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. _ _
Showing posts with label Steam Locomotive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steam Locomotive. Show all posts
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.
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.
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.
If you find an interest in non-railways topics in the Philippines, you are invited to check out our
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.
We always welcome news, photos and small articles for inclusion on both this site and our parent group (see below). Please email us!
PRHS.Society at gmail.com
The Philippine Railway Historical Society websites and forums on Facebook and Twitter, along with our YouTube channel, have further information regarding these interesting railways and also a number of chat forums for those interested in all areas of Philippine transportation.
Our various forums have the latest news and information from a number of very knowledgeable people. Please join in with our PRHS family, learn about the railways of the Philippines and make new friends.
We now act as a information society, having removed ourselves from the badder elements of the Manila railfan hobby, existing to meet and help others with similar interests.
PRHS - Longest Running Philippine Railways group.
26 years of serving the Philippine railway hobby.
Brad
Australia
FREE PRHS RAILWAY PUBLICATIONS
The PRHS regularly publishes magazines (mostly ezines, but sometimes hard copies) covering different railway topics. Locomotive, rollingstock and transit updates, publications aimed at modellers and our occasional magazine 'Along Da Riles'. In the future, we are planning a number of other publications of interest to everyone, along with plans for a regularly updated database, and another plan that could prove to be a first for the Philippines. PRHS: Bringing a railfan hobby to the nation.
Want more information on the PRHS or have another Philippine railway enquiry?
Philippine Railway Historical Society
For all your Philippine railway information photos and chat, please visit our HOMEPAGE! Our group and activities are free - we are here to promote interest in the Philippine railways, make friendships and help with information. We are not a fundraising group and do not ask for funds. Do you support the past and future of the railways in the Philippines? Come chat with us atPRHSFacebook.We look forward to meeting you.
