Well, well, well... here we are again.
It has been quite some time since I last inflicted another instalment from one of my entirely official (at least in my own mind) expeditions along Metro Manila's MRT-3. A curious combination of factors managed to derail the series: the increasingly spectacular antics of a handful of intellectually-challenged local railfans, the previously documented theatrical performances of certain overzealous security guards, and, if I'm being fair, a period where my enthusiasm for Philippine railways took a back seat to rather more important personal matters.
Of course, there remains the occasional expert who confidently declares that looking back at older photographs serves no purpose because "it's all exactly the same." An interesting theory, particularly considering the countless changes that have taken place over the years. Thankfully, I maintain a rather obsessive filing system that ensures the same photographs never appear twice on this site. Imagine the horror of accidentally recycling old material.
Then again... perhaps I should simply upload the same galleries every few months. It would certainly save me the countless hours spent sorting, researching and preparing these articles for what is, let's face it, an audience that occasionally appears to regard such efforts with all the enthusiasm of a three year old Balut.
Anyway... enough of the pleasant conversation.
Opened in December 1999, the MRT-3 was built to provide rapid transit along the perpetually congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Metro Manila's busiest arterial road. Stretching almost 17 kilometres between North Avenue and Taft Avenue, the line quickly became one of the city's most heavily used transport corridors, carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers each day. Despite enduring years of overcrowding, maintenance controversies and enough political drama to fill several television series, the MRT-3 remains one of the most important pieces of transport infrastructure in the Philippines and an endlessly fascinating subject for railway enthusiasts.
Today's journey takes us from one end of the line to the other, pausing at several stations that caught my attention along the way. This trip also marked my second—and, sadly, final—Philippine railway adventure with the legendary Mr X, who, unlike myself, never quite succumbed to the incurable disease known as Philippine railway enthusiasm. Nevertheless, it was an excellent day out, soaring backwards and forwards above EDSA like a startled dog that had just discovered, rather too late, that sitting on a hot barbecue plate was perhaps not one of life's better decisions.
050 at Ayala station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
View from Ayala MRT3 station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
070 at Ayala station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
052 waiting for departure from Taft Avenue railway station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Inside 052 before departing Taft Avenue.
Photo: Brad Peadon
018 leads across Manila's 'Sydney Harbour Bridge'.
:-)
Photo: Brad Peadon
Take note PNR Security Guards.
See the security guard here?
He notices me taking a train photo.
He notices me taking a train photo.
He realises I am just taking a photo.
He decides to mind his own business
Be like him!
Photo: Brad Peadon
009 takes on passengers at Guadalupe.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Manila's mini 'Sydney Harbour Bridge' over the Pasig River at Guadalupe..
Photo: Brad Peadon
009 and 071 pass at Guadalupe station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
027 and 069 on various other runs stopping at Guadalupe station.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Class leader 001 at Araneta -Cubao station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
012 in the same spot.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
035 and 040 at Aranteta-Cubao station.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Now it is 064 at Araneta-Cubao station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
009 leads another train into Araneta - Cubao Station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
It takes a bit of patience, but if you wait long enough it is possible to get an LRT2 over an MRT3.
Araneta - Cubao Station
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
035 and 036 at North Avenue station, the lines northernmost station at the time.
Photos: Brad Peadon
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Video Above: MRT3 at Mandaluyong.
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