PNR 900 class

The GE U14C and U15C are second-generation Universal Series road switchers specially built by GE Transportation for the Philippine National Railways. These were ordered in the 1970s to augment and eventually replace the aging diesel locomotive fleet purchased by PNR's predecessor, the Manila Railroad Company.[8] The locomotives to be replaced include the 1000 class streamliners and the 2000 class roadswitchers, the latter being a first-generation Universal Series locomotive and both entered service in 1956.[9] Despite the earlier diesel locomotives initially having 4 digits, the numbering scheme for the new 900 class has three and seems to follow the numbering scheme of the Manila Railroad 800 class USA locomotives built 30 years prior.[10]

The first batch of five GE U15C locomotives was ordered in 1973 for ₱10 million (equivalent to US$9.07 million in 2021) and were constructed by GE in Erie, Pennsylvania. The last two units were delivered in February 1974.[11] A second order of ten U14C locomotives were ordered in the late 1970s and were also built in Pennsylvania. They arrived between January and February 1979.[4]

The locomotives were used on various express services throughout the PNR network such as the Amianan Express and the Bicol Express.[8] Locomotives used on the North Main Line locomotives are distinguishable from its southern counterparts by the color of the "whiskers" on the cab, with the former being colored white and the latter being colored light yellow. At the same time, the long-distance coaching stock were given a dark green and yellow livery to suit the locomotives.[12]

The last six locomotives were built by GE in the former Montreal Locomotive Works plant in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They entered service in 1992 together with the ten 5000 class locomotives, and had a red paint that will be later incorporated into the Philippines 2000 livery.[13] At the same time, earlier locomotives such as 902 were repainted in the same paint scheme.[14] These locomotives were mostly used for Metrotren commuter rail services in the 1990s until the late 2000s.[13]

Rehabilitation

918 after being rehabilitated in DESCO.

In 2014, PNR signed a contract consortium deal with Miescorrail (now MRail), a subsidiary of Meralco and Desco Inc. to upgrade its locomotives. It is PNR's first upgrade to its 26 locomotives since its acquisition in 1992.

The deal involves the disassembly of two of the three locomotives in the first quarter of 2015. The diesel engines will be shipped to a GE facility for a complete upgrade including the installation of the GE Bright Star (BSS) engine control system, a micro-processor based computerized system to provide reliable and efficient performance of the engine. Meanwhile, the brakes and alternators will be repaired by Desco and MRail. The refurbishment started in 2015, and Desco and MRail handed over the two locomotives in February 2017.[2]

From 2019, PNR repainted the locomotives to an orange livery in anticipation of the arrival of the new trains from PT INKA. 6 locomotives are currently in the orange livery as of November 2022.

Since 2020, DESCO Inc. is the company carrying out rehabilitation of the 900 class locomotives, with two units currently under rehabilitation.

As of May 2023, 6 units are active, 2 units are inactive, 2 units are undergoing rehabilitation, 3 units are still under beyond economical repair, and 8 were scrapped.

The PNR 900 class locomotives has been involved in various incidents such as derailments, engine problems, collisions, and even attacks by the NPAs (New People's Army) during the Marcos administration.

• 901 was involved in a derailment in 1979. The locomotive was the first to be built and yet, the first to be scrapped.

• On December 31, 1982, 905 and 910 collided between Hondagua and Calauag Stations at Quezon Province. Both drivers were given 'Line Clear Certificate' by the Station Masters in both stations (905 was heading Northbound, NB while 910 was heading Southbound, SB).
• 908 reportedly hit Bim Bassman (Jian Garcia)'s son sometime in the mid 1980s. The officer retaliated by targeting the unit on several occasions, such as throwing stones, firing bullets, and even hurling a grenade which detonated and injured crew members. PNR officials have renumbered 908 as 916 to avoid further attacks on the locomotive.
• 912 was bombed by the New People's Army (NPA) during the tenure of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980s. The locomotive was written off.

• 920 collided with a dump truck in Iriga while travelling to Legazpi in 2001. Its twisted chassis resulted to its declaration as Beyond Economical Repair (BER). PNR had plans to revive 920 by placing the cab from 904.
• 922 was involved in the Sariaya derailment on November 12, 2004. The Manila-bound Bicol Express train derailed and fell into a ravine, killing 10 people and injuring 160 more. This later ordered for a total halt for all intercity services of the PNR until 2011.[17]

• On October 26, 2012, 922 hauling coaches servicing as Bicol Express Train 611 rolled over while traveling on a rainy weather in Sariaya, Quezon. The bridge was washed out, causing the coaches to roll over. The rainfall was caused by Typhoon Son-Tinh (known as Tropical Storm Ofel). As a result of the incident, 5 passengers were injured, and the Bicol Express was suspended indefinitely although intercity services continued until 2013.[7]
• On October 12, 2015, MSC 1300 performed by the 914 and a 203 series EMU stopped near Nichols station due to engine overheating coming from the locomotive. 2535 was sent to rescue the breakdown train.
• On July 7, 2017, five people, including a pregnant woman, was hurt when an ambulance was hit by 916 near Blumentritt Station in Manila. The ambulance, which came from Barangay 167 Ilano in Caloocan, was on its way to a hospital to bring the pregnant woman when the accident occurred.[18]
• On June 23, 2018, 919's cab was damaged after a collision with a truck at a railway crossing near Paco Station.
• On September 11, 2019, 916 hauling a 203 series EMU stopped at Paco station. A few moments later, 916's engine started overheating.
• A man was run over by 917 at the Abad Santos Triangle in Tondo, Manila on October 2, 2019. The man died as a result of the incident.[19]

