Panay Island Adventure

 

Howdee one and all, here be another blog series that I have planned to run for a long time, but just not had the motivation to do :-)

That is until a recent email from Thom Hofstra, and an interesting discussion about the Panay Railways.
It turned out that Thom visited there in 1978 and was lucky enough to go for a ride and get a few photos.
Thom has generously allowed us to share his photos here.
I would like to greatly thank Thom for sharing these, as well as his research of where the track ran.

54 is a type of rail motor that the Panay Railway used to build from scratch in their 'Engineering & Mechanical Depot' at their main office at Lapus, Iloilo City.
These suburban trains were fitted with Cummins diesel engines.

In this series I plan to cover my 2017 trip to Panay from the moment we landed in Iloilo, to the time we took off from Roxas City. It will be primarily transport (rail and road) related, but may take the occasional diversion.
I've also made requests to use some other historical photos and, if the series leads to any other contributions of interest, I shall add them as well.
Lets see where it takes us :-)

114 (3503) was the last Panay Railway locomotive 

in existence.

It is seen here outside the former Lapaz Station (Iloilo) in 2007, however it was scrapped by the time of my visit in 2017, only her builders plate surviving.

There is a steam locomotive, minus it's tender, on display in a Iloilo park. However, despite claims on a plaque, it is not from the Panay Railway, having been a sugarcane locomotive.

Ticket from the PRHS collection.

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Thanks: Thom Hofstra
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All photos in this series are copyright of their various owners and we ask everyone to respect this.
If you would like to share this page, please use the link

 HERE.

Stay tuned for further installments in coming weeks.

Philippine Railway Historical Society Website

Philippine Railway Historical Society Blog

Philippine Railway Historical Society Group

 

Today, my good friend, and PRHS roving reporter, Mark Chua, sent some update shots from north of Manila.
It is great to see the north line steaming ahead.

From a heritage perspective, it is truly heartwarming to see the image of Meycauayan station covered up as part of heritage restoration work.
It is hoped that similar work will happen to the other surviving stations from Valenzuela (Polo) through to Malolos.

If you are interested in what is happening in this area, or would like to contribute historic (or recent) photographs and information, check out our friends at the
'Meycauayan Railway Precinct'.

Meycauayan undergoing much needed heritage restoration work.
The Philippine Railway Historical Society applaud all involved in preserving the important railway history in this section.

If anyone can help with photographs of work involving other heritage railway stations in Bulacan, we would very much like to hear from you.

Valenzuela (Polo), Meycauayan, Bigaa, Guiguinto, Malalos

A huge thank you to Mark Chua for keeping

us updated.

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PRHS Spotlight: Sucat Station 

Meycauayan Heritage Precinct

Lucena Rail Heritage Commitee

Philippine National Railway Museum 
In Development

San Fernando Train Station Museum

Dagupan Railway Station Museum Proposal
Status Unknown

The Red Era

Over the years, the Philippine Railway Historical Society has aimed to collect and share railway information with interested peoples around the world.

As we grow beyond 2000 members on our forum, it has become harder to find the time to do the usual amount of publishing.
One project I have been working on, very slowly, is a livery database for the 900 class that is aimed at Philippine modellers, and those with an interest.

For a fleet of 21 locomotives, there has been a huge amount of variations of the years. We would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has any photos, or information, relating to diesel locomotive liveries from the red era and before.
  Please contact us. Your help will be acknowledged and greatly appreciated.

While working on the above project, I got to compiling a basic listing of known locomotives to wear the red/yellow livery of the 90s and early 2000s.
I personally only got to really experience it on my first visit in 1999, however, quite surprisingly, it still manages to survive on 5010. It is only the fact that 5010 has been withdrawn for many years that has seen it avoid the many livery changes since.
Please note, this is not meant to be a comprehensive listing. It has been based on actual photographic sightings to date. Unless something has been confirmed in this way, we do not add it to our listings. 

Note: All photos remain the copyright of their respective owners. Please have the decency to ask before using any image elsewhere.

