Sugar Railways on Negros, March 2026

What promises to be the most extraordinary 'real steam' story of 2026 must be the steam revival at Hawaiian-Philippine, hinted at by the news that at least one of their locomotives had received an overhaul and was again active. However, at that stage the implication was that it would be used only occasionally.  Kevin Hoggett was in the country at the suggestion of his daughter in-law and as part of it he made a visit to Negros.

See also in this group of reports:

• Preserved steam on Negros March 2026 

• Sugar Railways on Negros February 2007

• Preserved road steam in Manila 2026

There have been quite a few visits to the country since I first established this website 30 years ago. You can access them via the Asia (East) link above but the depth of coverage varies, necessarily almost all are totally out of date and the current location of preserved locomotives should be checked before travelling. Many are 'guilty' of 'bed hopping' especially those which have migrated to Luzon.

Readers will not be surprised to learn that I am planning my own visit in early 2027 as part of our traditional 'visa run' in the middle of our annual stay in Penang, Malaysia. I was previously here in 1979 and 1998 and I never imagined that I might have the opportunity of a third such visit.

Kevin writes:

We had found out that the Hawaiian-Philippine Company was again using steam! My daughter- in-law (a Filipina) contacted them and arranged a visit. We were made welcome by Mrr Rodeo Suating, the engineer in charge of the steam plant (modern) and the railway. He is very enthusiastic, and I think it is thanks to him that steam is back. He told us some history, It seems that almost all of the once huge network was abandoned in 2000. Only a good mile of field line is still in use serving two loading points. This because these farmers prefer trains. There is also a short branch in the mill to a transhipment point where cane is unloaded from trucks and put onto rail for the short ride into the mill. Mr Suating has hopes of reviving another field line, there are remains of lines all around the area.
When we arrived it was the first day after the Easter holiday (big in the Philippines) so there wasn’t much traffic. Also the season was coming to an end and one loading point had already ceased operation. Loco 2 (ex 7) now named Isabella Curran after the company chairman’s daughter, was in steam, and we went with her to propel 25 empty cane cars out to the furthest loading point. There are no run round facilities there. 

They were going to steam 5, which now sports a sponsored advert for Don Papa Rum for our 2nd day, but she blew a tube, so next morning we had 2 again, but who is complaining? We went light engine out to the loading point where 6 wagons were loaded, we shunted them out and then returned them to the mill (I think this was mainly for our benefit!). My son and I (both drivers) were each given a turn on the regulator! A surreal experience in 2026.

Apart from these two locos, Henschel 1 is restored and only needs some minor work, she has already steamed. They had fitted two D&M injectors but mounted them too high causing problems. We managed to advise them as to what to do to remedy this. Another Baldwin is also at advanced stage of restoration, and a fourth one is being worked on! They certainly don’t need all of these locos! Three Plymouth diesels are also serviceable.

Mr Suating did stress that steam is not used every day so if visitors arrive unannounced then they may well be disappointed. Also that the only other mill on the island still using rail transport is  Bais in the south-east and that uses only diesels. 

Joyous sight at HPCo, while that looks like wood being loaded into the firebox, the other pictures suggest that the main fuel being used was bagasse.



This is active 5, sponsored by Don Papa Rum.



On the right is 1, basically near fully restored.. That on the left is 6, it has an all welded boiler.



This is another one of 3 or 4 under restoration.



The remaining pictures show 2 at work during the visit. That's a Baldwin Extra Order plate as a 'Front Spot'. I never saw it during my visits as it would have been covered by the name spots. 













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Roster

This list is based on Thomas Kautzor's work and is a modified version of what appeared on this site following a 2007 visit.

Hawaiian-Philippine Co. (HPCo)

Number	Name	Wheel arrangement	Manufacturer	Builders no.	Year	Remarks
1		0-6-0	Henschel	21646	1929	(a)
2 (7)	Isabella Curran	0-6-0	Baldwin	60677	1928
3		0-6-0	Baldwin	52864	1920
4		0-6-0	Baldwin	52865	1920
5		0-6-0	Baldwin	52866	1920
6		0-6-0	Baldwin	52867	1920

Former HPCo locomotives 

Number, Name	Wheel arrangement	Manufacturer	Builders no.	Year	Remarks
2	0-6-0	Baldwin	52199	1919	(b)
8	0-6-0ST+T	Baldwin	16437	1900	(c)
9	0-6-0ST+T	Baldwin	43246	1919	(d)

Notes

(a) Ex-Lopez Sugar Corporation no. 3. 
(b) Sold in about 2003 to California possibly to a private owner there
(c) Ex-Honolulu Sugar Corporation "Halawa". To Hawaiian-Phillipine 1949. Sold in about 2005 to the Kauai Plantation Railway at Kilohana, Hawaii and currently being restored in California. Originally an 0-6-2ST.
(d) Ex-Honolulu Sugar Corporation "Mañana". To Hawaiian-Phillipine 1949. Sold in about 2005 to the Kauai Plantation Railway at Kilohana, Hawaii and currently being restored in California. Originally an 0-6-2ST.