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.
Indeed, that change did come, and the bulk of these images cover the new suspended lines in Manila, which are believed to be gradually getting ripped out as part of a project to build an elevated line.
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, many 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
Enjoy!
These posts will appear on the blog all during 2025.
Don't mention it, my pleasure.
Interested In All Things Philippines? We Have Heaps.
I can't say I've ever seen an illegal one closer to Tutuban than Sta Mesa.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
Officers election posters at Espana (above) and Tayuman (below).
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
Tutuban yard looking away from the station.
The future of all seen here is not looking great. I've been told that the control tower and rollingstock shed are to be obliterated. While wanted rollingstock and trackage are planned to be road hauled south for further use.
I guess that big white building in the background shall remain :-)
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
The former Laon Laan station.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
The Tayuman loco shed fuel point at the north end of Tutuban yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
Locomotive Renewal Parts book for obtaining urgently needed loco spares.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
Above and below, are a few more shots of the fuel point area outside the Tayuman loco shed.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
Above and below.
Brand new level crossing equipment is being installed near Paco station.
Pedro Gil Street
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
The third Paco railway station with the remains of the historic original one visible on the left at the rear.
Despite announcements of plans for the original station over a decade ago, there does not yet seem to have been any preservation progress.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)
Above, and the rest below.
A selection of shots showing the once-important Pasay Road railway station.
At the time, the third platform road was solely used for the occasional storing of perway vehicles, and more recently EMU stock.
Hello, folks of the interwebs, welcome to the second part of our 2010 Hondagua coverage!
Regular visitors to the site and forum will know I've returned to the beautiful town of Hondagua in Quezon Province many times. Once home to a sprawling rail yard, Hondagua remains one of the most scenic spots along the remaining Philippine National Railways line.
This two-part series showcases photos from my 2010 visit— the last time the station building would be fully intact. On a later visit, a local told us that PNR had begun modernizing the structure but abandoned the project before it was completed.
A heritage disaster up there with that which occurred at Lucena.
Hondagua Station, located in the province of Quezon, Philippines, was inaugurated on May 10, 1916, marking a significant expansion of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Main Line South. This extension connected Padre Burgos to Calauag, threading through the scenic landscape of southern Quezon and establishing Hondagua as a key stop on the route.
As part of the Main Line South, Hondagua Station served both passenger and freight traffic, supporting the growing economic activities of the region, especially during the early 20th century. The station’s establishment not only improved connectivity for towns along the route but also played a vital role in facilitating trade and transport between Quezon Province and Manila.
Today, while train services are not currently operating, the sad remains of Hondagua Station stand as a historical reminder of the PNR's expansion era, echoing stories of journeys taken across the archipelago by rail and underscoring the enduring importance of rail travel in the Philippines.
Interested In All Things Philippines? We Have Heaps.
Are you interested in the fascinating sugarcane railways on the islands of Negros and Panay (Philippines)?
We have started a new specialising in this topic, aimed at local historians, railfans interested in these railways, and people with a general interest in the industry.
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.
