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Welcome one and all to the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' blogsite. This site was set up to share photos, historical pieces, comment and virtually anything else pertaining to transportation in the Philippines, with a special emphasis on rail. Occasional we vary from topic, but this is the less serious side of the hobby shining through - cause sometimes, in this miserable and uptight world, we just take ourselves a little too seriously.
Since 1999, the Philippine Railway Historical Society has regularly published items, FOR FREE, of railway interest on our PRHS Website. These include locomotive, rollingstock and transit updates, as well as our occasional magazine, 'Along Da Riles'.
 Our interest base has grown over the years with our main Facebook railway group expanding to include groups interested in other Philippine Transport, modelling of Philippine transport and even a group for Philippine railfans interested in overseas railways.
 If it sounds interesting, come join in the fun of the oldest, and most diverse, group dedicated to Philippine railways and other transport.
 We look forward to meeting you.

If you have a question Philippine railway related, just drop us a line, maybe we can help.
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Tuesday, August 4, 2026

HAWAIIAN-PHILIPPINES COMPANY - 2025 VISIT - PART 8 - LOCOSHED & AREA

 

Hawaiian-Philippine Company 2025 

 Part 8 - The Loco Shed & Area

In March of last year, we were incredibly fortunate to be warmly hosted for a visit to the historic Hawaiian-Philippine Company sugar mill in Silay City, about 28 minutes north of Bacolod in Negros Occidental, Philippines.

Unlike our somewhat impromptu visit in 2023, this time I opted for a more official approach. With the kind support and blessing of the company chairman, we were granted the opportunity to experience what turned out to be one of the most unforgettable moments in my 26 years of exploring the railways of the Philippines.

In this thrilling installment, we find ourselves back at the mill, with time to look through all the fascinating items residing in the loco shed.

If you wish to see the videos of the day, as well as a lot more Philippine content, check out our PRHS TV YouTube channel.

As I have a general interest in the sugar milling industry as a whole, and have been into a couple of Aussie ones, it was fascinating to finally have the opportunity for a better look at this wonderful and historic mill.

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Above and two below.
Plymouth #17 just outside the mill loco shed.
Including a view in the cab.
Photos: Brad Peadon




#17 is looking a bit different in 2026, with both her and sister #18 being painted in a dark green livery with white features.
Photo: Rodeo Suating


Above and two below.
#16 inside and out.
Photos: Brad Peadon




Looking towards the yard from the mill loco shed.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Inside the loco shed.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Our loco crew on return to the mill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and three below.
The area out front of the loco shed, including Plymouth #16, #17, and line car #4.
Photos: Brad Peadon





Presumably some type of wheelbarrow like contraption.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Looking across to the mill from the loco area.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
Looking both ways at the entrance to the loco shed sidings.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Hawaiian-Philippine Company sugar mill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Looks to be the underframe of something, m,aybe another former line car..
Photo: Brad Peadon


The Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCO) at Silay City, Negros Occidental, is one of the oldest and most historically significant sugar mills in the Philippines. Established in 1918 and commencing operations around 1920, it was founded with American and Hawaiian investment during the rapid expansion of the Philippine sugar industry. 

The company became one of the largest sugar centrals in Negros, serving hundreds of surrounding haciendas by processing harvested sugarcane into raw sugar for both domestic use and export. The construction of the mill helped cement Silay's reputation as one of the country's wealthiest sugar-producing districts during the first half of the twentieth century, when Negros was known as the "Sugar Bowl of the Philippines."

One of the features that has made Hawaiian-Philippine Company famous among railway enthusiasts is its remarkable industrial railway system. For decades, narrow-gauge steam locomotives hauled long trains of freshly cut sugarcane from the plantations directly to the mill, creating one of the last surviving examples of working steam-powered industrial railways in Asia. Although trucks now carry much of the harvest, the company has retained and restored several of its historic steam locomotives and also operates diesel locomotives on the last surviving section of the network.

 Today, HPCO remains an important employer in the region, producing raw sugar and traditional muscovado sugar while also investing in biomass power generation, making it one of the few Philippine sugar companies to successfully blend more than a century of heritage with modern industry.

