The Rio Grande Zephyr is pictured departing Utah for Denver, Colorado . . . via the Union Pacific Overland Route! The developing Thistle landslide closed the D&RGW mainline the previous evening, requiring the Rio Grande to secure trackage rights to detour the eastbound RGZ through Wyoming. Here train #18 makes a once in a lifetime appearance on UP's Evanston Subdivision through Echo Canyon on April 15, 1983. The UP 9003 (EMD GP40X) is providing the required cab signals to lead the train back home to Denver. The RGZ would make its final run between Grand Junction and Denver on April 24, 1983.
