ALONG DA RILES ISSUE #9 JANUARY 2019
EDITOR: BRAD PEADON A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ‘PHILIPPINE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY’ PHILIPPINE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 20th ANNIVERSARY
This special ninth issue of our former ‘Along Da Riles’ magazine has been put together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our group. ‘Along Da Riles’ started as a magazine back in 2009, at the me of the group’s tenth anniversary and was ini ally meant to aid in fundraising for a preserva on group. Following on from the demise of this preserva on effort, the publica on con nued on for a short me as both a hard copy magazine for rail industry people and contributors, but also an ezine for others. The final issue (#7) was published in 2011, while a special issue #8 was commenced in 2014 but never completed. While the publica on was very popular, a lack of willing contributors, plus many other projects, made it hard to compile a regular publica on.
SEMI RETIRED FOAMER Four Decades of Transport Photography h p://[email protected]
———————————————————————— PRHS.Society @ gmail. com This issue is dedicated to my dear friend h ps://prhsociety.wordpress.com/ Tony Bailey (Transit Australia Editor) Rest In Peace. Cover Photo: 918 has just arrived in Naga from Sipocot. It will soon head south to Ligao. Bicol Commuter Train 2010
Photo: Brad Peadon
alcogoodwin.blogspot.com Mr Regulto (PNR) 2017 Photo: Ana Peadon
James Mangun 2017 Photo: Ana Peadon PH Model Railroaders 2018 Photo: Brad Peadon Team PNR Naga 2010 Photo: Brad Peadon LRT1 HQ Visit 2011 Photo: Someone PHILIPPINE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY The First 20 Years!
Two Decades. It is quite a long me to be doing anything. During one of two trips to the Philippines last year, it was brought to mind that we were approaching the 20th anniversary of the ‘Philippine Railway Historical Society’, a group I set up to cater for people, primarily outside of the Philippines, with an interest in the railways of the Philippines. It was also an avenue for me to learn more about a country that has since become my second home. The reason for aiming towards railfans outside of the Philippines is because I never really expected there to be a railfan hobby there. My asawa (wife) told me that I would never find anyone interested there and I had no reason not to believe her. Twenty years later, it would appear that this was one of the few mes she has been wrong. While our aim to grow interest in the hobby remains, the vast majority of our membership is Filipino, all with a great interest in railways. I am honoured to have made a number of good friends, and s ll be a part of it all to this day. I am glad to be able to leave something behind when my train has finally le the sta on.
1999
This was to be a year that would change my life-long interest in railways forever. At the me I was around 30 years old, my only experience of railways outside Australia being a vague memory of a steam train in Fiji when I was about five years old. At the me, I was fairly new to the internet and only had a blog site, along with a couple of Australian based Egroups (now Yahoogroups) forums. I really did not give much thought to railways overseas. As is normal for me prior to any trip, I a empted to seek out any informa on I could on the Philippines before that ini al, somewhat short by current standards, one week trip. Sadly, the internet was somewhat devoid of any Philippine railway informa on, with my only real reference being the occasional reports that appeared in the ‘Con nental Railway Journal’ magazine, published in the United Kingdom. Despite informa on being slim and no railfan hobby truly exis ng there at the me, I did manage to get the contact details of one Jojo Mempin from that magazine. Jojo was a resident of Tondo, living quite near the line, and was o en hired by railfans visi ng the country. He had a knowledge of things railfans wished to see and would drive them around. I added to that knowledge, showing him the Caloocan Workshops. Strangely enough, I cannot remember how I come to know where to find the workshops prior to that trip, but I do remember having a vague idea of how to get to it from Samson Road. Despite a memory that it quite terrible at mes, I can s ll remember that exact mo- ment I first come to experience PNR. While we were staying in Ermita, the wife’s family lived out near Fairview, so it was inevitable that we would need to travel out there to visit. So it was that on one of these trips we passed over the crossing at Espana for the first me. It caught me by surprise and no photo was possible, however, this sta on become the focal point of many railfan days out in the years following. At the me, the line was full of squa er (informal se lers if you prefer) shan es, had its original sta on building and was actually a turn back point for trains from Caloocan. It was later that day that I would see the once common CMC type railcars here on one of the services, the only me I would see them s ll in self-propelled use. Nearing the end of this trip, I was already receiving requests for ar cles and photos, the interest in the country was already becoming apparent and, I have to admit, I also seemed to be bi en by the bug. While at our farewell party in Quezon