Philippine Railway Historical Society News and History!: SPOTLIGHT ON: MC-333 LUTUCAN

MC-333 is one of those amazing Philippine survivors, having seen all it's type retired and scrapped, but soldiering on as the sole example in existence.

As such, it was one item I included in a 2009 report into what rollingstock should be considered for a planned museum.

A squiz through the 1988 'Philippine National Railway' inventory gives a manufacturing date of 1967, with only eight confirmed examples of the type still in existence.

Five others had been retired in the period since the previous inventory listing. Whether these were scrapped, or laid around rotting, it not known.

Of these, two were considered to be serviceable, but fully depreciated, with the other six being classed unserviceable.

MC-333 was among these later six.

At the time, all but MC-338 were stored at Caloocan, with 325 and 339 supposedly awaiting repair. There has not been any indication that these repairs occurred, with all but 333 likely getting scrapped over the following years.

It is interesting to note that the records show some examples of the type were reclassified CMC by this time, MC-333 being one of these.

There is no indication of any of these railcars carrying the new classification and, as can be seen in some of the photos below, the MC-333 still appears on the former drivers cab door and sides.

Today, MC-333 is unpowered and is solely locomotive hauled and used on per-way related duties.
It is uncertain what work would be required to return it to a self propelled unit again.

While three false starts, and some really bad attitudes, have seen me almost give up on the idea of a railway museum eventuating in the Philippines, if it ever does come to pass, MC-333 would one of a few very worthy preservation contenders.

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Photos of MC-333 at Lutucan station (Quezon Province) while engaged in bridge replacement duties.

All photos taken by Brad Peadon.

Photos of Lutucan station and bridge damage.

The original classification of MC-333 is still clearly seen all over the last surviving member.
Photos: Brad Peadon.

Nachi Fujikoshi Corp

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During my August 2022 inspection of the Caloocan Workshops, I was surprised to find MC-333 near the entrance awaiting some sort of attention.

Mark Chua advises that she is now based down in beautiful Hondagua (Quezon Province).

Photos: Brad Peadon

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MC-322 - Tutuban - Date & Photographer Unknown.
This railcar had been retired prior to 1987

Some promotional material from 'The Chronicle Magazine' back in 1968. Coincidently showing the exact same railcar in the photo above.