Long Island Rail Road-Oyster Bay Branch

Andy,

That's what you have to do. If you keep going back and forth with keeping something or not, it's probably a good sign that you really want to change it. This was probably the best time to do it before you got too much further with the scenery.

Dave

Thanks Dave. I was never completely happy with the look, and I remember you saying when in doubt, rip it out! And rebuild it of course 😉

Andy

I agree, if you kept not liking it, this was the time to do it.

I'm with you Andy.

The world is not flat so our RR's shouldn't be either.

Especially in Oyster Bay......😉😉😉😉

Bob

Mark, I think about all of the changes and adjustments so many folks have made, I figured why not. I’ll be happier with the area after I’m done. I built in a few spots in the yard where the ground is somewhat uneven for that reason.

Bob, I agree with the Oyster Bay comment completely. Just want to tweak the area to add more visual interest. I recently found out that the bunk house in the yard is “L” shaped! I never saw a picture from the angle that shows that. That’s part of what prompted the change.

Andy

Andy,

I believe what happens is your eyes and skills get better. Not only do you get an idea but you know how to execute it better than you would have in the past. When this happens inevitably you will want to change things. Guess what, that's ok.

Dave

Dave,

I agree with you, the passage of time, and as you've mentioned before revisiting something spawns new ideas or inspiration. In the last several months I've started tackling areas and "issues" that just haven't sat right with me since I built them originally. It also helps that there is such creativity and talent on the forum to sometimes draw from.

Andy

@Steamfan77 posted:

I’ve made a change in the yard around the turntable area. I’ve been playing with the idea to pull the foam board up and today I finally pulled the trigger. I did this with the idea in mind to create a slightly different height so everything in the area doesn’t look so uniform. The first step was to remove some ballast and pull out the foam board. I’ll touch up some spots with flat brown latex next.

Andy

Super idea!

It makes a great scene even better.

Peter

Thanks Peter! These are subtle changes that will provide some visual interest and break up the straight lines.

Andy

I touched up the area with some flat brown paint. The oak tag in the back is to create a template for the bunk house. The “L” shaped bunk house will be located inside the red circle. I’ll touch up the ballast along a few of the tracks, secure the top cap on the turntable, then lay down some ground cover.

Andy

The bunkhouse will fit nicely!

Thanks Mark, I’m trying to work out the placement carefully as you can see there isn’t much wiggle room.

Andy

The cap piece around the turntable is now in place and painted. I added some lines in the top to represent expansion joints and separate pieces of concrete. Next up I’ll start some ground cover in the area.

Andy

Looking good Andy!

Bob

Thanks Bob! Glad to finally start working on this area of the layout. Making a decision on the cap piece and foam board will allow me to finish that end of the yard.

Andy

The turntable looks great, Andy!  Bob and I are jealous. 

Hahaha no need to be Mark. You and Bob have great layouts.

Andy

Started weathering on the turntable pit. I didn’t want to go too heavy just yet…I can always add more later. The first picture is before, the others are after.

Andy

Looks better with the weathering.

Thanks Mark!

Andy

Andy,

  That looks pretty sharp. You should be happy.

Tom

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Bob 😁

Started to add some ground cover in the turntable area. This is just the base. I’ll add a few more details later.

Andy

Thank you Tom and Bob. I’ve been meaning to take of this area for a long time. Glad I’m finally moving forward on it.

Andy

Andy

It looks awesome, it has come a long way. The weathering of the turntable makes a huge difference!!

Mike

Thanks Mike! I’ve been meaning to work on this area for way too long. It’s funny how one project leads to another. First the cap around the turntable, then getting a clearer idea about the bunkhouse dimensions, removing the foam board in this area to change the look and add more depth, and now some ground cover to add a more finished look.

Andy

Andy,

The ground cover looks good and gives the area a more industrial/railroady look. Definitely a transformation. You could not be more correct about one project leading to the next. I know every time I say I'm going to do one it will inadvertently include 2 or 3 mini-projects. In some cases not so "mini". I guess that is what makes it fun and also gives you more satisfaction when completed.

Dave

Thanks Dave. It also provides a sense of accomplishment and the satisfaction of establishing a certain look to a scene. There is still plenty of work to do, and I’m happy about that too. I enjoy the construction or creation aspect for sure.

Andy

Added some ground cover to the area outside of what is called the “Fence Track” in the Oyster Bay yard. I’m laying the base ground cover and will come back with some grasses, weeds and trees later on. I will install the fence at a later date too.That area is a public park known as the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay. President Roosevelt lived not to far from this area at his home at Sagamore Hill, and would take trips from Oyster Bay into New York City and ultimately to Washington D.C. on the train.

Andy

Andy,

Very neat work here. I can foresee a really eye catching scene when you start to add all of the other elements. Will you have a few distinct features inside the park like the rock monument, a gazebo, or even one of the signs to the entrance of the park?

Dave

Andy, I agree with Dave about the very neat work.  For some reason I like the very neatly manicured ballast like many railroads had when labor was cheap and they wanted to look their best.

Thanks Dave, along the narrow part I will have some trees and shrubs, but on the wider part I can have a little more fun. I’ll research what the park may have looked like back in 1955. I may add some of those features anyway! Outside of the park about a half mile into town, 10-15 years ago, they commissioned a statue of President Roosevelt on horseback when he was a member of the “Rough Riders”.

Thank you Mark. It is neat for the most part, but I intentionally sprinkled some ground cover onto the track ballast. It would look a little strange if it was just a straight line with two different textures.

Andy

I saw that Andy and I agree.  I have seen photographs probably before the Great Depression of the old passenger stations where the ballast looks like not one stone is out of place.  Of course there would be no weeds.

Mark,

I think about you often. How is your health? It sounds like you’ve had many issues to cope with but that the trains et are a happy balm. That’s what they’re for( at least in part).

My new layout room is now almost complete. But it’s a clean 19 x 20 foot slate. Some givens and druthers: double track mainline ; no duckunders; yard with turntable and five track roundhouse; one town with passing sidings and and several stub sidings to service Lionel operating cars ( with 6 1/2 grandchildren under 6 whose imaginations must be fed…).
no I have to come with a design and decide whether to use Mianne, Sievers, or DIY.

ALL thoughts welcome.

Thanks,

Rubin

Rubin, Thank you for thinking of me and asking!!  I've been saying since all my problems have been concerning the extremities, I'm doing great!  I guess now I have to admit lumbar fusion isn't an extremity, but it isn't a vital organ either.  The surgeon cleared me last month to do whatever I can and I don't have to have any more follow ups.  I do still have pain from the damaged left sciatic nerve, and have been looking at some other ways to help with that, but nothing is definite.  My wife however has had several organs fully or partially removed and has several issues that have been hard for doctors to find a remedy.  She has appointments with several specialists, some of which keep getting rescheduled which is frustrating.  Thank you again.

Hang in there, my friend.

Added some fine grass to part of the yard area. Hoping to give it another layer of visual interest.

Andy

Any static grass in your future? I've watched several videos and a recent thread here about the challenges it presents.

Looks great Andy. Are you going to add a wire to the turntable bridge eventually?

Bob

Hi Bob,

Yes, some clump foliage and static grasses around one half of the turntable. I have the poles and will run some wire as a last step for the area. I’ll also add some trees to the park area, and I’ve ordered the fence. Then I can truly call it the fence track!

Andy

Been an interesting thread to follow ... thank you !