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Welcome one and all to the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' blogsite. This site was set up to share photos, historical pieces, comment and virtually anything else pertaining to transportation in the Philippines, with a special emphasis on rail. Occasional we vary from topic, but this is the less serious side of the hobby shining through - cause sometimes, in this miserable and uptight world, we just take ourselves a little too seriously.
Since 1999, the Philippine Railway Historical Society has regularly published items, FOR FREE, of railway interest on our PRHS Website. These include locomotive, rollingstock and transit updates, as well as our occasional magazine, 'Along Da Riles'.
 Our interest base has grown over the years with our main Facebook railway group expanding to include groups interested in other Philippine Transport, modelling of Philippine transport and even a group for Philippine railfans interested in overseas railways.
 If it sounds interesting, come join in the fun of the oldest, and most diverse, group dedicated to Philippine railways and other transport.
 We look forward to meeting you.

If you have a question Philippine railway related, just drop us a line, maybe we can help.
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Monday, May 25, 2026

MRT3 DEPOT VISIT - 2011

 



Way back in the golden age of 2011—back when things were so much easier for people who like poking around and taking photos of trains—the Philippine Railway Historical Society got the dream invite: a guided tour of the MRT-3 depot up at North Avenue.
For me, this was a total first. Before then, getting access to take photos there was about as easy as finding an empty seat during rush hour—basically unheard of. It was honestly fascinating, though; this is still the only fully covered elevated railway depot in the whole Philippines, and back then it was a rare chance to see exactly how it all worked behind the scenes.
Our guide was the wonderful Lysa (last name sadly lost to the fog of time—my bad!), who walked us through every corner and very kindly let us snap away to our hearts’ content, preserving it all for posterity.
Fun fact: this was way before the arrival of the infamous Class 3100 trains from Dalian, China—you know, the ones that turned out to be such a spectacular “investment.” Fast forward a whole decade, and those trains are still mostly a mystery. I’ve only ever spotted one set actually running. Even Wikipedia confirms it: right now, only one set works properly, and it only comes out to play when it’s nice and quiet, off-peak. Truly the definition of “value for money.”
I might share the very rare sightings I’ve caught in future updates on the website… that is, assuming I can muster up enough enthusiasm to keep documenting things in an environment that feels just a little bit, shall we say, hostile to anyone with a camera and an interest in history.


A quick recap of the star of the show:
The MRT-3 is Metro Manila’s famous elevated railway, running the length of EDSA from North Avenue all the way down to Taft Avenue. Dreamed up back in the 90s to save us all from the legendary Manila traffic (ambitious, right?), construction kicked off in 1996 and it finally opened fully in 2000. It was built as a joint project between the government and private firms, with plenty of Japanese expertise and tech thrown into the mix.
Over time, it became one of the busiest rail lines in Southeast Asia, ferrying millions of commuters every single day. By the 2010s, though, years of being overworked and, let’s be honest, under-maintained really started to show. Thankfully, a major rehabilitation finished in 2021 gave it a full overhaul—new tracks, upgraded trains, better signals and stations—and miraculously, it actually works properly now. Progress!

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Putting these sites together does take an immense amount of time and effort.
If you even find some moderate amount of enjoyment would you consider giving us even a little bit of a 
donation here?
Pretty please :-)
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029 025 sitting over maintenance pits at the depot.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and four below.
006 and 011  elevated off their bogies for other maintenance.
Photos: Brad Peadon






017 elevated off it's bogies.
Photo: Brad Peadon


053 005 also sitting over maintenance pits at the depot.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
Ms Lysa was are MRT3 guide on the day. We cannot thank her enough for her kindness and generosity.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Bogie off a MRT3 1G set.
Photo: Brad Peadon


MRT3 1G 004.
Photo: Brad Peadon




MRT3 1G 053.
Photo: Brad Peadon


MRT3 1G 031.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
Class leader 001 sits in the depot.
Now renumbered 3001, she was noted operating at Kamuning during May 2026.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Above and below
MRT3 1G 005 makes a move around the depot.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Class leader MRT3 1G 001 again.
Photo: Brad Peadon


MRT3 1G 042.
Photo: Brad Peadon


And we finish up the first part of this story with MRT3 1G 060.
Photo: Brad Peadon

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Lysa from MRT3.
Brian Young for organising.
Semi-Retired Foamer Media & Publishing
wikipedia.org





Website. 