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Mill Chairman: Mr Paul Andrew Curran

Thank you sir so much for allowing my visit to your mill, and for ensuring a link to the amazing heritage of the sugar industry of the Philippines.

HR Division Manager: Ms Gloria Pasustento

For your wonderful help organising our visit.  

CoGen Head & Steam Loco Operation: Mr Rodeo Suating

Also to all the train operating division and the other mill staff. All who were so incredible.

Nhing Tin & Driver Chris Tablero
Kevin Long & Dave.
Management, train, mill, and security staff.


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Monday, August 3, 2026

2011 - MRT3 VISIT





Well, well, well... here we are again.

It has been quite some time since I last inflicted another instalment from one of my entirely official (at least in my own mind) expeditions along Metro Manila's MRT-3. A curious combination of factors managed to derail the series: the increasingly spectacular antics of a handful of intellectually-challenged local railfans, the previously documented theatrical performances of certain overzealous security guards, and, if I'm being fair, a period where my enthusiasm for Philippine railways took a back seat to rather more important personal matters.


Of course, there remains the occasional expert who confidently declares that looking back at older photographs serves no purpose because "it's all exactly the same." An interesting theory, particularly considering the countless changes that have taken place over the years. Thankfully, I maintain a rather obsessive filing system that ensures the same photographs never appear twice on this site. Imagine the horror of accidentally recycling old material.

Then again... perhaps I should simply upload the same galleries every few months. It would certainly save me the countless hours spent sorting, researching and preparing these articles for what is, let's face it, an audience that occasionally appears to regard such efforts with all the enthusiasm of a three year old Balut.

Anyway... enough of the pleasant conversation.


Opened in December 1999, the MRT-3 was built to provide rapid transit along the perpetually congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Metro Manila's busiest arterial road. Stretching almost 17 kilometres between North Avenue and Taft Avenue, the line quickly became one of the city's most heavily used transport corridors, carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers each day. Despite enduring years of overcrowding, maintenance controversies and enough political drama to fill several television series, the MRT-3 remains one of the most important pieces of transport infrastructure in the Philippines and an endlessly fascinating subject for railway enthusiasts.

Today's journey takes us from one end of the line to the other, pausing at several stations that caught my attention along the way. This trip also marked my second—and, sadly, final—Philippine railway adventure with the legendary Mr X, who, unlike myself, never quite succumbed to the incurable disease known as Philippine railway enthusiasm. Nevertheless, it was an excellent day out, soaring backwards and forwards above EDSA like a startled dog that had just discovered, rather too late, that sitting on a hot barbecue plate was perhaps not one of life's better decisions.

Map: Sumitomo Corporation

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050 at Ayala station. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


View from Ayala MRT3 station. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


070 at Ayala station. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


052 waiting for departure from Taft Avenue railway station. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


Inside 052 before departing Taft Avenue. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


018 leads across Manila's 'Sydney Harbour Bridge'.
 :-)
Photo: Brad Peadon


Take note PNR Security Guards. 
See the security guard here?
He notices me taking a train photo.
He realises I am just taking a photo.
He decides to mind his own business
Be like him!
Photo: Brad Peadon


009 takes on passengers at Guadalupe. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


Manila's mini 'Sydney Harbour Bridge' over the Pasig River at Guadalupe.. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


009 and 071 pass at Guadalupe station. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
027 and 069 on various other runs stopping at Guadalupe station. 
Photos: Brad Peadon



Class leader 001 at Araneta -Cubao station. 
Photo: Brad Peadon



012 in the same spot. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
035 and 040 at Aranteta-Cubao station. 
Photos: Brad Peadon



Now it is 064 at Araneta-Cubao station. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


009 leads another train into Araneta - Cubao Station. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


It takes a bit of patience, but if you wait long enough it is possible to get an LRT2 over an MRT3.
Araneta - Cubao Station 
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
035 and 036 at North Avenue station, the lines northernmost station at the time. 
Photos: Brad Peadon


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Video Above: MRT3 at Mandaluyong.



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LRT2 Management & Staff.
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