The Sham
Apache's Blue Looper
For a few decades, Apache ran an “at least” weekly coal train using Southwest Forest Industries hoppers from the paper plant at Snowflake to a loadout on the Santa Fe’s Lee Ranch Sub in New Mexico. Nicknamed the “Blue Looper” for the unique blue colors on the coal hoppers and the captive loop the train made, they became a railfan favorite to catch. Often running in two cuts from Holbrook to the Plant using five Alcos, here the first cut swings around the curve at MP35 just outside Snowflake, AZ on October 1, 2009. In 2012 this train was discontinued and the cars scrapped shortly thereafter.
Apache's Blue Looper
For a few decades, Apache ran an “at least” weekly coal train using Southwest Forest Industries hoppers from the paper plant at Snowflake to a loadout on the Santa Fe’s Lee Ranch Sub in New Mexico. Nicknamed the “Blue Looper” for the unique blue colors on the coal hoppers and the captive loop the train made, they became a railfan favorite to catch. Often running in two cuts from Holbrook to the Plant using five Alcos, here the first cut swings around the curve at MP35 just outside Snowflake, AZ on October 1, 2009. In 2012 this train was discontinued and the cars scrapped shortly thereafter.