Antonito Shop

When construction started on the CRF there were some naysayers who claimed possible money was being taken from the Antonito Shop which, I understand, desperately needs heat. In response to these naysayers, somebody, I forget who, said that $160,000 was pledged and that a contract would be let soon to correct the shop heating problem.
Q#1 - Is it correct that that money is available and, if it is, has the contract been let yet? Also, are the shop doors secure enough to have a heating system work efficiently?
Q#2 - I don't understand why locomotives have to go through the shop to get to the ash pit. Maybe I'm all wrong but it seems to me that the pit should be located somewhere out front rather than having to go through two doors to get to it. Maybe I just don't undersstand the logic here.