100 years ago this week on the Floresta Branch

One hundred years ago this week the coal mining town of Floresta reconnected with the rest of the world. Floresta, located west of Crested Butte in the Kebler Pass area, often received heavy snows that closed down the railroad service. In the winter months the mine would regularly have to stop operations because the tracks closed and they could not ship the coal out. The Denver and Rio Grande used the rotary and three engines to get through the drifts blocking the track. It took two days for the men to complete the task and get the rails cleared. On the first day they made it within a mile from Floresta with the regular plow on the engine, however the drifts proved too thick and they had to return with the rotary and extra engines the next day.
Source: The Gunnison Republican