Ma Ao Sugar Mill

I made two visits to Ma Ao for Xmas/New Year 1981-2 and 1982-3. The first visit was a private visit and the second one was with a TEFS group. This video is in 3 parts, 1. some scanned photos of Ma Ao, 2. converted cine from 1981-2 and 3. converted VHS video from 1982-3. The latter visit was affected by 2 issues - when we arrived for our group tour, there were no locos in steam and we spend quite a few hours waiting for steam to be raised in No. 3 - and my VHS video camera was not in good health. I've done my best with what I have and in the absence of any other videos of a working Ma Ao Sugar Central on TH-cam, I humbly present this for the record.

[@ravenzbot]

I remember seeing these in a very old book from the '80s called steam trains. This and insular lumber company's shay number 12 and mallet number 7. The thing I remember the most are the night shots especially of these Baldwins coming out of the jungle in the darkest of night with orange sparks flying everywhere on tracks almost entirely sunken into the ground It looks so wicked

[@peejayaligz5223]

my memorable place...wow nakunan pa ng Vedio...

[@peejayaligz5223]

wow ang galing nman john raby...

[@joemilbico4984]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR VIDEO, IT BRINGS ME Lot Of memories BACK TO WERE I AM BEFORE DURING MY YOUNGER YEARS, I Got teary eyes, reminiscing watching your video. Thank you.

[@theunderrated86]

Nice. Looking forward to more Phillipines sugar mill. Love the American locos as well, especially with their massive spark arrestors.

[@JohnRaby]

More to come! La Carlota next.

[@timedmonds7313]

Thanks for this one, John, which Veronica and I watched with interest. Great to see a bit of our epic trip behind number 3 and to hear that whistle! We could see ourselves perched on the wagon leaving the shed. The trip ended in a derailment in pitch darkness, as I recall.

[@JohnRaby]

That's my memory too. I thought I had that on video but the lack of light and the drop outs on the video meant I couldn't include that. At the time, I think we thought that might be the end of steam at Ma Ao. I don't know if they ever used steam again for shunting or bringing cane to the mill. I also assume that the mill was on its very last legs, too. There was one diesel moving around but not anything else.

[@jerryamante19]

Sweet memories of my childhood 💓

[@alahoosnackbar]

Thanks for the wonderful footages of the sugar railways of Negros.
Do you have any vids of the Philippine National Railways in the 1980s?
Thanks.

[@robertovicente937]

makinista ang lolo q 1930 sa Ma-ao sugar central

[@mommylots5097]

Nag ooperate pa rin ang ma ao sugar central tanong kulang

[@JohnRaby]

You can see what remains of Ma Ao Sugar Central on Google Maps - goo.gl/maps/LwYxaorFzzRArCjk6

[@teachermimay6668]

Hi, would it be okay to use these clips for our short film featuring our place? We are grateful you got this video, it means alot to us as community members of Central Ma-ao. We will give you the credits for having this video on our short film. Thank you so much.

[@JohnRaby]

I agree to this as long as a credit for 'John Raby' is given. Would it be possible for me to see the resulting film?

[@francesstar_6143]

how the fate of the locomotive locomotive? Scrapped or still in situ

[@JohnRaby]

No definitive answer but the site appears cleared of all old equipment in Google Maps.

[@jeandy2374]

Ako din Ang lolo ko nag obra sa sulod sang màao central si eking lim

[@marieneriblack1]

The plant is active?

[@jerryamante19]

It was closed long time ago

[@guntursaputra5943]

Semua hanya Tinggal kenangan saja

[@JohnRaby]

Yes, although the factory still exists but clearly out of use - goo.gl/maps/LwYxaorFzzRArCjk6