City, I conceived the idea of se ng up the ‘Philippine Railways SIG’ website and forum. I was armed with so much I had witnessed on visits to Tayuman, Caloocan and Espana, so now it was me to see if any sort of hobby could be started. At the same me, I was overwhelmed with ques ons that needed answering. I knew near nothing, but passed lines, opened and abandoned, on a number of trips we partook in. On returning to Australia I got started. With my wife telling me that I would never find anyone in the Philippines who is interested in trains, I decided that the group should aim mostly at people from around the world, as there was obviously some limited interest in other countries. History has shown that a railfan hobby would not only occur in the Philippines, but it would thrive. More of this later, however, it is with great honour that I am o en referred too as the ‘Father of the Philippine Railway Hobby’. To have brought that sort of enjoyment to so many, well it really is quite humbling. Research iden fied an earlier a empt to set up a group there, this lead by a foreigner who was living on one of the smaller islands. I tried to make contact by mail, but a er an extended amount of me my le er returned with a note that the person behind it had passed away. Early on, I was contacted by a Manila local who had seen my website and had a big interest in the railways of the Philippines. Surprisingly, this first contact was a Chinese/Filipina by the name of Winter Lain (unsure if that is a real name). Soon a er I would set up the PhilippineRailways Egroup (now Yahoogroups). In 2018 this forum s ll survives and has a mammoth amount of historical content on it, however the advent of Facebook Groups has seen it diminish in importance, with our Facebook presence being huge in comparison. One of our earliest members was Graham Holt (United Kingdom) who had a remarkable knowledge of the topic and was working on a book. Sadly he passed away before the publica on was finished, however I had the pleasure Ticket: David Phillips Collec on Visi ng PNR GM Junn Magno 2017 Photo: Ana Peadon
of mee ng him, and his lovely wife, while they were in Sydney. His wife told me that a friend was working towards finishing the book, however this has not appeared as of the me I write this. The group would gradually grow in the coming years, however I would not return to the Philippine un l 2004.
2003
On June 11th, 2003, we would have a new member join in William ‘Bill’ Sullivan, a fellow resident of Sydney (Newtown), who would soon become one of my closest friends. Bill had a true passion for the Philippines and its railways, his life equally divided between Sydney and Pagsanjan. A kind and generous man, he would go on to be the godfather of my li le girl shortly before his devasta ng passing in 2010. He alone would be a driving force in my love of the Philippine railways for many years, even today I think back to those mes when needing inspira on to carry on. 2004
Finally I was to return to the Philippines and, once again, experience the ‘Philippine Na onal Railways’ (PNR). This was quite a depressing trip, the Caloocan line had closed to passengers and services south had reach an all- me low. It was the general consensus amongst staff that the railways will eventually close down. With this in mind I set about photographing everything. It was also at this me that rollingstock would become a big focus for me. Again, visits were made to Tayuman, Caloocan and a couple of other local sta ons. The group con nued to grow in size, with numerous knowledgeable joining and sharing with everyone else.
2007
My third trip to the Philippines, and probably one of the most pivotal. This was the first, and only, trip I managed to coincide with my good friend Bill Sullivan. We caught up at Tayuman for a train ride to Alabang and back, but the biggest occasion was a visit to Caloocan Workshops where the finding of a unused Buda Car (track vehicle) lead to a discussion about an official preserva on group being set up there. This lead to the ‘Railways and Industrial Heritage Society of the Philippines’ (RIHSPI). The idea being to promote interest in preserving Philippine railway history and to preserve same. The greatest achievement was likely the Buda car (men oned above) that was restored through the great talents of Karel Brouwers and placed on display at Tutuban sta on, as part of a larger display of photos that s ll remain there. To assist the new group, Bill Sullivan and I set up the RIHSPI-ANZ branch in Sydney with an aim to a ract interest, and funds, from people outside the Philippines.
November would see the official founding of RIHSPI. 2008
Growth of membership grew quite steadily within our group, as we completed all the hurdles required to set up a fund raising group and begun to grow RIHSPI-ANZ.
2009
Fourth visit to the Philippines and the first as part of the official preserva on group there. The railways were in a period of change, the illegal squa ers were being moved out, the line from Caloocan down to Alabang (and points south) was being rebuilt and new railcars were being delivered. I was very privileged to be invite to a end the offloading of new railcars in the Port of Manila, as well as ride on tests conducted around Pasay Road. A wonderful me of hope, both for the railways and for preserva on in the country.
