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. _ _
It is truly hard to believe that it is approaching a decade and a half since we took my Aussie friend David to the Philippines for the first time.
At the time there was already a general feeling that major change would be coming in the future and, given that Dave was also a railfan who had not chased trains outside Australia, I endeavoured to take him to as many places as possible between Manila and Legaspi.
The looming prospect of change also set me on my latest project, that of trying to photograph all the items of rollingstock and infrastructure that I had thus far not covered.
The aim was to get photos of every individual item that existed since at least 2004, although most items have been around since well before then.Also to get any remaining structures & yards before they too were obliterated.
With this in mind, a massive amount of photos were taken during that trip. I feel that rollingstock is always the less covered part of the railways, people being more obsessed with locomotives, and I wished to make sure it was recorded for the future.
To share all this on the blog, I am placing it all into several posts, all divided into varying topics.
Locomotives
Rollingstock
Railcars
Infrastructure & People
These posts will appear on the blog all during 2024.
Much has changed here since these photos were taken.
The Lucena locoshed has since been rebuilt from how it is seen here. This will be covered in a later blog post and on our group.
Photo: Brad Peadon
In one of the worst acts of heritage vandalism I have seen there, this lovely station was half destroyed after this photo.
Work was put to a stop once local officials became aware of this disgraceful destruction of their rail history and, despite orders to rebuild it, as of a 2023 inspection there had been absolutely no work done. Photo: Brad Peadon
(3 photos) Camalig station was opened in 1914,but the diversion of the railway saw it fall into disuse.
A small part of the former station building still exists. Photos: Brad Peadon
Hondagua station before a failed renovation was commenced. Today this lovely stations remains derelict Photo: Brad Peadon
The next selection of shots show Travesia station (built in 1981 on the new diversion away from Camalig as seen above). Services however, did not commence until 1986.
It was a replacement for Guinobatan station which served the area on the former line. Photos: Brad Peadon
How they do not fall off the railhead is beyond me :-). Photos: Brad Peadon
Tutuban yard around the time those new sidings were built on the left side of the photo.
The control tower, shed, and I believe part of the PNR building in the distance, are expected to all soon be wiped out as part of the upcoming modernisation guff. Photos: Brad Peadon
Blumentritt station in Manila. The line here is covered in a ghastly elevated road nowadays. Photos: Brad Peadon
Back in the days before local railfan hate destroyed a once great hobby, we used to arrange annual railfan days to visit numerous locations of railway interest.
One location during our 2010 event was Blumentritt station, haven ridden a new Rotem railcar set to get there.
A selection of photos below.
Attendees of the annual 'PRHS Railfan Day' resting at Blumentritt.
Sadly, we have lost two of these people since that day.
Jun Sanchez (light blue shirt)
Ben Exconde (closest to camera on platform edge)
Rest In Peace guys, you are both sadly missed. Photos: Brad Peadon
The LRT1 passes over the PNR just beyond Blumentritt station. Photo: Brad Peadon
A friendly smiling security guard.
I miss that being a thing in 2024. :-( Photo: Brad Peadon
The LRT1 passes over the PNR just beyond Blumentritt station. Photo: Brad Peadon
Back when the Rotem cars were still quite new. - Blumentritt station. Photo: Brad Peadon
We always welcome news, photos and small articles for inclusion on both this site and our parent group (see below). Please email us!
PRHS.Society at gmail.com
The Philippine Railway Historical Society and forums on Facebook and Yahoo groups have further information regarding these interesting railways and also a number of chat forums for those interested in all areas of Philippine transportation.
Our various forums have the latest news and information from a number of very knowledgeable people. Please join in with our PRHS family, learn about the railways of the Philippines and make new friends.
We now act as a information society, having removed ourselves from the badder elements of the Manila railfan hobby, existing to meet and help others with similar interests.
PRHS - Longest Running Philippine Railways group.
25 years of serving the Philippine railway hobby.
Brad
Australia
FREE PRHS RAILWAY PUBLICATIONS
The PRHS regularly publishes magazines (mostly ezines, but sometimes hard copies) covering different railway topics. Locomotive, rollingstock and transit updates, publications aimed at modellers and our occasional magazine 'Along Da Riles'. In the future, we are planning a number of other publications of interest to everyone, along with plans for a regularly updated database, and another plan that could prove to be a first for the Philippines. PRHS: Bringing a railfan hobby to the nation.
Want more information on the PRHS or have another Philippine railway enquiry?
Philippine Railway Historical Society
For all your Philippine railway information photos and chat, please visit our HOMEPAGE! Our group and activities are free - we are here to promote interest in the Philippine railways, make friendships and help with information. We are not a fundraising group and do not ask for funds. Do you support the past and future of the railways in the Philippines? Come chat with us atPRHSFacebook.We look forward to meeting you.
