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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.
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Showing posts with label Caloocan Workshops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caloocan Workshops. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

CALOOCAN WORKSHOPS FAREWELL 2025 - PART 1

 




Yep, I know we have been at the 'last visit' stage before.
In fact, I had visited just over a year prior and didn't actually have plans to do so again this year.
The main basis of this trip was a week worth of historical (railway) research stuff based on the sugarcane railways of Negros Island, Occidental and Oriental. This originally only allowed a couple of days in Manila before flying out.
However, a few extra days in Manila, and the news that things seemed to be moving with the closure of the workshops, made for a change of mind and another visit.
In recent years I've aimed to try to record things that I had previously ignored in favour of locomotives and rollingstock. This time I tried to concentrate on the buildings, signage, machinery, and other infrastructure.

There have been many PNR general managers over the 26 years I have been recording the Caloocan Workshops.
However there are a couple I really wish to thank for their assistance in allowing my to cover the final years of this incredibly important and interesting railway location.

Firstly the current  GM Mr Deovanni S. Miranda for granting me permission to visit this year, and at quite short notice.
A huge thanks also to former GM Jun Magno who granted me official permission to cover all the railways before things changed. All of these opportunities have now proved to be very important and allowed me to compile content to share with everyone for years.
Also thank you to Ms Joseline A. Geronimo, Ms Celeste D. Lauta, Ms Emma Papa, Mr Edward Manapol, Mr Estelito Nierva, Junio Ragragrio (former PNR GM), Mr Esperedion Regulto, and the many other managers and staff who have been so kind to this visiting PNR supporter over more than two and a half decades. 
Maraming salamat everyone.



View from the rear of the smaller workshop, looking north towards the entrance and traverser.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Above and below.
Former Japanese Kiha railcar 52-127 may have seen her last days in use.
Photos: Brad Peadon




Former Japanese railcar bookended by two Rotem built carriages.
Photo: Brad Peadon




Of interest in this shot is the fact those yellow chairs are actually from the Presidential Carriage PC-286.
During my last visit this historic carriage was used as an office to the left of where I was standing here.
Today she sits at Tutuban station and will appear in an upcoming video on my YouTube channel. 
Photo: Brad Peadon





Above and below.
DMR-09 which was badly damaged in a collision north of Caloocan on a Bicutan to Gov Pascual service back in September 2022.
Train Set #6 - DMR-09 ITR-06 DMR-06
Further details in the PRHS forum back at the time.
Photos: Brad Peadon






 Above and below.
A massive array of parts needed to help keep the great Philippine National Railways running.
Photos: Brad Peadon





Above and two below.
920 is another accident victim that has been donating many usable parts over the years to help keep her sisters in service.
Sadly she has long since turned her wheels for the last time.
Photos: Brad Peadon






 There's though Marcos Car carriages again.
Photos: Brad Peadon
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The videos above showcase the old Caloocan Workshops, an integral part of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) infrastructure, which first opened its doors in 1906. Since its inception, this facility has played a pivotal role in the maintenance, repair, and construction of rolling stock, crucially supporting the operations of the railway network in the Philippines, especially in the greater Manila area.

Over the years, the workshops have adapted to meet the evolving needs of the PNR, making significant contributions to the development and upkeep of the country's railway infrastructure. However, with the gradual reduction of the railway system's scale, the prominence of the Caloocan Workshops has also diminished.

Note that despite the thumbnails, it was not to be our last coverage of the Caloocan Workshops.
This is further evidenced by this new series compiled from our recent 2025 visit which, for the 4th or 5th time, seems definite to be the last with movement having started on it's being wiped out.


#semiretiredfoamer

Thursday, July 6, 2023

2009-2010 (AND BEYOND) RANDOM ROLLINGSTOCK / DMUs PT2



With Google signally some changes to their photo archives, and no clear actual answer as to what form this will take, I am making a big attempt to wind up a lot of blog posts that I have been putting together for future use.
This weekend will see a number of posts published to get it all out there before the Google changes take effect and the site images put at risk.
All photographs will still be available on our PRHS Facebook group.


FL-61 at Lucena.
Struck me as an unusual classification for what is essentially a GC carriage.
Photo: Brad Peadon


FL-1 at Tutuban.
Above: Builders plate (Japan 1962).
Below: carriage with framework on top.
Photo: Brad Peadon



FL-61 at Lucena complete with it's own ecosystem growing on board.
Remains of old up platform at right.
Photo: Brad Peadon


PC-286 (Marcos Car) Presidential carriage at Caloocan.
At the time it was stripped bare inside, but was found in use as an office in the smaller workshop by 2022.
Photo: Brad Peadon


12-801 Restaurant carriage in the Caloocan Workshops.
Photo: Brad Peadon


NR-03 in the Caloocan Workshops.
Photo: Brad Peadon



NR-04 in the Caloocan Workshops.
Photo: Brad Peadon



FL-542 in the Caloocan Workshops.
It was recently noted in cement sleeper use at Calamba near the start of July 2023 (see photo below).
Photo: Brad Peadon


FL-462 FL-542 at Calamba some thirteen years after the previous photo.
Photo: Jay-Ian A. Palacol


  BC-590 in the Caloocan Workshops.
Photo: Brad Peadon


  NR-02 in the Caloocan Workshops.
Photo: Brad Peadon


  FL-636 in the Tutuban Yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon


  CMC-372 was part of a fast dying breed of once common railcar when photographed at Tutuban.
The pitched roof was to deter the illegal squatters from using the trains to dump their garbage.
Photo: Brad Peadon


 CMC-380 in the Tutuban Yard (Above & Below).
Photo: Brad Peadon



 CTC-153 (trailer version of CMC) in the Tutuban Yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon


 Caboose FCD-8 in the Tutuban Yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon


BC-622 at Lucena station in Quezon Province.
Photo: Brad Peadon



FL-256 (another unusually coded carriage) at Lucena station.
"Hondagua Division' is the lettering.
Photo: Brad Peadon


A spotlessly clean ROTEM railcar set departs Tutuban station for Alabang.
Photo: Brad Peadon



ITR-04 in Tutuban Yard back in happier days.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Another spotlessly clean ROTEM railcar set departs Tutuban station from Alabang.
DMR-07 ITR-04 DMR-08
Photo: Brad Peadon



Something I only noticed recently was the naming on BC-583.
Franklin Baker Co is a business still exists in San Pablo. It is has been a maker of coconut products for over 100 years and must have once railed products out of it's lineside plant in San Pablo.
I've tried to contact them for further information. However, as is not unusual for businesses there, I have just been ignored. Great public relations right there  :-)
Photo: Brad Peadon



BC-571 (above) and BC-508 in Tutuban yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon





BC-583 in Tutuban yard.
Photo: Brad Peadon


IC-888 (Inspection car) in Caloocan Workshops.
Below is a selection of internal shots of this great carriage.
Photo: Brad Peadon







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Thanks to:

Mark Chua and Jay-Ian A. Palacol
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Promoting the past for the future.