New line? This is a shock since UP has acted like they'd like to avoid or close the Moffat line if at all possible.
The Thistle slide was in 1983, and cut the original RGW line from Utah and cut off a major branch. It also ended the Rio Grande Zephyr train, since rerouting the train via the UP spelled it's doom. Interestingly, the slide is still moving! http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/geosights/thistle.htm
From the thread title, I thought this was going to be scenery advice on how to make scale thistles...
Ouch! I can feel the tiny spines already! Nice find! Where did you dig up this one? Does this new (old) movement of the slide threaten the RR at all?
Thistle slide I was working for W. W. Clyde and Co. in 1983, and flagged a back-hoe up the canyon. At that time they thought that they could contain the slide; they were wrong. The new railroad line is on the opposite side of the canyon than the old moving side. For the slide to affect the tracks now, it would have to move Billies Mountain and the tunnels. Paul H. Liddiard
