⌛ Steam Locomotives in Negros

If ever my nephew mentions the word “antique” again, I’m going to snatch away his camera and take out the film. We are not looking at antiques. Antiques are those precious old things that were carefully preserved throughout the years. We are, in fact, wasting our time hunting iron derelicts. Of course, my teen nephew will be terribly hurt if I ever say something like that out loud. He does love these rusting and rotting steam locomotives.

These steam–operated vehicles are most probably the major reason for the advent of the industrial age. They propelled and dominated many early factories and mills. But technology was not faithful to them. They were replaced by more advanced machines that run on fossil fuels or electricity or solar energy. Many of them were dismantled. Some of them languished in a state of dilapidation. And only the very few survived to remain useful and in working condition. But these old engines managed to earn the fascination of young men, like my nephew, who were not even able to see their heydays.

For admirers like my nephew, they will find several steam locomotives in Negros Occidental. The steam locomotives are utilized in sugar industry in the western part of this province. And they are fondly called iron dinosaurs.

Some of the “habitats” of these iron dinosaurs are the Hawaiian–Philippine Company in Silay, the Central Zucarera dela Carlota in La Carlota City, the Lapaz Sugar Corporation, the Danao Development Corporation, the San Carlos Milling Incorporated, the Azucar Development Corporations, and in Victorias there is the aptly named Victorias Milling Company. All these sugar milling industries still benefit from steam locomotives.

The type of steam locomotives employed by the companies show a little of the history of the place, and perhaps, of the country. For example, the steam locomotives found at the Victorias are mostly the Henschel from Germany. This indicates that Germany was a major producer of these engines.

And the German manufacturers were able to expand their sphere of markets towards the Far East. At the Hawaiian Central and the Central Zucarera dela Carlota, however, the predominant steam locomotives are the Baldwin and the ALCO (American Locomotives). This obviously showed that the Philippine sugar industry was heavily influenced by American technology and American economics.

The rest of the province of Negros Occidental (and of the country) no longer utilized these steam locomotives the way the western region does. This is why in central Negros Occidental alone, a person may find steam locomotives abandoned and ignored. These “dead engines” are left to decay, until they finally become part of nature again. Or until someone, who has a heart like my nephew, will find a way to preserve these iron dinosaurs.

 

The previous poster has provided a thoughtful item. My thanks. I also note that it is now a year old. Does anyone have more current information on steam engines still operating on any of the sugar centrals in Negros or elsewhere? I would also be interested to visit a musuem dedicated in whole or part to the engines / railroads associated with the sugar industry. Having visited similar activities and sites in Cuba it was a pleasant surprise to note this "bonus" activity for my forthcoming trip to Dumaguete & Negros. I also found this thoroughly researched site in Japanese:

Railroad of the Philippines

Any help will be appreciated!

 

I was recently researching the same subject for a forthcoming trip to Negros Island and Dumaguete. I came across this website:

Railroad of the Philippines

It is written in Japanese but the photos and maps make it fairly easy to navigate. Does anyone have an update on the information on the current page of Dumaguete Forum or more information on operating steam engines which may be seen or visited in operation on Negros or information on steam railroad museums to visit on this island? Many thanks!

 

Hi there,

Hi everybody out there...

 

Ethanol powered trains would work here real well.