The nice thing about working with plywood is that you can change elevations (up or down) by making cut-outs with a skill saw and attaching the piece to those lovely foundation stringers underneath. The green container is the mold for what will be the mouth of the car tunnel. How do you get the cars through the tunnel under the mountain? I'll pretend you did not ask that question. Yes, the train goes all the way through to the other end of the mountain. Unless, of course it derails in the tunnel, where it may stay forever. (The careful designer will leave access underneath!)

The name of this P&W layout, (Pennsyltucky and Wherever) is profoundly significant. "Pennsyltucky" is a place that existed only in the mind of one of Walt's uncles. But it describes the distinctly eastern (Appalachian ) flavour of one half of the layout. "Wherever" refers to the flatlands out west, somewhere near Nebraskatchewan.