Editing Project Pluto (section)

== Test facilities ==
Tests were conducted at new facilities constructed for $1.2&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{inflation|US-GDP|1.2|1961}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) on {{convert|8|sqmi|km2|order=flip|sp=us}} of [[Jackass Flats]] at the AEC's [[Nevada Test Site]] (NTS), known as Site 401.{{sfn|Herken|1990|pp=28–34}} The facilities there were shared with Project Rover.{{sfn|Gantz|1960|pp=29–30}} The complex included {{convert|6|mi|0|order=flip|sp=us}} of roads, critical-assembly building, control building, assembly and shop buildings, and utilities.<ref name="fact sheet">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nnss.gov/docs/fact_sheets/DOENV_763.pdf |title=Nevada National Security Site History: Project Pluto Factsheet |publisher=Nevada National Security Site |access-date=6 April 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531173420/https://www.nnss.gov/docs/fact_sheets/DOENV_763.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Building 2201 from above.jpg|thumb|Building 2201 from above]]
An aggregate mine was purchased to supply the concrete for the walls of the disassembly building, Building 2201, which were {{convert|6|to|8|ft|order=flip|sp=us}} thick.{{sfn|Herken|1990|pp=28–34}} Building 2201 was designed to allow radioactive components to be adjusted, dissembled or replaced remotely. Operations in the main disassembly bay could be viewed through {{convert|4|ft|m|adj=on|order=flip|sp=us}}  [[lead glass]] viewing windows. "Hot" cells adjacent to the disassembly bay were used to monitor the control rod actuators. Vaults within each cell were equipped with remote manipulators.{{sfn|Burmeister|2009|pp=6–9}}

All controls were located in the central control room, which was air conditioned with a positive pressure so air always flowed towards the disassembly bay and the hot cells, and the used air from them was passed through filters. The main disassembly bay and the hot cells were accessible through openings that were normally covered with lead plates. There were showers and a radiation safety room for workers. Building 2201 also contained a maintenance shop, darkroom, offices, and equipment storage rooms.{{sfn|Burmeister|2009|pp=6–9}} Scientists monitored the tests remotely via a television hook up from a tin shed located at a safe distance that had a fallout shelter stocked with two weeks' supply of food and water in the event of a major catastrophe.{{sfn|Herken|1990|pp=28–34}}

Some {{convert|25|mi|order=flip|sp=us}} of {{convert|10|in|cm|order=flip|sp=us|adj=on}} oil well casing was necessary to store the approximately {{convert|1200000|lb|order=flip|sp=us}} of compressed air at {{convert|3600|psi|order=flip|sp=us}} used to simulate ramjet flight conditions for Pluto. Three giant compressors were borrowed from the [[Naval Submarine Base New London]] in [[Groton, Connecticut]] that could replenish the farm in five days. A five-minute, full-power test involved {{convert|2000|lb/s|kg/s|order=flip|sp=us}} of air  being forced over 14 million {{convert|1|in|cm|adj=on|order=flip|sp=us}} diameter steel balls that were held in four steel tanks which were heated to {{convert|1350|F|C|order=flip}}.{{sfn|Herken|1990|pp=28–34}}{{sfn|Barnett|1965|pp=1–2}}

Because the test reactors were highly radioactive once they were started, they were transported to and from the test site on railroad cars.<ref name="fact sheet" /> The "Jackass and Western Railroad", as it was light-heartedly described, was said to be the world's shortest and slowest railroad.{{sfn|Corliss|Schwenk|1971|p=41}} There were two locomotives, the remotely controlled electric L-1, and the diesel/electric L-2, which was manually controlled but had radiation shielding around the [[Cab (locomotive)|cab]].{{sfn|Dewar|2007|pp=17–21}} The former was normally used; the latter was as a backup.{{sfn|Dewar|2007|p=112}} The Cold Assembly Bay (Room 101) in Building 2201 was used for storage and assembly of components of the reactor test vehicle. It also contained a maintenance service pit and battery charger for the locomotives.{{sfn|Burmeister|2009|pp=6–9}}