An historic day on the Rio Grande. Rio Grande GP40-2 and GP40's 3107, 3059, 3109, 3074, 3052 are approaching the west end the brand new Thistle Tunnel. This will be the first train through the Thistle Tunnel. Disaster struck in the Spring of 1983 when a giant landside came down and covered the Rio Grande main line, the highway, and damned the river. The Thistle Lake was formed covering the town of Thistle, Utah. The railroad and highway had to find a new way through the canyon. The railroad built the 3000 ft tunnel. The highway went even higher and went over the top will a giant cut at the top. The lake was eventually drained. I was here when my dad took this picture. I was having fun playing in a big dirt pile.
