Denver & Rio Grande Western's rerouting of its mainline bypassing the big Thistle landslide is well underway on June 15, 1983. The 3009 ft. tunnel under Billy's Mountain is nearing completion with a July 4th reopening of the mainline quickly approaching. The slag ballast was accrued from local sources at both Geneva and Midvale. The rush to completion required the Rio Grande to utilize 'snap track' (preassembled ties, spikes, tie plates and rails) along portions of the new line. The first day of summer is but a week away and a snowpack is still present along the flanks of 9088 ft. Maple Mountain.
