Wednesday, December 17, 2025

ON SHIFT - ABAD SANTOS, MANILA - MAY 2ND 2021


 

  Welcome to Abad Santos — a level crossing so extreme it makes a warzone look like a wellness retreat. Here, amid traffic that treats road rules as polite suggestions and horns as a second language, stands our crossing keeper: part traffic controller, part railway historian, and part miracle worker. While Manila swirls around him in a caffeinated haze of jeepneys, buses, motorcycles, pedestrians and the occasional vehicle that appears to have been assembled from spare emotions, he calmly goes about the noble task of stopping everything so a train can pass.

 During his shift we watch the parade of steel visitors trundle through: commuter sets grinding their way in from the north, and assorted rolling stock that looks like it’s seen things it can never unsee. Each train has a story — where it’s come from, where it’s going, and how it somehow managed to make it through Metro Manila without becoming part of the traffic itself.
 This isn’t just a list of trains; it’s a front-row seat to organised chaos, as seen through the eyes of the poor soul whose job is to convince Manila to stop moving… briefly… for the railway.
  Nah, that's an exaggeration, a list of trains is pretty much all it is. However, it is now a snapshot back to a time that will never come again.





Date OriginDestinationTime TypeLoco/RailcarEMU Set
       
May 2, 2021TutubanAlabang13:09Loco Hauled 9227
 TutubanAlabang14:09Loco Hauled 9174
 TutubanAlabang15:09Railcar8101-
 Gov PascualBicutan15:26Railcar8002-
 AlabangTutuban15:39Loco Hauled 9227
 TutubanAlabang15:59Loco Hauled 9186
 TutubanBlumentritt16:20Loco Hauled 2540Light Engine
 BlumentrittTutuban16:29Loco Hauled 25407 + 918
 TutubanAlabang16:42Loco Hauled 9227
 AlabangTutuban16:50Loco Hauled 9174
 BicutanGov Pascual17:19Railcar8002-
 TutubanAlabang17:39Loco Hauled 9174
 AlabangTutuban17:39Railcar8101-
 Gov PascualBicutan18:06Railcar8002-
 TutubanAlabang18:39Railcar8101-
 TutubanCalamba19:20Loco Hauled 9184
 AlabangTutuban19:22Loco Hauled 9227
 BicutanGov Pascual20:01Railcar8002-
 AlabangTutuban20:19Loco Hauled 9174
 AlabangTutuban21:09Railcar8101-


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Mark Chua.
Ap Cal, John McMarv, and Albert Latonero Nazareno.
Phil-Hist Investments

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Friday, December 12, 2025

HAWAIIAN-PHILIPPINES COMPANY - 2025 VISIT - PART 6 - COLISAP TO LOCOSHED

 



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Hawaiian-Philippine Company 2025 

 Part 6 - Colisap To Mill

In March of this 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 have left the loading point at Colisap and make our way back to the mill for a look around the locoshed and yard.

Come join us for the ride. 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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Are you interested in the sugarcane tramways and industry on the islands of Negros and Panay (Philippines)?
Also covering the timber/sugar railways of Leyte, Cebu and Mindanao.
You are invited to come join the new forum.

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Above and two below.
Preparing to depart Colisap and haul a load of cane to the mill.
Photos: Brad Peadon




Above and four below.
HPCo #2 in the ideal cane field surrounds of Negros (Philippines).
Photos: Brad Peadon






Above and four below.
Off we go, back through the fields towards the mill.
Photos: Brad Peadon







The quintessential Negros sugar industry view, looking across cane fields at a busy sugar mill hard at work.
Photos: Brad Peadon






That tree line to the left marks the former right of way for the many cane lines that once ran south of the mill, but have now regretfully all gone.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and two below.
Approaching, and crossing, the impressive Malisbog River bridge. The only intact bridge noted that was larger was down in Bais, but it does not look like it is still in use and information is hard to come by.
Photos: Brad Peadon






Level crossing before entering the Hawaiian-Philippine Company mill again.
Photo: Brad Peadon





Above and below.
Shunting the full cane trucks into the yard, before heading off light engine to the loco shed again..
Photos: Brad Peadon


Another rake of cane trucks waiting their turn to go out into the fields.
Photos: Brad Peadon

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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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The listing will regularly be updated and added to.
If you have a relevant and genuine forum or site feel free to let us know.
Feel free to have a looksie HERE.
   



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