PNR 900 class

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. 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, with two units currently under rehabilitation.

The U15C and the U14C are the same with only a few difference which is the batch number, engine block, radiator grills, and date of arrival. the U15Cs 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.

• 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).

• 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, 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, five passengers were injured, and the Bicol Express was suspended indefinitely although intercity services continued until 2013.[7]

• On October 12, MSC 1300 performed by the 914 and a 203 series EMU stopped near Nichols station because of engine overheating coming from the locomotive. 2535 was sent to rescue the breakdown train.

• On July 7, an ambulance was hit by 916 near Blumentritt Station in Manila.[18]

• On June 23, 919's cab was damaged after a collision with a truck at a railway crossing near Paco Station.

• On September 11, 916 hauling a 203 series EMU stopped at Paco station. A few moments later, 916's engine started overheating.
• On October 2, a man was run over by 917 at the Abad Santos Triangle in Tondo, Manila. The man died as a result of the incident.[19]

• On April 13, amidst the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 921 was going south when a group of residents barricaded a portion of the rail tracks in Calamba, Laguna that prevented it from entering the barangay that was under a total lockdown.[20]

• On April 12, 921 performing MSC operations run over a child whose age is between 9 and 12 years old at the intersection of Antipolo Street and Ipil Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila.[21]

• On April 18, 913 hauling a recently refurbished 203 series EMU derailed near Don Bosco crossing in Makati after a wooden ties broke that separated the rails and later caused the derailment. No casualties have been reported and full operations returned three days after the derailment.[22][23]

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 2000's 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 1973-1980.

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.

919 at Tutuban station.

It is also called the Blue whale. All the units in the 900 class were repainted with this livery.[24] 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.

919 at Biñan. (2012)

Before the reopening of the Bicol Express, the locomotives were repainted in Filtrack livery.[25] 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.[7]

922 arriving Vito Cruz station.

It is called Blue-Orange livery as the locomotives featured orange whiskers and orange lining on its sides.

In 2013, when the 203 series started their revenue service on the PNR Metro South Commuter Line, the locomotives started to be repainted with the livery.

The units were repainted again after a temporary closure caused by the derailment of DMU Set 03 in 2015.

The loco-hauled 203 series coaches retained the livery after some of the sets were repainted again for the 3rd time.

The livery lasted for ten (10) years from 2013. 919 is the last unit wearing the livery.

917 at España station.

It is also called by railfans as 'Ponkan' and 'Magno-era Livery.'

In August 2019, 917 was the first in the fleet to be repainted to this livery. The repainting is part of the rehabilitation of the old rolling stocks of PNR and prior to the arrival of INKA made-trainsets.

Two years later, 921 and 922 were the second set of units to receive the livery. In May 2023, a controversial picture of 914 and 916 was shared to the public, the photographer was asked as to whether he was granted permission to take the picture inside the facility.