2010
Twelve months can contain a huge amount of change. Differences of opinion, possibly even cultural differences, lead to our group separa ng from the RIHSPI one that we had started. Aussie fans are quite passionate about preserva on and much of what was happening was not in line with the strict preserva onal guidelines that I believe in. My fi h visit saw many historical items scrapped that had previously been Iden fied for saving. This was a dark period in the hobby for me, many mistruths had been spread about both myself and my group, while others who pretended to be friends, a couple who s ll remain part of the PRHS today, hid behind Tagalog to ridicule me on various forums. I know who they are, but prefer to keep the peace. It was a painful me and it lead to a near total oblitera on of my interest for many years, despite my being someone who tends to forgive people regardless of what ac ons they carry out. It was also around this me that the group name changed from the ‘Philippine Railways SIG’ to the ‘Philippine Railway Historical Society’. This period also saw the launching of the country’s first ever railway publica on ‘Along Da Riles’. This was available online, with hard copies sent out to the management of the various rail operators and those who contributed. The publica on ceased some me a er the spli ng up of the groups, however a revival is regularly discussed.
2011
I returned briefly for one week as a tour guide to help a friend out, but most of this me was spent a ending to my growing interest in the elevated LRT and MRT railways.
2012-2016
The group con nued to see growth, but the loss of my dear friend Bill Sullivan, plus the extended amount of nega vity from so many, lead me to really not try to progress things further.
2017
A er a break of six years, I made a return to the Philip- pines and soon found a revival of my earlier passion. It was a period that was on the edge of change. There were a number of smaller local groups, along with one Panay Railways Ticket - PRHS Collec on huge one ‘Philippine Railways’ that was more poli cal in nature and has since become unmoderated. My friend Nonong Bacani had set up a group for Philippine railway modellers, an area I had tried to start, but never had the me to truly devote to it. One of my 2017 trips saw the first of two gatherings with the members of this terrific group. In recent years, the PRHS had extended itself to include forums based on other land and avia on based transport topics, as well as a model train group (the model trains now mostly covered by PH Model Trains) . The railways, of course, remain as our primary interest. A second visit during the year, plus a chance to catch up with so many new and old friends, truly reignited everything for me and I again find myself at full steam ahead. I think I owe most of this to my good friend Reynante Bulaon who has been constantly by my side over so very long. I o en feel that my friend Bill Sullivan sent him to make up for the loss of him.
2018
It is now August and we are fast approaching my second trip for the year, a trip that officially marks our 20th anniversary. While I look back on 20, mostly, great years of learning, exploring and friendship, I also look forward towards the future. The north and south lines look to be rebuilt, while the Carmona line is slated for reopening in 2019, with the Batangas branch also set to eventually be reborn. Caloocan regained its service during mid-2018, while more recently the north line has been extended to Malabon, an exci ng, and much unexpected, development. The PNR is certainly on the brink of massive change under the leadership of Mr Jun Magno. You cannot help but be inspired by Mr Magno’s enthusiasm and outlook for the railways there. He has done so much, yet has so many more plans in store. It is quite the honour to not only be able to consider him a friend, but experiencing his kindness in allowing us to share in these massive changes. Both LRT systems are ge ng extended and the MRT3 system is receiving a massive upgrade. MRT7 construc on is well advanced, while the president has set in mo on the first subway in Manila. We have o en been ridiculed as being ‘unofficial’ and ‘ineffec ve’ as a group, but we con nue on a er two decades and we now find ourselves far bigger than we ever were before. For this we have our members to thank, both past and present, without you we would truly be nothing. SALAMAT.
Thanks: Lito Nierva (PNR) Eng Besmonte (PNR) Emma Sales (PNR/Friend) Reynante Bulaon (PNR/LRT/Friend) Lyn Paragas-Janao (LRTA) Mark Chua (PNR/Friend) Jun Ragragio (Former PNR Manager) Arvin Danganan (PNR/Friend) Eng Regulto (PNR) Late Graham Holt (Researcher) Late Jun Sanchez (Railfan/Friend) Jun Magno (PNR GM) Aris M. Soriente Edward Manapol (PNR) Late Bill Sullivan (PRHS Vice-President) 1999 - My First Trip Report
The following are parts from a much longer trip report compiled a er my first trip in 1999. I have kept it mostly transport relevant, removing all other content. NOTE: This was wri en in 1999 and, as such, is relevant to that me. Much has changed since it was wri en and this ar cle has not been changed to reflect that. Please excuse mistakes, I was only new to the country at the me and really knew li le about the rail systems, or anything else for that ma er, that existed there.
