NW corner eave bracket detail - notice the 3½" scroll, the bottom of which is
75½" above the platform {Image 21}:
Eave bracket detail above W window ("D") on S bay - note 4½ by 3 diamond
panes {Image 27}:
- All dimensions are from sharp
brick edge to sharp brick edge (unless otherwise noted).
The platform is not dead flat and the reference dimensions should probably be taken
down from the major eave-level molding (with a ladder, but that puts one's head
up amongst the pigeons and their poop!); a good, hard reference is that the
distance from the underside of that molding to the top of the door B opening is
32". A good means of aligning things is the brickwork; they laid them
true in those days!
LATTICE WINDOWS (moved from LIRR page 7 on 23 Sep 02):
Regular 19"x36" Windows (A,B,G,I and L,N) - 8 panes wide x 3 panes high:
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North Bay (Ticket Window) 2x19"x36" Windows (P,Q) - as above (each)
North Bay (Ticket Window) 19"x32" Side Windows (O,R) - 6 panes wide x 3 panes high:
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{This needs to be checked!}
South Bay 19"x42" Window (E) - 10* panes wide x 3 panes high:
* - (shy ~1/8 pane each side)
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South Bay 19"x26" Side Windows (D,F) - 4½ panes wide x 3 panes high:
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South Dormer Flanking Windows (2) - 4 panes wide x 4 panes high (half-pane off laterally):
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East Second Floor Windows (2) - 6 panes wide x 4 panes high {}:
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West Second Floor Windows (3) - 4 panes wide x 3 panes high:
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The major brackets under the north and south eaves are 6" wide and are on vertical pates 7½" wide, with a 4½" high scroll at the bottom (except on the end ones, whcih are only 3½" high - go figure). The main brackets spring 75½" off the platform, 4½" above the scroll.
Here are even more dimensional details which I realized I had missed. It is not my intention to document the station for historical record; only for modeling and general reference.
Among these are sill heights and more door heights. All window sills are 5" high and heights are measured from the platform to the underside of the sill.
South wall - the sills under the regular 36" windows (A, B, G, and I) are all 40" wide. The sill under window A is 39½" high, E is 38", G and I are 37¼"and L is 36¾". The sill under modern steel door C is 44½" wide and 9" high (sill heights vary with subsidence and variances in platform height, not cutting errors). The door opening is 81" high from the sill to the brick above. Door H is 113" from the brick underside to the sill, which is 8" high and 45½" wide; the top panel is 29" high and the door itself is 84" high, but both the panel and the door are modern aluminum replacements. Window J's sill is 5" high by 60¼" wide.
East wall - featureless; no changes.
North wall - The sills under the regular 36" windows (L and N) are all 40" wide. The sill under window K is 61" wide and 71"above the platform. Window L and N sills are both 37¾" high. Modern aluminum door M is in an opening 1frac12;" high above a 44½" by (only) 3½" sill and has a 27½" high panel above a 3" high upper door stop. Window P-Q sill is 82" wide and 36" high, while window S and T sills are each 36" wide and 70" up.
West wall - The modern steel door is in an opening 81" high above a 7½" sill that is 1" above the platform and 45" wide.
DETERIORATION OF THE STRUCTURE - That hole in the roof at the lower E edge of the S dormer is monstrous; viewed from underneath in favorable light, it measures some 14" front-to-back and 18" side-to-side. While, happily, it is outside the walls, it is allowing the elegant carpentry trim at eave level to deteriorate. Far, far worse, is a leak at the opposte (W) end of the base of the dormer which is allowing rain water to seep into the eave-level trim and has rotted it away in the inner corner of the bay. Further, I know that there are several leaks in the station roof that drip INSIDE the building and will cause major damage if not corrected soon. Also, in the steady rain of 26 Sep 2002, it became quickly evident that the SW downspout leads into a plugged drain pipe because water pooled at the upper edge of the socket and began running down the pipe and the wall behind it. Further, a truck seems to have hit the gutter at the SE end; rainwater pours onto the platform there and splashes back against the wall.
That damage so distressed me that I took the digital back on 27 Sep 2002 to record it for all to see (I have thumbnailed these images so you can enlarge them to see just how bad things are) {Images 35, 36, and 37, l-to-r}:
(27 Sep 02 photos by and ©: 2002 S. Berliner, III - all rights reserved)
[Thumbnailed images - click on the pictures for larger images]
The left photo is looking up and NNW through the hole at the east side of the bay, the center one is looking up and NNE at the leak up under the eaves on the we(s)t side of the bay, and the right one looking up and NE at the damage to the belt mo(u)lding. [See also the damage to the north gable trim (picture 38, inserted between pictures 17 and 18, above)].
The whole situation of the station is so appalling that articles about the situation are appearing in the papers; Dave Morrison went over on 18 Nov 02, after a Nor'easter, and took these appalling pictures of water on, and under, the seats in the waiting room and more views of the deteriorating front:
[I didn't notice; the outside views are comparison shots from Mar 2002 (left) to Nov 2002 (right) and have been so noted.]
(18 Nov 02 photos by D. Morrison - all rights reserved)
Dave Morrison wrote an article on the station which appeared in the Summer 2002 issue of THE FREEHOLDER, "The History Magazine of the Town of Oyster Bay" (pp. 3-5, 16-18), published by the Oyster Bay Historical Society. Coincidentally, Walter Karppi has an article in that issue ("Forgotten Ferryboats"), as do I, and all three of us are active with Loco #35 and the museum!
Oh, WOW! We knew we had a treat in store for us when we spotted the original arched beams through holes in the drop ceiling. But I, at least, had no idea quite what a magnificent sight awaited! Here, thanks to Dave Morrison, are shots taken from just above the drop ceiling; the first one is truly awesome - a cathedral ceiling, indeed!
(02 Oct 02 photos by and courtesy of D. Morrison - all rights reserved)
The first is taken looking WNW, the second (cropped) appears to be looking NNE, and the last is looking SE (as I recall) at the top of the hot-water heater and the waste vent line and water damage. Looks like we have some blanked-off windows in the W wall to restore.
On 18 Feb 2005, Jim Dermody, president of the LIRR, presented a ceremonial
key to the Oyster Bay RR Station, parking plaza, and turntable to John Venditto,
Supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay, thus marking the completion of a phase
of the restoration of the station to become the hub of the Oyster Bay RR
Museum. The station was now resplendent (externally) in it's new roof
and original bare brick and dark green wood color against white (before and
after photos):
(21 Feb 05)
(photos courtesy Loco #35 Restoration Committee - all rights reserved)
The interior was stripped but one could see it's old grandeur and Dave Morrison
set up a "bully" display of photos and memorabilia for the guests to view.
Teddy Roosevelt was there, as well (in the person of Jim Foote), as were many
notables from the County, Town, and local groups. There was also a
nice article on page A12 of the next day's NEWSDAY, with a color photograph
of John Vendito, Jim Dermody, and Dave Morrison, in which they "discuss
plans to renovate the landmark station"! Real progress (sure beats East
Williston all hollow)!
[this page was separated out from my RAILROAD, LI Rail Road, and LI Railroads pages;
you might wish to see them also.]
THUMBS UP!
THUMBS UP! - Support your local police, fire, and emergency personnel!
S. Berliner, III
To contact S. Berliner, III, please click here.
of this series of LIRR pages.
To tour the Long Island railroads pages in sequence, the arrows take you from the previous page to the LIRR index, to the first LIRR page, and on to pages 2 and up, then to the other LI railroads page, and lastly to the LIRR Historical Society page.
© Copyright S. Berliner, III -
2002,
2005
- All rights reserved.
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