Philippine Railway Historical Society News and History!: October 2022

Thursday, October 27, 2022

DESCO ENGINEERING 2019 - PART 2

2019 - DESCO Part 2

Finally, here is the second part of the DESCO Engineering coverage.

At the time of this trip, I would never have dreamed that it would be the last time I could return to the Philippines until 2022. We had been getting used to being back in the routine of at least one annual visit, sometimes two.

However, it was worth it given the generosity afforded us by DESCO and PNR.

Anyway, that guff is all quite irrelevant to the article.

While partaking in my twelfth visit, we were blessed with an invitation from the 'Philippine National Railways' to visit the DESCO Engineering factory in Binan Laguna.

For it was here that they were rebuilding my beloved U15C (yes it is a U15C, no matter what the rumour spreaders say) 902, along with sister unit 913, and we were able to photographically cover progress for historical reasons.

Part of the agreement of the visit was that the photos would not be used until after these two locomotives were finished. While they were completed, and back in service, some time ago, it was just recently that I confirmed the ability to share.

I am very excited to be able now to show the photos of this very interesting part of PNR locomotive history.

Due to the nature of these shots (they must be unaltered in any way), any desire to use 'needs' permission to be granted. You can contact the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' at the email address on each image with details of where, and how, you wish to use them and I can follow up with the relevant organisations.

Please try to respect their generosity in allowing us to bring this part of Philippine railway history to you.

DESCO Engineering 2019 - Part 1

Edwin (DESCO), Mark (PNR/PRHS), Rene (DESCO) and myself.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Brad Peadon

U14C #913 at left.

U15C #902 at right.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Brad Peadon

My baby getting the full treatment.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Brad Peadon

Can't have a trip to the Philippines without catching up with PNR Flagship 902. A tradition since 1999.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Brad Peadon

Pilot of U15C 902.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Brad Peadon

DXL-485 the DESCO shuttle bus.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Brad Peadon

Mark checking out progress on 902.
DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Brad Peadon

U14C 913 taken from 902.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Mark Chua

U15C 902.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Mark Chua

Looking down the chassis, away from the cab, of U15C 902.

DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna

Photo: Mark Chua

The Finished Product

U15C 902 approaches Pasay Road station with a passenger train from Alabang to Tutuban.
Photo: Brad Peadon

U14C 913 reflects on her long career with the Philippine National Railways.
Tayuman Locomotive Shed in Manila.
DESCO Factory - Binan Laguna
Photo: Brad Peadon

Part One Of The DESCO article.
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Thanks To:

The management of the 'Philippine National Railways', in particular former General Manager Junn Magno and Atty Ces Lauta.

The management and staff of DESCO Engineering (Binan, Laguna), in particular manager Rene and Kuya Edwin.

Members of the Philippine Railway Historical Society.

PRHS Website - Facebook Group - Twitter

Mark Chua (PNR, PRHS, GMA :-) )

Onyo Artocillo (B-I-L and Driver)

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Further reading:

902 - PNR Flagship returns home.

913 - Returns Home

914 - Transfer To DESCO.

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Thursday, October 13, 2022

RANDOM LOCOMOTIVES 2009

G'day regular readers, and those who may have stumbled here completely by mistake.

I am currently partaking in the mammoth task of going through and cataloguing all my Philippine photos from 2009 and 2010. This is part of a much larger task to get through 80,00+ shots taken from 1999 until recently in 2022.

While many shots form a theme in blog posts, there are also many that really just don't lend themselves to that. However, I would still like to share them with people who have an interest. After all, that's what the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' has always been about.

So, while going through this process, all these photos have been getting placed into three different categories on the site.

Locomotives - Rollingstock - Infrastructure/Other

All three will likely be multi-part, due to the sheer amount of times I pushed my poor old worn-out shutter buttons.

Ultimately, I just hope they are of interest.

Builders plate off U14C locomotive 914.

One of many plates Engineer Besmonte has preserved in his office at the time.

Photo: Brad Peadon

U15C 908 (originally 904) sure had seen better days when I captured here at Caloocan Workshops.

Below she is seen on one of the former tracks outside the main workshop, stripped of anything that can be reused and waiting for the gas axe which was very near in her future.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Poor ol U14C 906 looks a bit unbecoming without her nose.

Photos: Brad Peadon

U15C (GE 39240 of 1973) 903 at Caloocan Workshops was the last locomotive to still wear (sort of) the 'Philippines 2000' version of the red/yellow livery.

In 1999 she was noted as out of use at Tayuman shed. Soon after she was hauled to the workshops and be gradually stripped prior to scrapping.

Photos: Brad Peadon