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 lop-sided groundhog-infested shed in the foreground. It will soon be removed to the locomotive fuel wood pile.

Several feet of parking lot was removed, but the new tracks will still run uphill from the passing siding to the shop.

By the end of October the excavations were complete and the new grade is ready for ballast and ties.

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 east-side shop track, but will provide a solid foundation for jacking equipment inside the building. The north end of the pit track was reinstalled and was mostly complete by the beginning of December.

The pit track was re-laid with new ballast and ties by end of winter.

By April 8, 2006, the final switch was taking shape in front of the building.

Photo by Rob Piligian
On April 30, 2006 the east-side track was laid into the shop and MOW equipment was run into the shop for the first time.

Photo by Rob Piligian
By May 7 enough tamped ballast had been added to run the first piece of non-MOW equipment into the shop. WK&S #7258 got the honor.

#65 is first up for some indoor maintenance.

Coach #1474 is in for repairs. Note the new concrete pads supporting the crane and other equipment. The forklift is parked where the second west-side track will soon be built.

Photo by Rob Piligian
Over the Thanksgiving weekend WK&S volunteers completed the west-side track into the shop. The new track was put to immediate use. As shown above, combine #408 was pushed inside to load the baggage compartment with gifts and snacks for the up coming 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. It is now the summer of 2008. The pit is made of concrete and steel, but had timber retaining walls. The old rotted timber has been removed and is being replaced with concrete block.