______
1999
TRAFFIC! Many Manila locals are so used to it that they just joke it all off. A er experiencing long delays, one example being as long as 22 minutes, while travelling in taxis, jeepneys and tricycles, I have come to realize that there is a major problem with road transport around the city. The light rail systems appear to be flourishing, with constant full loadings, quick cross city travel mes and at least one new line currently under construc on along the EDSA highway. In comparison, the ‘Philippine Na onal Railways’ operate a heavy rail local/country service (Metrotren is the name of the local services) which appears to be struggling along with deteriora ng rollingstock, very poor track and along forma ons that are, in many loca ons, fully taken over by squa ers who have built their homes (usually li le more than n sheds) dangerously close to being foul of passing trains. These problems make for a very slow service when compared to the LRT, but s ll a vast improvement over travelling by road. 13-1-1999
Our first full day in Manila and the first real taste of Filipino rail transport. It was my fault really; I should not have ignored all the warnings given to me about peak hour loadings by more well- seasoned LRT travellers than myself. So what!! I’ve travelled in heavy loadings on Melbourne trams before, ho bad can it be? About 10 minutes from our hotel was United Na ons sta on. This LRT sta on is situated straight above United Na ons Avenue which is lined with the flags of all UN countries. The arrival of the light rail train reveals another side to the normally placid Filipino popula on. The second those doors open it turns into a “every man for himself” charge to get a spot in the already hopelessly crowded cars, doesn’t ma er what happens to anyone else in the process. You learn to adapt quickly or be le behind. A er missing my chance on the first train, we were very ready for the second one (my large Aussie size being an advantage) and soon we were off south to the terminus of Baclaran. Our light rail train had packed loadings right to the very end and, although quite a modern looking design, air-condi oning is definitely an item which needs serious looking into as the installed fans are far from sufficient. Baclaran sta on is situated above a huge marketplace and the Filipino love of shopping ensures healthy loadings seven days a week. Sadly, we had to put off a visit to the LRT depot un l the next trip. 15-1-1999
Prior to leaving Australia, I wrote to a Mr Jojo Mempin whose address I found in the ‘Con nental Railway Journal’. He is very knowledgeable in regards to spots of railway interest and I owe much thanks to him for his help in ge ng everywhere I wanted this trip. Quite a few places visited were only safe thanks to his companionship during this trip. Today we drove to Tondo where we planned to walk through to Tayuman, the current terminus of PNR opera ons. For a rail enthusiast, this is a very interes ng experience, and yet you cannot leave without some sad feelings for the poorer side of the popula on who live trackside in li le more than n sheds, a sight that will stay with me for a long me. Tayuman is a reasonably large and busy yard. It is now the star ng point of all PNR services since the line was truncated back from Tutuban sta on. Tutuban sta on has subsequently become a large shopping mall. Tutuban depot is situated at the north end of the yard and carries out all running repairs to locomo ves, railcars and rollingstock.
