Philippine Railway Historical Society News and History!: July 2023

The winding down of Philippine National Railway's narrow gauge operations around Manila continues, with this weekend seeing the very last service from Manila to Binan.

Following this last run, services are now curtailed to Alabang, at least until October when reports state that this will also end.

The next five years will see a new elevated commuter railway replace the original line to Calamba. Narrow gauge services continue from Calamba to Bicol wherever operations are possible.

While all us true fans of the 'Philippine National Railways' are sad to see the disappearance of all that we knew, there is no doubt that this modernisation will be of immense benefit to the people of Manila.

Brad Peadon

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16/7/2023 Last Train To Binan.

The crew of the last Binan service prior to departure from Tutuban station in Manila.

Photo: Mark Chua

Set 7 is about to go down in history as the last set to operate the Manila to Binan service.

Photo: Mark Chua

Mark is busy preparing the train for the final run.

This would no doubt be a bitter sweet moment for him, being able to be part of history, while also being saddened to see another service ending.

Photo: Mark Chua

What would now be quite the souvenier, a ticket on the final run.

Photo: Ivan Callanta Tiples

902 has left Tutuban and commenced it's journey into history.

Train Engineer: Wilson Batac

Photo: Mark Chua

Stopping at Del Rosa station..

Photo: Ivan Callanta Tiples

902/921 at San Pedro (Laguna).

Ignore the caption on the photos :-)

Photo: Jay-Ian Carlos A. Palacol

Our photographer is greeted with a friendly wave.

Photo: Jay-Ian Carlos A. Palacol

Just like that it is all over, with the train staff posing for another photo.

Photo: Mark Chua

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16/7/2023 Last Train From Binan.

After spending the night at Binan station, it is time for the early departure from Manila. A very wet end to another era of PNR.

921/902 heads north and into the history books.

Binan station has seen it's last passengers.

Photo: Jay-Ian Carlos A. Palacol

921/902 heads north and into the history books.

Binan station has seen it's last passengers.

Photo: Jay-Ian Carlos A. Palacol

'That's All Folks'

921/902 sit in a very moist Tutuban station, having just arrived from Binan for the very last time.

Photo: Mark Chua

921/902 sit in a very moist Tutuban station, having just arrived from Binan for the very last time.

Photo: Mark Chua

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Video: A cabride to Espana on the former Binan passenger service.

Video: Riding the last Binan passenger from Alabang.
Video taken by Mark Chua

Video: Riding the last Binan passenger from Binan.

Thus ending an era.
Video taken by Mark Chua

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Thank you.

We would like to give a big thank you to Mark Chua, Jay-Ian Carlos A. Palacol, Ivan Callanta Tiples, and other members of the Philippine Railway Historical Society who shared this historic moment with us all.

Thanks also to the 'COMMEX SHED and Manila Shed Personnel' who prepared the trains.

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Philippine Railway Historical Society Website

Philippine Railway Historical Society Group

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Signage in the Caloocan Railway Workshops.

Above must have predated the arrival of the 5000 class in 1992, and the demise of the 2000 class.

Below is the current rollingstock awaiting repair, all of which has mostly now been scrapped.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Hyundai Rotem lifting frame for placing the newly delivered railcars on a truck for delivery to Tutuban.

By this time there was no longer rail access to Manila Port.

Photo: Brad Peadon

ASIAN KING was the vessel delivering the new Rpotem railcar sets. The PRHS was lucky to receive an invitation to witness this important event.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Various views of Los Banos (College) station in Laguna.

While not actually closed, it sure looked like it at the time.

Photo: Brad Peadon

This one has an embarrassing/humourous story to it.

Despite, at the time, my having been going to the Philippines for a decade, I had not come across any of the rituals that go on at the time of someone's passing.

So, on this visit to a rather dark and wet Los Banos station, while going about getting a heap of photos, I find myself gravitating slowly toward a very bright section.

Being very bright due to the lighting, and colourful due to the hanging sheets, I quite ignorantly walked up to it taking photos.

Just after taking this shot, I noticed everyone looking at me. Not unusual over there, where I am stared at almost 24/7.

But then I noticed a coffin.

Ahhhhhhmmm opps.

I walked backward out of there and took off.

I have come across these rituals many time since then.

Photo: Brad Peadon

The southbound platform. Just beyond the station there was a level crossing, followed by the former junction for the long closed line to Santa Cruz and Pagsanjan.

Photo: Brad Peadon