Sugarcane Train in Nasugbu, 1945

A sugar central train being prepared to carry ammunition in 1945.  Image source:  United States National Archives.

The photograph above shows a sugarcane train being prepared to carry ammunition to the war front in February 1945. Forces of the United States 8^th Army landed on the beaches of Nasugbu on 31 January 1945. The landing was virtually unopposed, but rather than linger in Nasugbu to soak in the welcome of the locals, American troops pushed on ahead in pursuit of the Japanese without waiting for their equipment to be landed.

Before long, troops of the 188^th Infantry Regiment had captured the Central Azucarera Don Pedro at Barrio Lumbangan on the outskirts of Nasugbu. They found a usable train which was quickly put to use carrying supplies from the beaches.

READ: Details of the Historic Nasugbu Landing from the Viewpoint of the 11th Airborne Division

Either the train above was that train or one of several that the sugar central must have operated. The picture was downloaded from the United States National Archives, processed using graphics editing software to improve clarity and then colorized courtesy of Algorithmia.

Its original caption was:

“Filipinos prepare sugarcane train to carry shells up to the front in Southern Luzon, P.I. (for Philippine Islands). The narrow gauge line of Roxas Sugar Central was put into service hauling 75-mm and 105-mm shells.”

The picture was taken on 3 February 1945.

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