New Shop Track Construction
Phase II: 2005/06
Phase II of the shop track project began in October 2005. Excavations picked up where they left off in 2004.
In conjunction with the shop track project, the north end of the pit track was ripped out and excavated in preparation for new ballast and ties. Note the lop-sided groundhog-infested shed in the foreground. It will soon be removed to the wood pile for locomotive fuel.
Most of November focused on installing related storm drain lines and utilities. The shop received several concrete jack pads. The pads will be hidden under the new west-side shop track and will provide a solid foundation for jacking equipment. The north end of the pit track was reinstalled and was mostly complete by the beginning of December.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend WK&S volunteers completed the east-side track into the shop. The new track was put to immediate use. As shown below, combine #408 was pushed inside to load the baggage compartment with gifts and snacks for the upcoming Santa Claus Specials. This marks the end of track construction although the entire project will still require some minor ballasting, tamping and surfacing.
A few loose ends were put off as more pressing projects were tended. During the summer of 2008 the old timber retaining walls around the pit were replaced with concrete block.