The PNR 900 class is a class of 21 GE Universal Series diesel–electric locomotives operated by the Philippine National Railways since 1973. The locomotives comes with three different types: U14CP (1973), U14C (1979), and U15C (1991). Initially used for long-distance express services throughout Luzon, they were relegated to hauling commuter trains within Metro Manila, a task previously done by PNR's diesel multiple units fleet. This was further exacerbated by the closure of the PNR South Main Line's intercity section in 2012 after an accident in Sariaya, Quezon.
History
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. 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. 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.
The first batch of five GE U14C prototype 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. 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.
The locomotives were used on various express services throughout the PNR network such as the Amianan Express and the Bicol Express. 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.
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. At the same time, earlier locomotives such as 902 were repainted in the same paint scheme. These locomotives were mostly used for Metrotren commuter rail services in the 1990s until the late 2000s.
Rehabilitation
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.
From 2019, PNR repainted the locomotives to an orange livery in anticipation of the arrival of the new trains from PT INKA. 8 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, having rehabilitated four locomotives from this class.
Design
GE U14CP and U14C The U14C Prototypes and U14C are the same with only a few difference which is the batch number, engine block, radiator grills, and date of arrival. the U14C Prototypes belong to the first batch while the U14C were the second batch. The U14Cs don't have numbering signage, however, during their rehabilitation process, they now include number signs with lights and wipers were working again.
GE U15C (later batch) Compared to the U14Cs, the U15Cs features number signs. When they were rehabilitated, they feature number lights.
Build numbers Locomotive number Build number Year Place builtReferences 901 39238 1973Erie, Pennsylvania 902 39239 903 39240 904 39241 905 39242 906 418481979 907 41849 908 41850 909 41851 910 41852 911 41853 912 41854 913 41855 914 41856 915 41857 917 4753.1 1991Montreal, Canada 918 4753.2 919 4753.3 920 4753.4 921 4753.5 922 4753.6
Status As of September 2026, there are eight (8) units that are serviceable and six (6) units that are not in service. Among the serviceable units, four (4) are active, while the other four (4) are inactive due to various reasons. Among the units that are not in service, one (1) is undergoing/finishing repairs, one (1) is unserviceable, and three (3) are Beyond Economical Repair.
With the closure of the Metro Commuter, most of the serviceable units are currently idle and used for internal movements aside from 917 in the Bicol Region.
NumberImageStatusDescriptionLiveries901Scrapped901, the first locomotive to be built and ironically, the first locomotive to be scrapped after being involved in a derailment in 1979.Green Livery902Inactive902 is sometimes used as a miscellaneous train hauler between Tutuban and Caloocan. It served the last trip of the Alabang-Biñan segment together with EMU 07 and 921 before its closure to give way for the NSCR Project. It is the oldest serviceable locomotive in the fleet and the only U14C Prototype in service since 1974.Bagong Pilipinas Orange Livery (since 2024)903ScrappedIt is one of the units in the list that were scrapped in 2009. Lack of funds for rehabilitation resulted the unit being in the list to be scrapped and serve as a source of spare parts.Red Livery904ScrappedIt was renumbered as 908, and later became included in the list of units that were later scrapped in 2009.Red Livery905Scrapped905 was scrapped after colliding with 910 at Quezon Province on December 31, 1982. This catastrophic incident led the units to become the second pair in the list to be decommissioned after 901.Yellow Livery906Inactive906 is declared Beyond Economical Repair (BER) at Caloocan Workshop. The unit became a source of spare parts for the other units in the 900 class, mostly for DEL 902 and the later batches in the fleet which are the U15C locomotives.Blue Livery907ScrappedThe exact reason why 907 was sent to scrap is unknown. Parts of her hood is said to be found on 919 today. The image of the unit is displayed inside the Tutuban station.Green Livery916 (908)Active908 was known for being targeted by the NPAs after it struck an insurgent's son in the 1980s. It raised safety concerns to its train drivers, forcing PNR officials to renumber it as '916.' 916 is currently serving as the main miscellaneous train hauler between Tutuban and Caloocan, along with 918. These two units (914 and 916) are reportedly marked as the last pair that will be rehabilitated by DESCO.Bagong Pilipinas Orange Livery (Since 2024)909ScrappedIt is the last locomotive unit active before being sent to scrap in 2009. It became a source of spare parts for other units.Blue Livery910ScrappedIt was scrapped after colliding with 905 at Quezon Province on December 31, 1982. This catastrophic incident led the units to become the second pair in the list to be decommissioned after 901. Yellow Livery911Inactive911 has returned to Tutuban Yard after previously being hauled to Caloocan Workshops. The locomotive is nearing completion.Orange Livery (first seen in a photo with the livery in September 2023)912ScrappedThe unit was bombed by the New People's Army (NPA) in the 1980s. The severe damage led the unit to be immediately withdrawn from revenue service and scrapped.Yellow Livery913Inactive913 is sometimes used as a miscellaneous train hauler between Tutuban and Caloocan. It is one of the three oldest active U14C locomotives. The unit is also known for serving as the last trip of the Tutuban-Calamba route in July 2023 hauling EMU Set 07.Bagong Pilipinas Orange Livery (since 2024)914InactiveIt is currently sitting in Tutuban Yard. These two units (914 and 916) are reportedly marked as the last pair that will be rehabilitated by DESCO.Bagong Pilipinas Orange Livery (Since 2024)915Inactive915 was declared Beyond Economical Repair (BER) at Caloocan Workshop.Blue Livery917Active917 is currently serving as a Yard Shunter and Work Train in Naga. It introduced the orange livery of the 900 class as the first unit to wear the new livery in the fleet. Orange Livery (since August 2019)918Active918 is currently serving as the main DEL being used for miscellaneous train hauler between Tutuban and Caloocan, along with 916 (908).Bagong Pilipinas Orange Livery (since 2024)919InactiveIt was last seen serving as a yard shunter in Tutuban. It is currently at the Tutuban Yard after being hauled from the Caloocan Workshops in an unserviceable condition.MRAIL Blue Orange Livery920Inactive920 was written off of service following two major crossing mishaps in 2001. She was to be revived using parts from retired locomotives but was unsuccessful upon discovering of her bent frame. Currently Beyond Economical Repair.Blue Livery921Inactive921 is sometimes used as a miscellaneous train hauler between Tutuban and Caloocan. It served the last trip of the Alabang-Biñan segment together with EMU 07 and 902 before its closure to give way for the NSCR Project.Bagong Pilipinas Orange Livery (since 2024)922Active922 is currently serving as a miscellaneous train hauler between Tutuban and Caloocan. It is known for surviving two remarkable incidents, the 2004 Padre Burgos Derailment and the 2012 Bicol Express Derailment, compared to its doomed sister units that sustained irreparable damage from similar incidents and being scrapped as a result.Bagong Pilipinas Orange Livery (since 2024)
Incidents and accidents
The PNR 900 class locomotives has been involved in various incidents, mostly of derailments, engine malfunctions, collisions, and even attacks by the NPAs (New People's Army) during the 1980s.
1970s 901 was involved in a derailment in 1979. The locomotive was the first to be built and yet the first to be scrapped. 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. This resulted to a move that made PNR officials renumber 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 Marcos Sr. in the 1980s. The locomotive was written off. 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).
2000s 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 Padre Burgos 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 the following year, only to be suspended again a year later due to line damages.
2010s (26 October 2012 - 2 October 2019)
2012