WHEEL GOOD NEWS

The new year saw an exciting preservation development on the 

'Philippine National Railways (PNR)' front.

Earlier in 2019, PRHS member 'Jan Reigner Mercado' took a couple of photos showing surviving steam locomotive wheels at the former Baliuag railway station in Bulacan. Thankfully, he shared these great shots with the group.

The historical importance of these artifacts is immeasurable and I have to say I was quite amazed to see them there.
It was of great importance that they be saved, but I was not really sure how
that could be achieved.
  Thankfully, PNR management took the initiative and set a truck up to rescue them and return them home to Tutuban station for display.

The first two photos were taken at Baliuag by Jan Reigner Mercado.

The above photo of Baliuag station by Jan, prompted the following interesting information from Bamba Florentino.

" Baliuag train station was gutted by fire before the end of the last world war. It was repaired during the 50's but 5he high pitch roof was eliminated and replaced by a low pitch that you see now on this picture."

Mark Chua took this photo of the wheel back at home in Tutuban station and on display for everyone to witness a little part of their rich railway history.

Thank you 'Philippine National Railways' for your support of rail heritage.

Thank you to Mark Chua, Bamba Florentino and Jan Reigner Mercado for information contained in this article.

ARTWORK - FREMEL BERNAL

Anyone who spends a lot of time in the Philippines, and is dragged around endless malls and markets, have probably been witness to some incredibly outstanding examples of local artistic talent.

I was so taken my by it in 1999, that we purchased a large painting back in 1999, one that has taken pride of place in the kitchen wherever we have lived since then. It still does today.

This painting was purchased from a small shop on Cortada Street in Ermita (Manila). It was owned by a Filipino lady who actually lived here in Sydney, however, the artists were all local.

I remember her telling me that they could do paintings to order at, back then, was a very good price.

Sadly, when I returned in 2004, along with a photo I wanted painted, the shop was gone and the painting never got done :-( .

  Over the years since, I have seen a lot of artwork, ranging from charcoal to watercolors, all quite amazing and well beyond my talent level.
Early last year I become aware of local artist 'Rufo Bong Sunga Jr' who paints some outstanding historical views and actually found some of my photos treated similarly (see example here). It is quite an honour when someone feels your photographic work that worthwhile.
  If interested, Mr Sunga Jr's photos are available for purchase.

  More recently, we had Fremel Bernal join the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society', and he soon started sharing his artwork with our members and myself.
I featured a little of it in an earlier blog post, but his subsequent offerings has inspired me to do a posting covering it more.
  An incredible talent does not describe Fremel sufficiently. I can't begin to imagine drawing anything anywhere near as good as he does it.
  Actually, anything I drawn looks more like the efforts of my daughter back when she was five :-)

  Please enjoy the selection of Fremel's work below. I am sure you will be as impressed as I am.

Fremel hard at work on a few more drawings.

Love seeing my favourite locomotive type in his drawings.

Just need to see my beloved 902 :-)

A lucky drawing recipient.

Fremel draws his friend with the two new arrivals from Indonesia.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are interested in purchasing some of Freemel's artwork, or have a particular subject request, you can find him on Facebook, or phone him on 09569229662.
I think is work would look great on the wall of any railfan's home.

  In the sixth part of our series, we will take a look at what was in Caloocan Railway Workshops during a visits a decade, and more, ago.
Much of the passenger rollingstock has since been scrapped, while others still survive in 2020.
Thank you to the 'Philippine National Railways' for your ongoing support. Most especially, PNR General Manager Mr Junn Magno.

Please support the PRHS by checking out some of our website advertisers here. All we do is done voluntarily and checking out the ads helps a little with the costs.
Salamat Po.

  We shall also take a look at some rollingstock there back in 2004 and 2007.

3 Feb 2010
Class	Numbers	Type	Notes
_12	_801	Dining	From Japan and not yet used at this time.
_900	906 911 913 914 917	Loco
_900	920 921	Loco	920 Bent Underframe
_2500	2535 2540	Loco
_5000	5003 5004 5006 5007 5008	Loco
_5000	5008 5010	Loco	5010 last locomotive in red livery
BC	507 561 580 588 590	Freight	Boxcar
CMC	_374	DMU
CTC	_154	DMU	Being scrapped
FL	44 542 3070	Freight	Flat wagons, both outside
GC	_120	Freight	Gondola Car (Open Wagon)
IC	_888	DMU	Inspection Car
MCBP	_4	DMU	Pieces following scrapping
PC	_286	Passenger	Presidential Car (Marcos)
TA	_5	Passenger	Last of her class
	Copywrite 2020		Compiled By Brad Peadon (Philippine Railway Historical Society)

Inspection car. Only saw outside the workshops on my first trip in 1999.
Following that first sighting, it found itself in the dark blue livery, but was stored by the time of my visit in 2004.

The 7C was becoming a rarity even in 2007.

MCBP-4 was the last of her type and would be scrapped three years later.

12 801 is a dining car that was donated by Japan.
It had not seen use at the time of these 2007 photos.

Above two shots show CMC railcars in the smaller workshop building back in 1999.

7B-40

7A-130

7C-98

MC-6366 - Photo Dave Carson

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you to Enrico Aquino, Dave Carson and Bob Lyons for photos and documents appearing in this part of the series.
We have had many more similar documents donated to the PRHS. If there is any interest, we shall add them in future parts. Let me know.