Interested In All Things Philippines? We Have Heaps.
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THE FUTURE: PHILIPPINE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

Hello one and all,

For those following our various social media groups, the gradual transformation taking place across them over recent weeks has probably not gone unnoticed. What may have initially appeared to be minor administrative changes is, in reality, part of a broader reassessment of both the future of these platforms and my own increasingly limited interest in continuing to promote the Philippine railfan scene — or, indeed, the railways themselves.

For quite some time, the steadily worsening toxicity within sections of the Philippine rail enthusiast community has raised serious questions about whether the hobby remains worth the effort at all. Recent heritage visits to several South Line stations only reinforced that conclusion. Between the spectacularly unpleasant attitudes encountered along the way and the absurdly overblown reactionary photography regulations now emerging, the motivation to seriously document anything during my most recent visit was reduced to near zero.

The country itself is still capable of moments of brilliance, but it no longer resembles the place I first came to know. The warmth, humour and generosity once so common among the people I met increasingly feels drowned beneath a layer of needless hostility, suspicion, and bureaucratic theatre performed by individuals seemingly determined to ensure nobody enjoys anything ever again.

As some will already have observed, a number of PRHS social media groups are now being quietly retired, while others are transitioning to the control of the ‘Semi-Retired Foamer Media & Publishing’ entity. This is not so much a dramatic ending as it is a practical response to an environment that has become progressively more exhausting to engage with.

This website will likewise transition to operation under ‘Semi-Retired Foamer Media & Publishing’, and for now will continue largely as normal — at least until photographic coverage through 2026 is completed. Beyond that point, however, the exercise increasingly feels pointless when sections of authority appear actively hostile toward the photographic preservation of Philippine history through the lives and experiences of ordinary people.

One can only imagine the historical void that would exist had these attitudes prevailed a century ago. Entire generations would now be remembered through a handful of blurred, badly framed scraps of film — the sort of images modern authorities would presumably regard as the gold standard of cultural preservation.

The 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' Facebook page is being replaced by the 'Semi-Retired Foamer Media' Facebook page if you just wish to be occasionally informed of Philippine posts.

Otherwise our main PRHS chat and history forum can still be found HERE.

Thank you for all your support over the years, and I am truly regretful that humans have brought us to this point.

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Putting these sites together does take an immense amount of time and effort.
If you even find some moderate amount of enjoyment would you consider giving us even a little bit of a 
donation here?
Pretty please :-)
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026

HONDAGUA 2026 - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

ATTN Whingers: The person appearing in the title is an AI fake.
Not an actual real individual at Hondagua last month. 

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Hondagua Station, located in the province of Quezon, Philippines, was inaugurated on May 10, 1916, marking a significant expansion of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Main Line South. This extension connected Padre Burgos to Calauag, threading through the scenic landscape of southern Quezon and establishing Hondagua as a key stop on the route.

As part of the Main Line South, Hondagua Station served both passenger and freight traffic, supporting the growing economic activities of the region, especially during the early 20th century. The station’s establishment not only improved connectivity for towns along the route but also played a vital role in facilitating trade and transport between Quezon Province and Manila.

Today, while train services are not currently operating, the sad remains of Hondagua Station, and crew dormitory, stand as a historical reminder of the PNR's expansion era, echoing stories of journeys taken across the archipelago by rail and underscoring the enduring importance of rail travel in the Philippines.

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Hondagua - Beauty & The Beast

Unusual attitudes indeed.
  Long-term readers of this blog will already know of my fascination with Hondagua, particularly its once-massive railway yard. Over the years, I have made many stops here during Bicol trips, partly out of personal interest, and partly to document what remains of this remarkable location before time and neglect eventually finish the job.
  Until my more recent discoveries in Negros, Hondagua was comfortably my favourite part of the Philippines. While Visayas may now hold that title overall, Hondagua remains my favourite part of Luzon.