Brad Peadon

UNIT	FORM#	MODEL	STATUS	NOTES
902		U15C	Rebuild
903		U15C	Scrapped	Last 900 in red livery. Philippines 2000 livery.
-	-	-	-	Philippines 2000 livery on side and end of long hood
904		U15C		See 908
908	904	U15C	Scrapped	Severely derelict (2007), gone (2009)
911		U14C	BER
913		U14C	Rebuild
916	908	U14C	Available	Red in 1999, Blue by 2004
917		U15C	Available
918		U15C	Available
919		U15C	Available	Philippines 2000 livery and logo on cabside
920		U15C	BER
921		U15C	Available	Philippines 2000 on end of long hood
922		U15C	Available
2504		U10B	Scrapped
2515		U10B	Scrapped
2522		U10B	Scrapped
2528		U10B	Scrapped
2535		U10B	Non Operational
2536		U10B	Scrapped
2537		U10B	Scrapped
2542		U10B	Scrapped
5001		U6B	Available
5002		U6B	Non Operational
5003		U6B	Non Operational
5004		U6B	Non Operational
5005		U6B	Non Operational
5006		U6B	Non Operational
5007		U6B	Non Operational
5008		U6B	Non Operational
5009		U6B	Available
5010		U6B	BER	Last 5000 in red livery, last red unit surviving
				Note: There appear to be numerous versions.
				Red, yellow lining, cab door and pilots, red logo disk
				Red, yellow lining, black pilots, white logo disk
				Red, white lining, black pilots and white logo disk.
				Additional Information Welcome
				Compiled by Brad Peadon (PRHS)
				Thanks to Mark Chua and Aldriene Mabale

 

U15C 903 has the distinction of being the last 900 class in the red livery, having been scrapped after U15C 908 (ex 904) at Caloocan Workshops.

903 is also the only one found to have the larger 'PHILIPPINES 2000' down the long hood. 
This was in addition to the more regular smaller version, and is seen in the two images below. 
Strangely, there seems to be no trace of the large side number in the 1999 image. But this could be due to the open hood doors.

U15C 908 (ex 904) is seen withdrawn at Tayuman shed in 1999. She would soon be dragged to Caloocan Workshops, where she would spend the next decade being stripped of usable parts and subsequently scrapped.

U14C 916 (ex 908) at Tayuman Shed in Manila.

U10B 2522 during a failed refurbishment project.
Caloocan Workshops - Mark Chua Collection

2528 during a failed refurbishment project.
Caloocan Workshops - Mark Chua Collection

A new 919 on a trial to Lucena with a consist of 7BP 7A 7A 7A and 922 at the other end.
It is seen here at Lucena, with retired 

'General Foreman-Railcar' Efren Ocampi.
Arvin Danganan Collection.

U15C 919 is seen departing for Alabang.
To be seen is the location of the 'PHILIPPINES 2000' lettering on the end of the hood of the later U15C type.

 Also, the cab side has centennial signage (see below).

U15C 921 at Tayuman locomotive shed.
Eagle eyes will spot a very worn centennial sign 

on the cab side.

U10B 2504 heavily stripped at Caloocan Workshops.

One of the few times I photographed a red U10B in action, 2515 on a passenger run from Alabang.

'PHILIPPINES 2000' is just visible on the long hood.

2535 Tayuman Shed 1999

Even the builders plates got the red treatment :-)
U10B 2536 was stripped and awaiting the end.

2537 Tayuman Shed in Manila.

A surprisingly well worn red paint job given the relative young age of the livery and when compared to other units.
However, the yellow pilot would suggest it is one of the earlier local repaints.

Withdrawn at Caloocan workshops.

U6B 5004 in the less common white stripe 

version of the livery.
She is absolutely resplendent in this 1996 photo taken by Nigel Menzies.

5009 is looking just as nice with her yellow stripes.
 These 1996 photos from Nigel Menzies are the earliest examples of the 'PHILIPPINES 2000' lettering to be seen.

The last surviving locomotive in the red livery, coincidentally also the youngest locomotive until the recent arrival of two shunters from Italy, is heavily stripped in Caloocan Workshops.

 A number of 900 class have been noted carrying the above signage on the side of their cabs.

It marks the Centennial of Philippine Independence, with the wording translating as 'Independence, Treasure Of The Nation'.
It has been confirmed to have appeared on 916, 918, 919 and 921. We would appreciate any photographic proof of other units carrying the same signage. It appears to have been limited to this class only.

Thanks: Gorio Belen, Reynante Bulaon, Dirk Paul Celoso, Mark Chua, Arvin Danganan, Nigel Menzies and Ronx Ronquillo.

Other Posts Of Possible Interest:

PNR Locomotive Update - September 2020

Monumento LRT1 Station 

Tutuban Station 2009

Test Run Of New Locomotive

For Further Information

PRHS Website

PRHS Main Group

PRHS Facebook Page

Philippine Transport Modeller

Sucat Railway Station : PRHS Spotlight

PACO CREEK BRIDGE

 

Been ferreting through the PRHS archive again and came across this information on the Paco Creek bridge ( Manila ) that was donated some time back.
This is one of many bridges that were part of the 'Northrail - Southrail Linkage Project' being done by 

'Hanjin Heavy Industries'.
We thank the person who made the donation (they wish to remain anonymous). 

Hope these are of interest. 

Happy to put more similar stuff up should there be interest.
We are always interested in hearing from anyone who would be willing to share any railway related paperwork of interest. We will respect any privacy requested.

Philippine National Railways

Philippine Railway Historical Society Forum

PRHS Transportation Forum (No Rail)