PNR 900 class

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.
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.
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.
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.
Compared to the U14Cs, the U15Cs features number signs. When they were rehabilitated, they feature number lights.
As of March 28, 2024, there are six (6) units that are serviceable, eight (8) are inactive with two (2) of them finished rehabilitation, one (1) of them being reactivated, and one (1) unit that is “temporarily inactive” from revenue service and four (4) units that are Beyond Economical Repair.
With the closure of the Metro Commuter for 5 years, the serviceable units are currently idle and used for internal movements.
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.
The PNR 900 class, as well as the PNR 2500 class and the PNR 5000 class, were painted in various liveries.
This is the first livery of the 900 class. The livery has two variations, locomotives with white whiskers are designated for northern trips to La Union, while those with yellow whiskers are designated 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. There were some units that skipped the Yellow-Green livery and retained this livery until they were repainted into the 2000s livery. The livery was in use from 1973 until 1990.
Another livery worn by the 900 class when they were newly delivered. It featured a Yellow body with Orange stripes. Only a few locomotives have ever worn the livery. The livery was used from 1973 to 1980.
Also known as 'Olive-green'. It is the third livery used for the 900 class. It featured green whiskers and the PNR logo. It was used from 1980 to 1990.
Prior to the arrival of the U15C batch and the 5000 class in 1991, The current batches which are the U14Cs and the 2500 class were repainted in this livery. The newer ones had a black cowcatcher and lining. The older ones were yellow. Moreover, the U10Bs featured a Metrotren signage at the front.
The livery was used from 1991 until the 2000.
It is also called the Blue whale. All the units in the 900 class were repainted with this livery. Even the locomotives that are declared Beyond Economical Repair (BER) in Caloocan Workshop were repainted in Blue livery except for 5010.
The livery was used from 2001 to 2010.
Before the reopening of the Bicol Express, the locomotives were repainted in Filtrack livery. Locomotives with this livery were designated for the Bicol commuter line.
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.
It is called Blue-Orange livery as the locomotives featured orange whiskers and orange lining on its sides.
It is also called by railfans as 'Ponkan' and 'Magno-era Livery.'
This new livery, as first spotted on DEL 913 in 2024, is a variant of the Orange livery. It features a darker orange paint with a thicker black lining, an additional orange lining at the chassis, PNR lettering at the hood, "Bagong Pilipinas" stickers, and blue "whiskers".
The livery also marks the comeback of the red PNR logo for DELs 2540 and 5009 in Naga.
These are pictures taken by railfans in a good angle. Pictures are arranged in chronological order based on their build numbers.