  Situated beside Lopez Bay, the views from the now largely derelict station and sprawling former yard are genuinely spectacular. It is one of those rare places where abandoned railway infrastructure and coastal scenery somehow combine into an oddly relaxing atmosphere for railway heritage recording.


Yet the place also has a strange side.


  The yard today functions as a public pathway, with locals walking, riding motorbikes, accessing nearby homes, beach areas, cottages, and a so-called “resort.”
 Illegal skates continue to operate along the line as well which, while providing more transport usefulness than the railway itself currently does, is still illegal and just overlooked by guards who find historians more of a grave threat to the social fabric.

  Photography, videography, and that dreadful modern term “vlogging” seem to occur there constantly without issue when it comes to the locals.

  Which makes it rather curious why I appear to become the main attraction for issues every time I visit.

  Perhaps it is simply the obvious difference in nationality.

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Putting these sites together does take an immense amount of time and effort.
If you even find some moderate amount of enjoyment would you consider giving us even a little bit of a 
donation here?
Pretty please :-)

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Anyway, lets look at 2026.
To be the last visit, with heritage efforts far more appreciated elsewhere.


Above and four below.
One of the few highlights in two days of miserable PNR experiences on this history recording visit was finally getting to see some of the ten new container wagons recently delivered from China.
While not likely to be used for such, the twist locks on each suggest they were actually meant for container usage. With the port lines all gone, and the railways in Manila totally destroyed, I can't see any intermodal traffic starting anytime soon. 
Numbers: 004, 005, and 007 
Hondagua Yard, Quezon Province 
Relevant links in the 'Further Reading' section below.
Photos: Brad Peadon






Above and below.
 Northern leg of the former large triangle that ran out to the point seen below. The southern leg ran close to the large blue building which is a local flour mill.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Above and below.
Hondagua yard looking north towards Manila. Well, once you could get to Manila, today you can't even reach Calamba proper, even if there were timetable services in this section at this time.
It was once a much bigger yard, even had a shed in the scrub to the left.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Looking south from the south end of the yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon


The last surviving observation car RDO-204 which I have long pushed for heritage preservation.
Photo: Brad Peadon


GC-63 was formerly a FL (original coding still on side) but was one of a number converted as such.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below
Former Bicol Express carriage, ex-Japanese 14 63, is currently stored in this picturesque.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Twist locks on the new Chinese built container wagons.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Above and three below.
A heritage disaster up there with that of the original Lucena station building that lays in ruins despite earlier demands it be rebuild.
Hondagua was a beautiful station building when I first visited this location. Locals tell me that what is there now was a result of a rebuild that ended up being discontinued.
Where a restoration of the original structure, along with a nearby high level platform, could have been an amazing heritage addition to the town ....... we have got this.
Maybe it is the reason I am singled out for attention by security guards in an effort to not let it be seen.
Photos: Brad Peadon




A Facebook post showing photos of the yard when the station was a little more intact, and taken by someone that wasn't harassed for taking photos.


Above and six below.
The poor old Hondagua PNR staff dormitory was a magnificent old structure, but it shall almost certainly go the way of the heritage station building.
Of interest are the regular reports about the building being haunted. Despite the stories, I've not found much about it online.
While no official investigations have been done, there have been many local reports of footsteps in empty buildings, shadow figures near the dormitory,
lights appearing where there is supposedly no power,
and the feeling of being watched around the old crew quarters.
Given it is all now at the brink of collapse, the ghosts may have caught one the rare trains to another town :-)
Photos: Brad Peadon








For our final shot (below) we see the dormitory building on one of my heritage surveys just seven years back.
I guess the ever present typhoons do not help maintain such amazing structures.
Photo: Brad Peadon

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Nhing and our driver.
wikipedia.org


PNR Security Staff.





Website. 

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