not the same without Nassau Tower and the power house anymore.

@PRR8976- T Minus 5,4,3,2,1........

Bob

Thanks Mike, it's a nice club to belong to!

Thank you for the kind words Bob, I'll try to live up to them. I agree with you about Mineola, doesn't have the same feel anymore, what a shame.

Andy

Congratulations, Andy!  45 is the same number of years I worked.  I’m looking forward to seeing your layout progress!

@Steamfan77 posted:

Thanks Mike, it's a nice club to belong to!

Thank you for the kind words Bob, I'll try to live up to them. I agree with you about Mineola, doesn't have the same feel anymore, what a shame.

Andy

On the plus side, since the grade crossings are gone, no more train horns to keep me up at night and the traffic backups are a thing of the past.

Gotta look for the silver lining. 😆

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

On the plus side, since the grade crossings are gone, no more train horns to keep me up at night and the traffic backups are a thing of the past.

Gotta look for the silver lining. 😆

Bob

From what I hear, folks living on Long Island need all the silver linings they can scrape up. 

Thank you Mark! Mark, we have lots of pluses, we are just more vocal about the things we don’t like 😂
I agree with you Bob. That will reduce traffic and be a plus for commuters too.

Andy

@Steamfan77 posted:

Thank you Mark! Mark, we have lots of pluses, we are just more vocal about the things we don’t like 😂
I agree with you Bob. That will reduce traffic and be a plus for commuters too.

Andy

😄😄

Starting to weather the fence sections for the park. Since the fence is right next to the yard, it’s pretty dirty. The sections are 6”, but I’ve glued several sections together to make a “sub-assembly”.

Andy

@RSJB18 posted:

Add me to the list Andy. Your build is one of my favorites. And the fact that it's in my backyard adds to the cool factor. I was just at Davenport for lunch last week. The area is just not the same without Nassau Tower and the power house anymore.

@PRR8976- T Minus 5,4,3,2,1........

Bob

Is it still the Davenport Press or have they dropped Press?  I can't believe it's still there.

@coach joe posted:

Is it still the Davenport Press or have they dropped Press?  I can't believe it's still there.

Yep- still there, still "Press". The owners actually fully renovated the place after covid. And he just got the LIRR to repave his parking lot due to the damage done by all the construction.

https://www.davenportpress.com/

@Steamfan77 @Mark Boyce- We Lawn-guy-landers have big mouths........not shy about using them either.....

Fencing looks good Andy.

Bob

The fence is looking good, Andy!

Bob, I’m glad you added a link for the Davenport Press.  I thought it was either a heavy industry or a newspaper office.  I never expected it to be a restaurant!  I suppose there was no chance a non Lawn Guy Lander could know!!  😆😆😆

@Mark Boyce posted:

The fence is looking good, Andy!

Bob, I’m glad you added a link for the Davenport Press.  I thought it was either a heavy industry or a newspaper office.  I never expected it to be a restaurant!  I suppose there was no chance a non Lawn Guy Lander could know!!  😆😆😆

It was.....

https://longislandweekly.com/d...stay-in-county-seat/

@RSJB18 posted:

It was.....

https://longislandweekly.com/d...stay-in-county-seat/

Thank you, Bob!!  I wasn't too far off! 

Thanks to Bob and Mark for the kind words.

Andy

I weathered and installed a few more sections of fence in the park. I have a few more sections ready to be installed hopefully tomorrow. I like that some of the sections are irregular. I think it makes the fence look more realistic. After the fence is in, I want to start adding some trees back in along with some ground cover.

Andy

@Steamfan77 posted:

I weathered and installed a few more sections of fence in the park. I have a few more sections ready to be installed hopefully tomorrow. After the fence is in, I want to start adding some trees back in along with some ground cover.

Andy

Looks good Andy. The gate is sharp.

So have you thrown your alarm clock in the trash yet?

Bob

Thanks Bob, what’s an alarm clock? 😉. The transition has been a smooth one. The day fills up pretty easily too.

Andy

The fence looks great!  You can't do enough to keep wandering kids (Like yours truly)  off the tracks!  I always obeyed the signs at places, except the no trespassing signs along the B&O right-of-way.  I actually thought, what can they do to me?  I'm just a kid.  I never had an encounter with a railroad employee, but wised up as I got older.

What is an alarm clock for sure!  Yes, the days do fill up fast!