~~ PRHS Charity Support ~~

Over the years we, along with my business in Sydney, have supported a number of funds to raise money for the Filipino people.
If you are good of heart we recommend the following.

Payatas Outreach Mission - Manila

 

Colord Star Charities - Sydney

 

There is more to life than just trains.

~~ ONLINE TICKETING MULLED ~~

KRIS BAYOS
October 5, 2012, 3:51pm
MANILA, Philippines —
The Philippine National
Railways (PNR) is mulling the implementation of online ticketing for the
interprovincial trips of the Bicol Express as soon as it will start operations
up to Legazpi City in Albay.

PNR General Manager Junio Ragrario said it is inconveniencing Bicol Express
passengers is they have to go to the train station twice: first, to buy their
tickets ahead of scheduled trips and second, to board their assigned trains on
the date of travel.

"We are mulling the possibility of ticketing for Bicol Express through the
Internet so that passengers will only have to go to the train station once,
which is during their scheduled trips," Ragrario added.

The rail official said the online ticketing that they are studying to use for
the Bicol Express would be similar to the online ticketing for airline
passengers.

But since online ticketing would require payment using credit cards, it may not
be convenient for all types of passengers, Ragrario said, adding that cash
payment for advance ticketing at train stations may still be available for the
benefit of those who do not have credit cards.

However, the PNR's commuter line running from Tutuban in Manila to Alabang in
Muntinlupa City will still implement manual ticketing until the government bids
out an automatic fare collection system for the PNR, and the Light and Metro
Rail Transit systems.

Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of rail tracks and train stations in Albay is
ongoing to allow the Bicol Express to run up to Legazpi City before the annual
exodus of people to the provinces for their Christmas and New Year's vacation.

"We target to finish by December so that the Bicol Express could transport
passengers up to Legazpi City in time for Christmas," he said.

Ragrario said the trip from Manila to Legazpi City aboard Bicol Express will be
13 to 14 hours long but they will make its fare "very competitive" with the
rates of ordinary buses to lure passengers to opt for the comfort of rail
travel.

Wooden larch ties are being installed in the Travesia bridge between Polangui
and Guinobatan. There are at least 15 to 20 kilometers of rail tracks between
Guinobatan and Legazpi City that need inspection and rehabilitation before the
PNR's Bicol Express can service the route. The stations in Guinobatan, Camalig,
Daraga and Legazpi City will also need renovation for the reopening.

There is a total distance of 30 kilometer between Ligao and Legazpi City
stations and a total of 478 kilometers from Tutuban to Legazpi City.

RAILFANS WHO SEEK TO DESTROY THE

HOBBY AND THE COUNTRY.

I am deeply saddened today. Not for me, but for how some people let their country down so much. How they will childishly let a moments worth of bad thought, destroy the view of those who care about and love the Philippines.

This morning I recieved this from Alvin Dacome-Radiaganding.
I find that 13 years of promoting, pushing and building a railfan and preservation hobby in the Philippines has been brought to this single comment.

To convey some sort of idea of my confusion over it all. I have never met this lad, never had much correspondence with him, but he has developed a great hatred solely based on my correcting him that the MRT vehicles are not 4th generation LRT ones. Despite my comments solely being to help, as they always are, I, and quite a few others, have recieved threats and hate mail regularly from this lad.

I am now seeking legal recourse against him for the threats made to others and the verbal abuse aimed at me.

For 13 years I have taken interest in the Philippines and its future more so than my own country - today I find a childish turd (apologises but I am disgusted) who would rather destroy all we have achieved. All that the likes of Brian, Michael, Karel, myself etc etc have achieved.
Lets make sure that people like Alvin Dacome-Radiaganding, who obviously dislikes their country, do not sway us from making this a great hobby.
I'm blocking him from my FB and recommend all others who love the Philippines do the same.

To steal a quote "The Philippine Is Worth Fighting For"

OPERATION ADOBO #6

A November 2011 Trip To Manila.

I know I have been slack with my blog posts again.
I've been busy with my Filipino shop since my recent return, along with a couple of new projects to build a PNR database and the long planned HO scale model railway based on Manila.
I have also been working hard to get a new PRHS service up and going to help modellers in the Philippines avail themselves of cheaper modelling options. This being by way of free freight to the Philippines through an occasional Balikbayan box. Obviously every peso counts for the locals, so why not give the chance to help with zero freight cost and the ability to buy second hand models for far less than brand new?

I am always looking for new ways to help my wonderful railfan friends in the Philippines and, along with local British ex-pat Phil Clark, am very proud of this new idea.

ANyway, enough rabbiting on with excuses, below is the first lot of shots from our recent trip.
Sadly the weather was a bit chronic at the start, but they do get better.

The railfan day certainly got off to a dark, gloomy and wet start.

It was a day to meet lots of new friends and catch up with many old ones.
Roberto, Mark, Rodney and Adrian I have know since the last trip, while Phil and Tessie (above), Brian and Michael (Philippine Railways Railfan Group) and many other new people also turned up on the day.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have so many great friends so far away. Many people are lucky to have one or two locally. You guys are all much cared about.

Wooohoo finally got to see one of PNRs new twin-level sleepers.
Great looking beasts and part of the new PNR lineup.
Also got to meet PNR boss Mr Ragragio, Mr Nierva (head of the Transportation division) and the lovely Ms Emma Papa. All do a wonderful job with the nations railways and all true examples of how wonderful Filipino people are.
Thank you so much guys - I miss you.

Heavy rains delayed trains at Pasay Road.

Another highlight, getting CMC-201 out on the tracks on perway duties.

CAR-2 on the Bicol Express. Last time I saw her was 2010 on the Bicol Commuter Train to Sipocot and Ligao.

Creek Bridges - Sucat To Alabang

Howdee all, as part of my plans to build a model railway based on Manila, I asked members of the various forums for photos of the creek crossings.

Thanks to Gat Gontok of the Philippine Railways Railfans Group who actually got up pre-dawn to help me (maraming salamat Gat) I ahve got some great ideas for the proposed canal on the layout.

The following is a few examples of the shots he sent.
More will be on our new PRHS Modelling Group website, which is currently available through our similar Aussie groups site.

http://smutgroup.wordpress.com

I hope these are of interest to people - they were for me.