The Infrastructure Series Continues.
PNR Infrastructure: A 2010 Time Capsule Brought to You by Sweat, Rain, and Questionable Life Choices
Ah, the Philippine National Railways — where the clackety-clack of the tracks meets the soothing chaos of Metro Manila traffic. This mediocre excuse for a gallery is a collection of railway infrastructure shots taken way back in 2010, before everything started morphing into sleek glass, steel, and whatever else the modern world insists on using these days. Back when things had character. Or at least rust. Lots and lots of rust.
Yes, dear readers, these images weren’t just plucked from the comfort of an air-conditioned SUV with a selfie stick. Oh no. They were earned. Braved traffic that seemed to operate on its own laws of physics, danced between jeepneys like a contestant on a low-budget game show, and endured both the baking tropical sun and torrential downpours — sometimes within the same hour. All for the noble purpose of capturing signals, bridges, stations, and whatever track-related thing happened to be nearby before they got unceremoniously replaced with “progress.”
You’ll find a beautifully random mix of guff here — because let’s be honest, there was no master plan. From old (and sadly rebuilt) stations that have seen more ghosts than trains lately, to trackwork that may or may not pass any modern safety standards, it's a visual tour through a PNR that was charming, gritty, and wonderfully inconsistent back at the time.
So, if you're the kind of person who prefers nostalgia with a side of oxidized metal, you’re in the right place. Feast your eyes. Or at least squint politely.
You’re welcome.
Philippine Railway Historical Society Group
Since 1999 - Promoting Hobby & Moron-Free Friendship
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The main entrance to the Tutuban railway station.
Note above the doorway is the short lived Filtrack livery of the era.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
Our 2010 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' railfans day saw us have a stopover at the modernized Blumentritt station.
That structure above is the LRT1 station of the same name.
Last photos I saw had all the track through here gone. Not sure if the station is still there, as they have been removing some of those.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Interesting board inside the Caloocan Railway Workshops.
I wonder how many of those employees are still there in 2025?
Photos: Brad Peadon
East wall of the Tayuman loco shed.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Outside the Tayuman loco shed.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Sipocot railway station (Bicol Region) after the arrival of the Bicol Commuter from Naga.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Lineside dwellings at Sipocot.
Photos: Brad Peadon
A very interesting shape for a sleeper.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Dwarf signal in Tutuban that I can't recall ever seeing work.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Looking south from the second Paco station (see below).
The former Cavite line used to junction here, running through where all those unit blocks now are.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
The second Paco station had been replaced by a third and was in the process of being demolished.
In the lower shot you can see the orange Filtrack era orange awning of the new station, and beyond that the original station is where the failed construction work is seen.
Photos: Brad Peadon
There was a temporary southbound platform on the right side where the Paco station sign is seen. It was totally removed before the second station building thats just visible at left.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
Two more shots of the former (2nd) Paco station location.
If you search the site you will find photos of it I took in 1999 when operational.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and three below.
The extremely busy Pedro Gil Street crossing.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
The site of the original Paco station, a beautiful building that has been trashed over the years despite many plans to revitalize it.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and three below.
The AH26 highway crossing at Calauag is Quezon Province.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and three below.
Pamplona station are area surrounding.
Photos: Brad Peadon
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PNR Management & Staff.
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