ISSUE - #6 OVEMBER 2010 ISIDE THIS ISSUE MOJACKO’S MAILA AFTEROO OPERATIO ADOBO PART 2 LATEST PR/LRT/MRT EWS AD ROLLIGSTOCK UPDATES Official publication of the ‘Philippine Railways Historical Society’ PO Box 181, Matraville 2036, SW Australia Editor: Brad Peadon Philippine Railway Historical Society PO Box 181, Matraville 2036, SW Australia Society Email: [email protected] Website: http://Philippine-Railways.blogspot.com ewsletter Only: Same as society email address. THIS ISSUE PRHS President’s Report 1 - Cover 2 - Index, Presidents Report 3 - Mojacko’s Manila Afternoon LOG TIME BETWEE DRIKS! 4 - Operation Adobo #5, Pt2 5 - Fast Track ews It certainly has been a long time since our last issue earlier this year, with 6 - PR Fleet Survey nobody more surprised than me. 7 – Traction ews and The time between has certainly been busy, both with the society and in Fleet Survey. personal life, all the while the future of the magazine was under the spotlight. 8 - Rail Heritage (ew Section) Doing ‘Along Da Riles’ is a fun pleasure, it is something I enjoy doing and the feedback I have received has been very encouraging. However the pur- chasing of a Filipino shop business meant that keeping it to a strict timetable was going to be almost impossible, while I didn’t expect anyone who had ‘ALOG DA RILES’ paid a subscription to receive anything less than exactly what they paid for. Then, on the other hand, you had the disastrous find in February of mass EDITOR: scrapping across the ‘Philippine National Railways’ fleet. Something that Brad Peadon sort of ruled out any realistic idea of preservation, at least in any meaningful way. REGULAR COTRIBUTERS: Initially I was considering a yearly publication, mostly for archives and Bill Sullivan, Rodney Orca and Eric other interest groups worldwide, but soon I began to miss putting the Rozales publication together, it having become quite a big part of my life. This gradually lead on to a discussion with my dear friend Bill Sullivan who not THAKS TO: only convinced me to find another way, but also generously offered to help. Alexis Almasan (Absinthe_888), Alan Thus, thanks to him, ‘Along Da Riles’ sees its 6th issue and all future ones. Hicks, Rodney Orca, makinista, Mo- So what now? jacko. Well the magazine is not a money maker, it never has been and that isn’t Philippine National Railways the reason I started it. It comes at great cost to myself and that of a few generous people. We will now move to an idea of a friend in America where subscribers can ADR COST purchase a subscriptions issue by issue at $4 (a little more for outside Austra- We do not charge a subscription for lia). Donation help to continue to get it to people in the Philippines are also the cost of this newsletter , but would much appreciated. Issues ahead can be purchased under the understanding appreciate $4 per issue to help that the magazine will not be quarterly. towards covering the cost of The magazine will continue to act as a conveyor of information, both cur- producing. rent and historical, while its frequency will continue to rely on contributions Free issues are sent to Philippine from people. These contributions can be in the form of almost anything Phil- railway managers and regular ippine railway related, past and present. Trip reports, photos, copies of docu- contributors, as well as anyone writ- ments, historical trivia and so much more is required. If it is of interest to ing an article. you, then it will likely interest others. We look forward to hearing from you. COVER SHOT 917 had the honour of hauling the Opinions made in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the second train, first public passenger ‘Philippine Railway Historical Society’ or any of its board and service, to Naga since the lines members. rebuild. The cover shot shows the All items appearing in this newsletter are subject to copyrite. The train on arrival at Lucena station. contents should not be scanned, photocopied, shared, placed on the Close observers of locomotives will internet, without the prior permission of the editor and, where relevant, notice differences between the work the author of the original work. done on this Caloocan overhaul Permission to use anything appearing in this publication can be gained and those in Naga. by emailing [email protected]. Photo: Alexis Almasan Used items should be credited to this newsletter and, where relevant, RIHSPI 2010 Peñafrancia Train Team the author of the original piece. MOJACKO’S MANILA AFTERNOON MOJACKO [Mojacko is a local railfan I met in Manila (Note: Eric