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.
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.
Philippine Railways: The Staff - The People - The Fans - The Morons
I’ve been travelling to the Philippines since 1999 — long enough that immigration officers now look at my passport, raise an eyebrow, and silently ask themselves, “Why?” The answer, of course, is railways. Not beaches, not tropical cocktails, not the inexplicably popular Jollibee spaghetti. No. I willingly fly across an ocean to chase trains, tracks, and whatever rusty relic happens to be dissolving quietly behind a coconut tree.
Over the years I’ve roamed most of Luzon, trundled across Panay, and wandered around Negros, all in the noble pursuit of documenting as much railway history as humanly possible. And by “noble pursuit,” I mean standing in the heat wondering why I left the comfort of air conditioning to photograph a bridge that last saw a train sometime during the Ramos administration.
My regular involvement in the Philippine railway scene has also introduced me to a truly impressive (if that's the word) variety of humans. I’ve met PNR managers who can recite locomotive histories better than their own birthdays, employees who’ve seen more chaos than a teleserye finale, and passengers who genuinely want to know why a foreigner is photographing a rail siding at 6am.
Then, of course, there are the railfans.
Ah yes. The railfans.
Over the years I’ve encountered the entire 'spectrum' — from delightful, knowledgeable enthusiasts who’d gladly guide you to the nearest abandoned station, to prepubescent ego-fuelled storytellers who insist their uncle’s neighbour’s dog has insider information about a secret bullet train arriving “next month.” If I had a peso for every tall tale I’ve been told, I could probably fund the restoration of half the fleet myself.
Thankfully, amongst all this, I have found some of the best of friends.
But for all the heat, the wild rumours, and the questionable life choices involved in chasing trains across an archipelago, the reward has been the people. Dozens, maybe hundreds, of them — generous, passionate, curious, chaotic, hilarious. A community stitched together by steel rails, diesel fumes, and a shared obsession with whether Train 711 will depart on time (it won’t).
And that’s why I keep coming back.
Not just for the trains — but for the characters who ride them, maintain them, mismanage them, photograph them, and argue about them online.
It’s been one hell of a ride since 1999.
And I’m not done yet. Although there are a few fans there trying hard to make that so :-)
Mr Homer Taguiwalo was a lovely guy who I met for the first and last time on this day.
I was awaiting departure of the afternoon Binan service, when he hopped out of the train and come across to say g'day. Having seen my websites and groups, he suspected it was me.
I wish more did it.
Sadly Homer passed away a few years ago, so I was unable to repeat the meeting 😢
Fellow Aussie Paul Hornby was living in Naga at the time and we caught up with him for a ride on the Bicol Commuter.
He is seen here getting shots of 918 after having run around it's train in preparation for return to Naga, and the then Ligao (the then southern terminus).
This time in the courtyard outside the Tutuban station.
Sadly we have lost Jun (far left) and Ben (second from right) since this photo was taken. Two more great friends who were taken so terribly early.
This is probably one of the hardest part of living so far away from mates. But their memory reminds me that there are a few genuine people in the hobby there. You just have to find them.
A selection of peak hour passengers awaiting a train from the south. There was single line working through the station at the time, thus why people were waiting on the same platform for trains each way.
A sled trails behind a Tutuban bound Rotem set. I seem to remember this was an official PNR sled, as I have never seen one in this location before or since..
902 departing Tutuban station with another afternoon run to Binan. It may be of interest to know that this was a once a day service, travelling down in th evening, stabling overnight, then coming back early the next morning.
