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. Note also the realignment of US Highway 6 along the face of Billy's Mountain in the early stages of construction. This view looks southward toward the tunnel from the new milepost 682. The steel mill slag ballast was procured from USS Geneva Works in Vineyard. 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.
