By Eric Berger
The Apache Railway has donated a rare Alco RS-36 to the Navajo County Historical Society. The locomotive, Apache 800, will be put on display at the historic Navajo County Courthouse in Holbrook, Ariz. It is expected to be restored to its original red and silver paint scheme.
Apache 800 has been a rare bird since it emerged from the Alco plant in 1962, one of just 40 of the RS-36 model produced for six buyers during a brief 18-month production run. Its rarity has been compounded in the 21st Century not only by the near extinction of the model but the fact that it remained with the original buyer for more than six decades, along with sisters APA 700 and 900.
Some Alco fans have fretted about the future of the three RS-36s for more than a decade since they were parked at the end of a spur behind the shop in Snowflake and retired into new roles as parts donors for the remaining fleet of C420 and C424s. Parts of APA 800 will continue to serve in that capacity, as major internal components including the prime mover, generator, compressor, and traction motors were removed. The other two RS-36s will remain as parts units for the foreseeable future, railroad superintendent Rick Turley told Railfan & Railfan.
He said the current workhorses of the Apache fleet are APA 98 and 99, a pair of ex-Canadian Pacific (4227 and 4233) C-424s built by Montreal Locomotive Works, and a C-420 built in 1966 as Tennessee Central 400, later L&N 1316. The Century units went through a GE rebuilding program in the 1980s.
“It can be a real challenge to find parts for machines that are this old, so we will probably keep the others around until we’ve picked every possible part that can help keep the rest operating,” he said.
One unit long on the sidelines is being revived to assist with an uptick in traffic on the line resulting from a large wind generator project. It is APA 83, a C-420 built in 1967 as Monon 516, later L&N 1333.
“Number 83 has been sitting for 12 years, but we started repair work not long ago and it fired up. So, if all goes well, we should see that one back in service,” Turley said.
Historical Society President Aaron Colon said donations are needed to cover the costs involved with moving the 800 into place. He said BNSF will build a piece of track at the courthouse on which the 57-foot long RS-36 will be displayed, but that “significant” costs will be incurred in moving it to the site.
Donations to the Navajo County Historical Society should be sent by check to the Navajo County Courthouse, 100 E. Arizona St, Holbrook, Ariz. 86025, with “train fund” in the memo to ensure it goes to the locomotive’s relocation. The organization offered thanks to project sponsors including the City of Holbrook, Apache Railway, BNSF, Rhinehart Oil, Aztec Land and Cattle Company, and all local businesses that have provided support.
