The restored ALCO ADA 800 locomotive is now permanently displayed outside the historic courthouse in Holbrook. The train, which once carried lumber and wind turbine blades across northeastern Arizona, was refurbished through community efforts and unveiled last week. Moving the train to its current location was no small task due to its weight.
The restored ALCO ADA 800 locomotive is now permanently displayed outside the historic courthouse in Holbrook. The train, which once carried lumber and wind turbine blades across northeastern Arizona, was refurbished through community efforts and unveiled last week. Moving the train to its current location was no small task due to its weight. Photos courtesy of the Navajo County Historical Society

Holbrook recently welcomed a unique piece of its industrial past with the installation of a historic locomotive, the ADA 800, donated by Apache Railway Company to the Navajo County Historical Society.

This significant piece of railway history, built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO), is now on display outside the Historic Navajo County Courthouse, located at 100 E. Arizona St., offering residents and visitors alike a tangible connection to the region’s rich transportation and industrial heritage.

The ADA 800 served a vital role throughout its operational life, initially transporting lumber to the paper mill in Snowflake. More recently, it was pivotal in carrying massive wind turbine blades. The train has taken on many roles during its years in operation and its final role will be reminding locals and tourists alike of the major impact the railway industry has had on the community.

The train officially became part of the Navajo County Historical Society’s collection in February 2024, arriving in Holbrook in June of the same year. From June to December 2024, dedicated volunteers and local businesses undertook the enormous task of refurbishing the ADA 800. Central to this restoration was the removal of the massive 18,000-horsepower, V12 diesel engine, a component weighing a staggering 32,000 pounds. Additional non-essential parts were also removed, drastically reducing the locomotive’s weight from its original 247,000 pounds to a more manageable 97,000 pounds.

Since work on the train finished in December, the time since then has been figuring out how to move it to its final resting place, which was its own set of logistical puzzles and hurdles to overcome. The last hurdle was waiting for Navajo Blvd. to undergo its resurfacing which finished just a week, but the most challenging aspect was finding someone with a trailer capable of hauling a train and willing to take on such a potentially risky endeavor.

Aaron Colon, president of the Navajo County Historical Society emphasized the collaborative nature of this ambitious project. “It seemed like everything just fell in place,” Colon reflected, highlighting the significant community effort that brought ADA 800 to its new home. Eventually, Colon was able to connect with Charlie Negron who was excited to help with the project and had the trailer capable of such a feat, from there the project moved forward.

The contributions didn’t stop there. BNSF Railway generously donated the rails and ties the ADA 800 now rests upon, facilitating a secure and historically accurate presentation. JarmCo of Show Low, further supported the project by donating the use of their large cranes during critical stages of the restoration, completely free of charge.

JD Dirks, a local artist, took on the meticulous task of repainting ADA 800, transforming its modern green and silver exterior back to its original, striking red and silver color scheme. This visual restoration is not just cosmetic; it vividly reconnects the train with its historical and local roots.

Colon expressed profound gratitude to all who assisted, emphasizing the roles played by Christian Rudelis, Jeremy Lackey, Andrea Romo, Kevin Kitts, and Robert Parrey Jr., along with numerous local businesses and private citizens who generously donated funding to see this ambitious project through to completion.

Thanks to this remarkable communal effort, the ADA 800 now stands as a vibrant symbol of Holbrook’s enduring spirit, celebrating the legacy of industry, transportation and collaborative achievement. Its restoration and display ensure that this iconic train will educate and inspire future generations, keeping local history alive and accessible to all.[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”4″ display=”pro_mosaic” animate_images_enable=”0″ animate_images_style=”wobble” animate_images_duration=”1500″ animate_images_delay=”250″ animate_pagination_enable=”0″ animate_pagination_style=”flipInX” animate_pagination_duration=”1500″ animate_pagination_delay=”250″]