2010: PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE/PEOPLE PT1
2010
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
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