Noted at Tayuman on our visit (08.30) 900 Class: 903, 908, 913, 916, 921 2500 Class: 2535, 2537 5000 Class: 5001, 5005, 5008
903 was noted undergoing maintenance at the rear of the depot, while 5008 was si ng on a rake of passenger cars at the far south of the yard and awai ng departure for Alabang. If visi ng, make yourself known to the depot staff. They are all very friendly and very proud of what they do to keep the PNR rolling. The walk from Tondo is definitely not recommended if alone, a group, including a local, would be preferable. Returning along the line to Tondo we were lucky enough to pass to more passenger trains. The first of these was a push-pull working (the only one I saw) u lizing units 919 and 921. Closer to Tondo a second passed, hauled by 2515. It should be noted that the bulk of PNR movements as passenger trains, with only a small amount of freight hauled between Tayuman and North Port. It is believed that these operate li le more than once a week and I definitely did not see one. Our second visit for the day was Caloocan Railway Workshops. This is located just south of the Caloocan railway sta on, which is now the terminus of the former north line which ran up through Angeles City to a terminus north of San Fernando (La Union). Branchlines once extended from this to to San Jose and Cabanatuan. Outside the north end of the workshops were a number of General Electric built 2500 class in various states of destruc on. Units 2509, 2521, 2525, 2531, 2532 and 2542 were amongst these and all expected to be scrapped. Inside, work was being carried out on many locomo ves. There were quite a few people at work and the place seemed very well equipped for all the major work needed to run a railway. Seen within the workshop either undergoing, or awai ng, maintenance were (10:15), 900 Class: 902, 918, 922 2500 Class: 2504, 2510, 2539 5000 Class: 5002, 5007, 5010 Also in the workshop were 2536 and 2540, which looked in bad shape and may never run again. Another uniden fied 2500 was awai ng a en on, with two others in the smaller workshop building, in what looked to be a paint booth. An extensive amount of loco hauled and self-propelled stock was seen around the workshop. Possibly the most interes ng of these being a railcar which appears to have once been used as a baggage car on Metrotren services. This was seen, overgrown in grass, alongside the traverser that separates the two workshop buildings. Much of the loco hauled stock has been fi ed with a pitched roof to prevent the rubbish that was being thrown up top as the train passes; this also prevents people riding up there when the inside is full. This later prac ce was noted on only one occasion, on a rake with a regular roof.
18-1-1999
Baguio City, situated in the mountains in the north half of Luzon, approximately 6 hours from Manila, was our des na on today.
United Na ons - Brad Peadon The opportunity was taken to inspect the previously men oned former north line from Angeles City to Moncada. A er a number of enquiries, and some searching, we finally located Angeles City sta on. This sta on, which is now quite derelict, is occupied by some locals and there were no signs of the former railway yard which Jojo remembered from earlier visits. People here seem to hold li le hope that the line will reopen, with much unauthorized building occurring across the for- ma on. Indeed, had it not been for the rails embedded into the roadway at a level crossing near the sta on, there would have been no indica on of railway tracks exis ng there at all. Heading north from Angeles, the north line was again found at the former level crossing at Bambah. From here the line follows close to the road on the eastern side. The condi on of the track varies from being intact for long sec ons, to dismantled and laying all over the place, through to being completely removed. The only two other sta ons noted were Tarlac, which appeared to be in the best condi on, and at Moncada, which had no roof and a rear wall that is in imminent danger of collapse. The crossing loop at Moncada was completely intact, but has a number of residences and chook pens built straight on top of it. 24-9-1999 I finally got to Tutuban Mall, the former Tutuban sta on, today. Behind this is a large carpark and beyond that PNR has set up a small display of preserved steam locomo ves on plinths, in a nice li le garden area. #17 B class 0-6-2T ex Manila Railroad. Built by Dubs in 1890 Dagupan Cavite class 06-0ST. Built by Kerr Stuart Cabanatuan 0-6-0T Built by Kerr Stuart All appeared to have recently been repainted black with white details applied. Dagupan has nameplates applied to each side of the saddletank. 25-1-1999 With the holiday fast approaching its conclusion, I decided to spend a day out alongside the PNR south line around Manila. Catching a jeepney from Padre Faura Street at Ermita, we headed straight to Paco sta on. The original Paco sta on has been replaced by a temporary structure just to the south of the Pedro Gill level crossing. Seen passing through Paco from 10:30 ll 12:40 were:
Loco Train Des na on 5001 309 Carmona 5004 310 Tayuman 5008 311 Alabang 5009 312 Tayuman 5005 313 Alabang
We decided to change loca ons, so we caught train #313 down to Buendia where we stayed un l 13:30. The interior of these carriages was quite plain but adequate for the short Metrotren opera ons. Seen during our me at Buendia were:
5008 314 Tayuman 5001 316 Tayuman
This brought to an end a very interes ng holiday, well at least the railway photography side of it anyway. However, it was not to be the last me I got to see the Metrotren. While travelling back from Maka to Ermita on our final day, our taxi driver decided to stop his vehicle, in heavy traffic, right in the middle of the main south line at Buendia. The cabbie seemed less concerned with the approaching train than we were and took li le no ce of our yelling at him un l he came to realize that there was li le prospect of the train stopping. Thankfully, those traffic lights turned green and for once the traffic cleared quickly, allowing us to get off the line dangerously close to an impact. LRT1 at United Na ons sta on . 1999 Brad Peadon San Pablo Sta on 2010 prior to rebuilding. Brad Peadon