Philippine Railway Historical Society News and History!: 2010: PHILIPPINE LOCOMOTION

Monday, April 28, 2025

2010: PHILIPPINE LOCOMOTION - PART 2

Philippine diesel locomotives have been at the centre of my Philippine National Railway (PNR) interest for the past 25 years. Since my first arrival was in 1999, I've unfortunately missed experiencing many interesting past locomotive types, with only five classes now in existence (two of these only recently delivered).

However, I was fortunate to witness a period before extensive scrapping occurred and a time when the general consensus was that PNR was on the brink of shutting down. Over the years, I've seen numerous locomotives scrapped, a seemingly endless array of different liveries, locomotive derailments, and the introduction of new locomotives from Indonesia and Italy. I've also seen some lucky units rebuilt and the recent closure of Manila operations with the upcoming transfer of units to the south.

Much of this has been covered on this website and discussed in our ever-growing main members forum.

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U15C 919 approaches Espana station with a Tutuban service from Binan.

It is interesting to note that trains were still running on the left hand side at the time. This is a common sight for us Aussies, and when they changed over it took a while to get used to.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and Below.

Our ride on 919 from Espana to Tutuban.

Thanks to a very generous crew.

Lower photo is at Laon Laan.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

The cab side number taken as the train pushes back out of the platform. This practice seems to have later changed, with a yard shunter usually pulling the carriage sets out in later years.
Photo: Brad Peadon

918 is wearing the marginally attractive Filtrack livery.

I personally felt that the orange bar should have proceeded around the nose, and that white really wasn't the best choice for the cab area.

Anyway, it was a huge departure from previous livery designs.
Photo: Brad Peadon

We soon departed on our journey to Naga and Sipocot.

Definitely one of our more memorable cabrides.
Photos: Brad Peadon

2540 sitting in the Caloocan Workshops.
Photo: Brad Peadon

An accident damaged, and heavily stripped, U15C 920 at the Caloocan Workshops.

It still existed as late as our 2023 visit.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Accident damaged 5010 had already been heavily stripped at this time. However, the stripping had not ended, and what is left was dumped outside when we visited in 2023.

Interestingly, she was back inside the main shed by the time of our March 2025 visit.

She has the distinction of being the last locomotive to wear the red/yellow livery.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and Below.

U14C 915 sitting at the Tayuman locomotive shed.

915 was the last of 10 U14C General Electrics delivered to PNR. 916 is a U14C as well, but was built as 908.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Cab of 5002 in Tayuman shed.
Photo: Brad Peadon

Cab of 2538 in Tayuman shed.
Photo: Brad Peadon

GE U15C 902 and 919 at Tayuman shed.

902 remains the oldest operational locomotive, having been rebuilt by DESCO in recent years.
Photo: Brad Peadon

919 at Tayuman shed.

Photo: Brad Peadon

My beloved 902 during one of our many catchups.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Kettles CABANATUAN and DAGUPAN preserved (sort of) outside the station at Tutuban.

The future of these two here is unknown.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Cabanatuan – This 0-6-0 saddle tank locomotive was originally built by Kerr Stuart in 1907. It was later rebuilt from two earlier engines, No. 1007 "Cavite" and No. 1021 "Santo Tomas". The locomotive is named after the Cabanatuan line, a branch of the Manila Railway Company that led to Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija.

Dagupan – Another 0-6-0 saddle tank locomotive, Dagupan was also built by Kerr Stuart in 1907. The name "Dagupan" is associated with the Dagupan line, another branch of the Manila Railway Company.