Valdivia was second driver on my ride last earlier this year during one of his occasional week, in the cab of Locomotive 919.) afternoons spent riding the rails. One of his As we nicely puffed and chugged along down the line, recent afternoons is covered below] Englehart and I had a wonderful time sharing with each other our pleasant PNR experiences, as well as more 29-9-10 PNR/RIHSPI/SSC happenings, until all to soon we reached San Andres Station, where we said our good- Mojacko rides off into the sunset - with 2 fellow byes as he left the train. Skyscrapercity!!! Later on, BPNR922 and I said our goodbyes as he got Hooowdy-ho, PNR riders and fans of SkyscraperCity off at Pasay Road Station, and then, at EDSA Station, it Philippines, y'all! was time for me to end my journey as well. Here I said thank you, goodbye to the crew, then bid I know Christmas is still a little over 2 months away, them both a Merry Christmas but it already is in the minds of many Filipinos - including me every time the -ber months come around! Have a safe trip to Binan, Blue Whale 201! (Kinda sounds like a song!) Anyway, yesterday (Wednesday, September 29th) I took my last Blue Whale 201 rail ride for the year 2010, WOW!!! Now that's what I call a true PNR/SSC with my railfan year about to end, and I am very happy adventure! Not only did I enjoy going on these to have made the most of it. adventures over the past 2 years - but over the whole Upon arriving at Tutuban, just a little after 5 PM, I experience, I have made some close social friendships was told by some of my PNR friends there, verified with the PNR people and fellow forumers here in later on by BPNR922 and Englehart, that the new SkyscraperCity! sleeper carriages have arrived in Manila and were due to be taken to Tutuban later on in the week. But unfortunately, the time has come for me to power (Unfortunately, that's all the info on it I got and can down my adventurer side server - so now I have got to share from my end; I can't give any more beyond that prioritise my time and energy concentrating on until I even see them in person - which sadly I'll be fulfilling the heavy Christmas time demand with my unable to until after the New Year.) commitments at work. Also, after much delay, the additional Hyundai Rotem But don't worry, though: I will still be around to com- DMU trainsets were also reported to have arrived, ment and write-up on the SkyscraperCity forums, so I which means additional Grey Shark trips soon for both definitely won't forget you guys over the Christmas the Manila and Bicol commuter divisions. season. [It was later revealed that the Phase 2 ROTEM sets had not turned up at this time - Ed] Plus, there's the plan to extend the current Blue Whale MERRY trip just a bit further down to Calamba, likely effective around October or November (definitely before Christmas time). CHRISTMAS Before boarding Blue Whale 201, BPNR922 and I chatted some more about goings-on with the PNR and RIHSPI and our fellow forumer buddies, but it was The ‘Philippine Railways SIG)’ is currently later on when I actually boarded that the fun part of my cataloguing all the groups archives and listing them. ride really began. At various railway stations BPNR922, Englehart came along with myself for the These archives will be available to members of the ride. PRHS and others for research purposes. BPNR922 rode up in the cab of old reliable locomotive 902 with drivers Eric Valdivia (driver) and We are always seeking articles, old documents Christian Pacis (2nd driver), while Englehart sat with (even copies), photos, technical details and anything me on the first forward-facing seat of the first carriage. else for inclusion in the archive. OPERATION ADOBO #5 - Part 2 BRAD PEADON COTIUED FROM ISSUE #5 at 13.39. Amongst all the devastation it was a relief to see that Freight the last remaining intact semaphore signal still stood op- 4wBC (Earmarked for preservation) posite the signalbox with a rather intoxicated lean. BC-522, 526, 529, 558, 572, 583, 592, 631 The future of this, and the original Caloocan station FH-52, 642 building nearby, is still not assured with the current FL-065, 351, 3022, 3054 work to link Tutuban and Caloocan stations again, as TF-71, 76 well as proposals to put the NLEX-SLEX connector Police Train—FCD-08, FL-2011, FL255 road through the location. I soon left Caloocan workshops with a very empty Tayuman Locomotive Depot 13.50 feeling inside. It was as if 11 years of work to promote 915 interest in the Philippine railways, and preserving it, had 2538 been brought to an end.