GE UM12C

The Manila Railroad Company (MRR) announced the dieselization of its locomotive fleet in 1954. GE Transportation was selected as the supplier of diesel-electric locomotives. The agency bought fifty units in which thirty were streamlined mainline locomotives and twenty were switchers. Twenty of these were the UM12C road switcher model MRR 2000 class. These were some of the first locomotives to feature the cowl unit design.^[6]

The locomotives were introduced to the MRR in 1956. Along with the cab unit 1000 class, they formed the mainline locomotive fleet in Luzon until the late 1970s and the early 1980s. Starting in 1973, a newer GE Universal Series type numbered the PNR 900 class was introduced on mainline passenger services. Due to its popularity on services such as the Amianan Express and the Bicol Express, it eventually replaced the 1000 and 2000 classes from passenger service. The 2000 class continued service until January 1999 and the remaining units were immediately scrapped.^[4]

The State Railway of Thailand purchased 50 units of a meter gauge version of the UM12C. Unlike the Philippine version, it features a dual cab layout with a cab forward design. As of 2015, 45 units remain in service with the SRT.