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Welcome one and all to the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' blogsite. This site was set up to share photos, historical pieces, comment and virtually anything else pertaining to transportation in the Philippines, with a special emphasis on rail. Occasional we vary from topic, but this is the less serious side of the hobby shining through - cause sometimes, in this miserable and uptight world, we just take ourselves a little too seriously.
Since 1999, the Philippine Railway Historical Society has regularly published items, FOR FREE, of railway interest on our PRHS Website. These include locomotive, rollingstock and transit updates, as well as our occasional magazine, 'Along Da Riles'.
 Our interest base has grown over the years with our main Facebook railway group expanding to include groups interested in other Philippine Transport, modelling of Philippine transport and even a group for Philippine railfans interested in overseas railways.
 If it sounds interesting, come join in the fun of the oldest, and most diverse, group dedicated to Philippine railways and other transport.
 We look forward to meeting you.

If you have a question Philippine railway related, just drop us a line, maybe we can help.
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Showing posts with label GE U14C 900 Class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GE U14C 900 Class. Show all posts

Monday, February 2, 2026

SPOTLIGHT: U14C #915 TAYUMAN SHED

 




There are pristine locomotives, there are workhorses, and then there are locomotives like Philippine National Railways General Electric U14C number 915 — a machine that in 2009 looked less like a shining example of engineering brilliance and more like a veteran prize fighter who had gone fifteen rounds too many but stubbornly refused to stay down.

During that year, I took the opportunity to photograph 915 with a slightly different agenda. Rather than the standard “train goes past, photographer happy” approach, this was a closer, more forensic look at the locomotive’s finer details, aimed squarely at Philippine railway modellers, historians, and anyone else who enjoys obsessing over bolts, grilles, weathering, and the sort of mechanical scars only decades of hard tropical service can provide. Even then she was undeniably tired, wearing her battle damage with a kind of rugged dignity. Today, she sits at the Caloocan Workshops in a condition best described as… aspirational, while continuing to star in the long-running railway soap opera known as “Will 915 Run Again?” — a series featuring endless rumours, dramatic plot twists, and absolutely no confirmed release date.
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Semi-Retired Foamer!
Follow our page to be kept updated on news, photography, and every ghastly
thing we inflict upon the internet.
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Video: Plaridel Station

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Mark Chua, Nhing, and Onyo.

PNR Management & Staff.






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Tuesday, April 9, 2024

PNR FLEET UPDATE - AT MANILA CLOSURE







     PNR NARROW GAUGE
      NOTE: PNR Manila Passenger Operations Suspended On March 27th.
      Manila Locomotives Still Seeing Limited Use.
       
CLASS#YEARMODELLIVERYDATENOTES
       
9009021973U15COrange4/2024Operational, Allocated Manila.
 9061979U14CBlue/Red4/2019Beyond Economical Repair - Caloocan
 9111979U14COrange4/2024Repairs nearing completion.. - Caloocan
 9131979U14COrange4/2024In Service.
      
 9141979U14CBlue/Red3/2024Returned to service in Manila.
 9151979U14CBlue/Red2/2024Next for repair. (Possibly not going to happen) - Caloocan
 9161979U14CBlue/Red3/2024Returned to service in Manila.
 9171991U15COrange10/2023Operational, Allocated Calamba
 9181991U15COrange4/2024Operational, Allocated Manila.
 9191991U15CBlue/Red10/2023Caloocan Workshops
 9201991U15CBlue/Red10/2022Beyond Economical Repair - Caloocan (Bent frame)
 9211991U15COrange04/2024Operational, Allocated Manila.
 9221991U15COrange04/2024Operational, Allocated Manila.
       
250025351979U10BBlue/Red Manila
 25381979U10BBlue/Gold5/2020Transferred from Naga to Caloocan
 25401979U10BOrange7/2021In Service - Bicol Commuter and DMT use.
      Recently operated to Ligao to pick up the Buda car.
       
500050011992U6BOrange Caloocan shunter. Receent orange repaint
 50021992U6BBlue/Red Non-Operational
 50031992U6BBlue/Red Caloocan
 50041992U6BBlue/Red0-5-2020Non-Operational - Manila
 50051992U6BBlue/Red0-5-2020Non-Operational - Manila
 50061992U6BBlue/Red05/2020Non-Operational- Manila
 50071992U6BOrange04/2024Operational Manila, transfer of 922 to Caloocan (7-10)
 50081992U6BBlue/Red0-5-2020Non-Operational - Manila
 50091992U6BBlue/Red11/2021In Service - Bicol Commuter and DMT use
 50101992U6BRed/Yellow10/2023Beyond Economical Repair, Heavily stripped
       
TMC12019LM250Orange12/2021Lucena
 22019LM250Orange3/2024Allocated to Lucena as shunter. 1905903-2
       
900090012020CC300Orange4/2024Allocated Manila - CC300 20 01 - Unused for some time.
 90022020CC300Orange4/2024Allocated to Lucena, - CC300 20 02
 90032020CC300Orange4/2024Legaspi (4/2024) - CC300 20 03
       
   System:Passenger: Calamba - Lucena
      Sipocot - Legaspi
    Available Tutuban - Gov Pascual and Alabang
      Calamba - Ligao
    Closed Tutuban - Gov Pascual / Calamba (for building elevated railway)
    Pending: Lucena - Southwards
    Notes: Locomotive transfers from Manila to South Line expected.
       
      Brad Peadon, Mark Chua, Paul Nicholas Domingo Cabalhin
      Danganan Avim, Reynante Bulaon
       
      Date Column-Date of most recent update (New)
      Updated: Brad Peadon (1st April 2024) - Manila System Closed
      Philippine Railway Historical Society
      Corrections/Additions Are Welcome.


 

Click above to see all that the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' does.
Far more than just trains

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Nearing the End Of PNR Manila.



Above and below.
916 (ex 908) sitting in Tayuman shed on the last day of PNR (original) passenger operations in Manila.
Photos: Reynante Bulaon



Tayuman shed on the last day of Manila passenger operations.
Photos: Reynante Bulaon


918 and 922 sit side by side at Alabang station as services get close to finishing forever.
That is local rail legend Mark Chua up front.
Photos: Mark Chua
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2010 - PNR Manila.


Interesting little Caloocan Workshop shunter inside the workshop.
Photos: Brad Peadon



911 inside Caloocan Workshop. Today she is nearing the end of her refurbishment, and is looking grat in the current orange livery.
Photos have appeared in the PRHS forum.
Photos: Brad Peadon


Accident damaged, and heavily stripped, 920 sits in Caloocan Workshop..
Photos: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
Now stored 915 sits around a very moist Tayuman shed in Manila.
Photos: Brad Peadon



916 sitting in Lucena station back during 2010.
A good comparison can be had with the 2024 photo seen back in this post.
Photos: Brad Peadon

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Further Reading:

Philippine National Railways Website

'Philippine Railway Historical Society' Linktree

PRHS Forum

Travel & Aviation Blog
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Thanks To:

Reynante Bulaon, Mark Chua & Robert Go.
Philippine National Railways
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Promoting friendships between the Philippines, Australia, NZ and the UK.
Join here.






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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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900 Class Appreciation Group
The only group dedicated to everything related to the 900s.
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