• On April 13, 2020, amidst the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of residents barricaded a portion of the rail tracks in Calamba, Laguna that prevented 921 from entering a Barangay that was under total lockdown.[20]
• On April 12, 2022, a 9-to-12-year-old child died after being run over by 921 hauling a 203 series EMU train at the intersection of Antipolo Street and Ipil Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila.[21]
• On April 18, 2023, 913 hauling a recently refurbished (repainted) 203 series EMU derailed near Don Bosco crossing in Makati City, with the locomotive grazing the ground. The track switcher in the vicinity was found to have been tampered with. Authorities are investigating the cause of the derailment. No casualties have been reported. The full operation from Tutuban to Alabang returned on April 21, 2023 after the derailment. [22]

The PNR 900 class, as well as the PNR 2500 class and the PNR 5000 class, were painted in various liveries.

It is the first livery of the 900 class. The livery has two variations:

- Green with White whiskers (Northrail)

- Green with Yellow whiskers (Southrail)

Locomotives with white whiskers were designated for northern trips to La Union, while those with yellow whiskers were reserved for southern trips to Bicol. However, shortage of available locomotives for southern trips caused some locomotives with white whiskers running on the PNR South Main Line despite being designated for the PNR North Main Line. The livery was in use until 1980.

The second livery used for the 900 class. Features green whiskers and a PNR logo.

Before the 5000 class and the last batch of the 900 class arrived in 1991, the current ones, the U14Cs and the 2500 class, were repainted in the Red Philippines 2000 livery. However, unlike the newer locomotives that had a black cowcatcher and lining, the older ones were yellow. Additionally, the 2500 class features a Metrotren signage at the front.

5010 was the last unit in Red livery.

919 at Tutuban station.

Dubbed as Blue whale, all locomotives were repainted in Blue livery.[23]

The livery was used until 2010 when the PNR Hyundai Rotem DMUs arrived in the Philippines in 2009.

All locomotives that are declared Beyond Economical Repair (BER) in Caloocan workshop were still painted with this livery except for 5010.

919 at Biñan station in 2012.

Before the reopening of the Bicol Express, the locomotives were repainted in Filtrack livery.[24] Locomotives with this livery were designated for the Bicol commuter line.

The locomotives were repainted into this livery when the Bicol Express reopened.

The livery lasted until 2013 when intercity services on the PNR South Main Line were suspended after the derailment of the Bicol Express on October 26, 2012.[7]

2538 is the last unit wearing this livery.[25]

922 arriving Vito Cruz station.

Locomotives that were rehabilitated by MRail and DESCO maintained the blue-orange livery until some of the units got repainted into the current Orange livery.

In 2013, when the 203 series started operating on the PNR Metro South Commuter Line, the locomotives were repainted in the Blue-Orange livery.

Following the derailment of DMU Set 03 in 2015 caused the commuter services to be suspended, and the locomotives to be repainted again.

919 is the last unit wearing this livery.

917 at España station. (LMP 2001)

In August 2019, 917 introduced the Orange livery of the 900 class as the 'first unit' to wear the new livery. The repainting is also part of the rehabilitation of the old rolling stocks of PNR and the arrival of new INKA trains.

2 years later, between the months of May and June, 921 and 922 was repainted in orange livery without its PNR logos yet.

902 and 913 entered service with this livery after their rehabilitation in DESCO. In January 2022, 913 underwent test runs. It re-entered service as an MSC hauler in February 2022. This was followed by 902 in March after staying in PNR's Caloocan workshop for finishing touches.

914 and 916, whom of which is currently in DESCO, was pictured wearing the new Orange livery as of May 2023.

• 
  902 at Santa Mesa Station. The oldest operating locomotive. (JPSC, 2015)
• 
  916 wearing the Blue-orange livery at Posadas Crossing near Sucat station.
• 
  914 at Pasay Road station.
• 
  918 wearing the MRail Blue-orange livery at EDSA Station.
• 
  919 at Posadas crossing.
• 
  921 wearing the MRail Blue livery hauling 203 series coaches near Santa Mesa station.
• 
  902 approaching Pasay Road Station. (TFC, 2023)
• 
  913 in Sampaloc Area going back to Tutuban from Alabang. (TFC, 2022)
• 
  917 arriving at FTI Station, nicknamed 'Ponkan' by local railfans. (LMP, 2021).
• 
  918 wearing the new Orange livery passing Tayuman Crossing. (TFC, 2022)
• 
  921 in the new Orange livery. (TFC, 2023)
• 
  922 approaching Del Pilar Crossing as a solo locomotive on a rainy day. (Astro, 2022)

• PNR 2500 Class
• PNR 5000 Class
• INKA CC300
• South African Class 35-000 – another diesel-electric locomotive based on the GE U15C model