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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 Hawaiian-Philippine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaiian-Philippine. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

HAWAIIAN-PHILIPPINES COMPANY - 2025 VISIT - PART 8 - LOCOSHED & AREA

 

Hawaiian-Philippine Company 2025 

 Part 8 - The Loco Shed & Area

In March of last 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 find ourselves back at the mill, with time to look through all the fascinating items residing in the loco shed.

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.

We put a huge amount of work into our many social media activities.
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Above and two below.
Plymouth #17 just outside the mill loco shed.
Including a view in the cab.
Photos: Brad Peadon




#17 is looking a bit different in 2026, with both her and sister #18 being painted in a dark green livery with white features.
Photo: Rodeo Suating


Above and two below.
#16 inside and out.
Photos: Brad Peadon




Looking towards the yard from the mill loco shed.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Inside the loco shed.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Our loco crew on return to the mill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and three below.
The area out front of the loco shed, including Plymouth #16, #17, and line car #4.
Photos: Brad Peadon





Presumably some type of wheelbarrow like contraption.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Looking across to the mill from the loco area.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
Looking both ways at the entrance to the loco shed sidings.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Hawaiian-Philippine Company sugar mill.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Looks to be the underframe of something, m,aybe another former line car..
Photo: Brad Peadon


The Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCO) at Silay City, Negros Occidental, is one of the oldest and most historically significant sugar mills in the Philippines. Established in 1918 and commencing operations around 1920, it was founded with American and Hawaiian investment during the rapid expansion of the Philippine sugar industry. 

The company became one of the largest sugar centrals in Negros, serving hundreds of surrounding haciendas by processing harvested sugarcane into raw sugar for both domestic use and export. The construction of the mill helped cement Silay's reputation as one of the country's wealthiest sugar-producing districts during the first half of the twentieth century, when Negros was known as the "Sugar Bowl of the Philippines."

One of the features that has made Hawaiian-Philippine Company famous among railway enthusiasts is its remarkable industrial railway system. For decades, narrow-gauge steam locomotives hauled long trains of freshly cut sugarcane from the plantations directly to the mill, creating one of the last surviving examples of working steam-powered industrial railways in Asia. Although trucks now carry much of the harvest, the company has retained and restored several of its historic steam locomotives and also operates diesel locomotives on the last surviving section of the network.

 Today, HPCO remains an important employer in the region, producing raw sugar and traditional muscovado sugar while also investing in biomass power generation, making it one of the few Philippine sugar companies to successfully blend more than a century of heritage with modern industry.

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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.


Google







Interested In All Things Philippines? We Have Heaps.
Check out our new Link Tree site.



Are you interested in transport around the Philippines?
We have put together a listing of genuine online forums and websites to further promote the hobby.
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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Tuesday, February 24, 2026

HAWAIIAN-PHILIPPINES COMPANY - 2025 VISIT - PART 7 - LOCOSHED

 




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Hawaiian-Philippine Company 2025 

 Part 7 - The Loco Shed

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 find ourselves back at the mill, with time to look through all the fascinating items residing in the loco shed.

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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So why 'SSR' on the side of the diesel locomotives?
Aussie railfans have joked that it stands for our 'Southern Shorthaul Railroad'. While the livery is also yellow and black, that's as close as they get to being the same :-)

 On the Hawaiian-Philippine Company (HPCo) sugar railway in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, the initials “SSR” seen on the sides of the diesel locomotives actually stands for Silay-Saravia Railway (originally Silay-Saravia Railway Cooperative). In the early 2000s, the mill’s own transport division was closed and a cooperative formed by local planters took over operation of the cane railway haulage. The coop’s name — Silay-Saravia Railway Cooperative — was used on the diesels, and over time the “Cooperative” was dropped in the paint scheme, leaving just SSR on the cab-side logos.


Above and two below.
#1 - Henchel 21646 of 1929.
Awaiting restoration.
Photos: Brad Peadon





Above and two below
Plymouth #17
Operational, but we need the builders number and date if anyone is able to help.
Photos: Brad Peadon




Above and below
Plymouth #16
6763 of 1970
Operational.
Photos: Brad Peadon



 View from the loco shed looking towards the yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon


 Cane truck 7418-7 sitting at the rear of the shed.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Mill track car (Speeder)
Awaiting restoration.
Photos: Brad Peadon


Above and five below.
#6 - Baldwin 52867 of 1920.
Under restoration.
Photos: Brad Peadon







Above and seven below.
#11 - Plymouth 6988 of 1973.
Unsure as to it's operational condition, it looked to be in the same spot it was during my 2023 visit.
Photos: Brad Peadon









#2 (ex #5) - Baldwin 22866 of 1920.
Operational and used for our tour on this day.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and four below.
#7 - Baldwin 60677 of 1928.
Used for special occasions involving the 'Don Papa Rum' company who I am told fund it's operation. I was told it was needing some sort of work at the time of my visit.
I did not look like it had seen use since our visit in 2023, which was the same year the 'Don Papa Rum' brand was purchased.
It is unknown if the locomotive will still figure in the plans of the new owner.
Photos: Brad Peadon





Don Papa Rum

Don Papa Rum is a premium Philippine rum brand created by entrepreneur Stephen Carroll, a former executive at Rémy Cointreau, who was inspired to start the company after visiting Negros Occidental—a region in the Philippines known as “Sugarlandia” for its abundant and high-quality sugarcane.
 Seeing an opportunity to craft a world-class rum rooted in the country’s rich sugar heritage, Carroll founded the Bleeding Heart Rum Company and launched Don Papa in 2012, first in Bacolod and then Manila. The rum is named after Papa Isio (Dionisio Magbuelas), a charismatic Negrense leader and revolutionary figure in the late 19th-century Philippine struggle against Spanish rule, whose legacy the brand evokes as part of its storytelling.
 Don Papa is made using molasses from local sugarcane and aged in American oak barrels for at least seven years, giving it a smooth, sweet profile with notes of vanilla, honey, and fruit.

Since its debut, Don Papa has expanded far beyond the Philippines, finding strong markets across Europe, Asia, and North America and becoming one of the country’s most recognisable spirit exports.
 Its distinctive packaging and storytelling helped fuel international interest, and by the early 2020s it was available in over 30 countries.
 In January 2023, global drinks giant Diageo agreed to acquire the Don Papa brand for an initial €260 million, a move aimed at bolstering its position in the growing premium rum category; the acquisition was completed in March of that year.

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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.


Google










Interested In All Things Philippines? We Have Heaps.
Check out our new Link Tree site.



Are you interested in transport around the Philippines?
We have put together a listing of genuine online forums and websites to further promote the hobby.
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.
   



#semiretiredfoamer

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