First rail removal near Alpine Tunnel station in 1940

It appears that the first removal of rail from the remaining mile from the east portal to some point down the western slope took place in 1940 and it included rail (at least) running between the engine house and stone section house ruins and the depot and two-story section house. 

First, it is clear that rail was present at this location in 1939, roughly 16 years after the Quartz to Hancock section was officially scrapped, as seen in the 3 photos below. 

1939

Aug. 6, 1939 R.H. Kindig - James Ehernberger Collection-Gunnison Memories

June 1939 Donald E. A. Rogers

June 1939 Donald E.A. Rogers

Undated (possibly June 1939)

D.E. Rogers Mineral Belt 2 - Undated, but judging on the 
fact that the photographer took the photo above this one at
Alpine Tunnel in June 1939, my guess is it is the same date.
Also, the Alpine Tunnel station signs were removed on Aug. 6, 1939. 
This photo shows them still in place.

The next 2 photos are telling. The first (A), from June of 1940 shows the mainline and passing track still in place between the station and engine house. 

1940

PHOTO A: June 1940 Richard Kindig Mineral Belt 2

This next photo (B) is also dated as 1940, but the rail seems to be freshly removed as demonstrated by the discoloration on the ties. The photo does not have a month listed, so it appears that all we know is that sometime after June of 1940 some (not all, as upcoming posts will show) rail was removed in the vicinity of the Alpine Tunnel station complex.

PHOTO B: 1940 John W. Maxwell The South Park Line

The tricky part is-->these 2 photos show slightly different locations. It's possible that the rails are gone at the left of the June 1940 photo (A), but not in front of the section house and depot. It is also possible that the rails are in place beyond the viewpoint of the photographer in the (B)1940 shot. 

I can't verify either theory as the next photo I have of the area in front of the depot is dated "Mid-1950s" which shows rail gone at that spot. I'm assuming that photo (B) shows rail gone all the way past the section house and depot. 

I have no knowledge yet of who removed the rail, for what purpose, and why (as we will see in upcoming posts) there was still much rail left in place east toward the tunnel and outdoor turntable as well as west down the mountain grade.