Photo by Rob Piligian
At the beginning of September, 2004, WK&S crews began the long awaited task of building track into the shop building. Phase I of the project involved realigning the pit track and installing a new switch on the passing track. The new switch will feed the pit track as well as the shop. The red caboose is spotted over the pit. The pit track from there forward has been removed as well as the pit track switch. New ties are in place on the effected section of the passing track. Rails are being installed and the new switch (which is the old pit track switch) is taking shape in the foreground. The new switch is about a hundred feet south of the where the pit track switch was previously located.

Photo by Rob Piligian
The ties and rails are back in place on the passing track. The grade to the shop is being excavated.

September 18th, 2004 - the morning after the remnants of Hurricane Ivan passed through the area. No damage was incurred and the water drained off by the end of the day.

Spiking on the passing track.

Photo by Rob Piligian
Tamping - September 19th. The passing track was back in service by the end of the day.

Track construction caused some operational changes during the month of September. With the lower passing track out of service, the equipment that's usually stored on the upper passing track was moved down so that the upper passing track could be used for run-arounds.

An unusual sight - the upper passing track devoid of stored equipment. Trains returning to Kempton from Wanamaker are run-around on the upper passing track and then pushed into the station to unload passengers.

LNE caboose #512 is "stranded" on the pit track. Construction is to the right of the photo. Once realigned, the pit track will connect with the new shop track.

Photo by Rob Piligian
A shot from the cab of #65. Work on the passing track and new shop track switch is complete.

Here's the progress as of October 31, 2004. The new pit track switch is taking shape. The track crew is busy assembling the frog. This switch was part of the interchange between the Lehigh & New England and the Lehigh Valley railroads at Stockertown, Pennsylvania. The switch and its original Ramapo switch stand were reused with only minor modifications.

Preparing to cut a rail.

Just a few inches need to be removed.

The cut is followed by new bolt holes.

The pit track was reconnected by November 21.

Tamping was complete and the pit track was back in service by the end of November.

Work pauses for the winter and other projects. WK&S volunteers constructed two switches and many yards of track in about three months worth of weekends. The pit track is longer and straighter, allowing for at least another car-length of storage. And that new switch lead points tantalizingly toward the shop. The above picture was taken on the morning of the first Saturday of December, 2004. GE #7258 sits on the realigned pit track. Note the layer of frost that has been melted from the switch points by a small portable kerosene switch heater hidden under the rail. Note the wisp of steam from the back of the coach as the train is warmed up for a day of Santa Specials.