Photo Comp June 2020

Railway Stations

I was so happy to see some wonderful entries in the first 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' photographic competition.
The competition was an experiment, mostly to bring something new to the group during these dark virus times that have greatly slowed our hobby and heritage plans in Manila.
It is expected that the photographic competition will be bi-monthly and we welcome ideas for future topics.

Below we have the first, second and, multiple, third winners. I've also included some other 

shots that stood out.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

WINNER: Mark Chua

With the most votes, this photo of a new INKA DMU at Alabang station.
Am happy to see PNR's newest attracting so many likes.

2nd Place: Jared
A very interesting look at the old San Pedro station.

There were numerous photos in 3rd place.

These are shown below.

Canteen LRT station.
I like this due to the imagination, and humour, that lead to it's inclusion.
Photo: Klarence Paul M Pitoc

Tutuban
Photo:Mark Leus Masangcay

I am wrapped to see the following two photos, primarily because Hondagua is my favourite Filipino railway location. The yard was huge and, most interestingly, had a large triangle that served the local flour mill.

The mill still exists, but sadly it no longer uses rail.

Jessie's photo shows the station when it still had the awning and roof.

Photo: Jessie Javier

Beautiful Hondagua, looking towards Manila, with the sea to your right.
Photo: Klarence Paul M Pitoc

The impressive Legaspi station at the end of the line in Bicol.
Photo: Ej Cel

921 and an INKA DMU at Tutuban.

Photo: Dirk Paul Celoso

INKA and ROTEM DMUs meet at Tutuban.
Photo: Mark Leus Masangcay

Finally, I want to add a couple of others that I feel should get a mention.

Please note that these are in 'no order' other than the file name when saved.

There is so much to love about this shot.
The station, while being quite big in size, is literally dwarfed by the huge maze of roads, on so many levels, above. The fact that it is a night shot, makes it even more impressive.

Photo: Regi Teopi

A very imaginative photo showing a ticket with a 1G vehicle in the original livery, with a real one at Tayuman station behind.
Mark sent in a few of these showing various operators, all of which I hope to use in a future MRT/LRT status update.
Photo: Mark Leus Masangcay

Wow!!!!
That is all I can say about this night shot of the original Tutuban station. I think we all dream of this once again being the main station.
Photo: Mark Leus Masangcay

A great general view of a modern day PNR station (Sucat), taken by a local fan who I know has great pride in his station.
Photo: Aldriene Mabale

While not a photo, I have long loved the artistic 

talent of Fremel.
Artwork: Fremel Bernal

A wonderful photo, taken at an angle that really portrays the new INKA DMU in a powerful way, thus reducing the impact of the usually overpowering freeway above.
Photo: Guillermo Karlo Angelo Juan III

.Thank you to everyone who contributed to the June photographic competition.

There is no doubt that the photographic talent in the Philippines is getting better and better.
All members of the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society', and sister group 'Philippine Association of Rail Enthusiasts (PARE)' are invited to join in with future competitions.
NOTE: Winners are judged based on the amount of likes (or similar), so everyone is encouraged to vote for their favorites.
HOWEVER: All Philippine photos are great and I consider every photographer there to be a winner.

Brad Peadon (PRHS)

It occurred to me last week that the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' had reached another milestone, this time being the PRHS blog ticking over 200,000 views (not including my personal views).

The blog started in 1999, primarily based on the Tripod website platform, and lasted until Tripod decided to make themselves a paid service should you wish to continue.

We are a group that aims to 'freely' share Philippine railway information with the world and grow the hobby. There was no way we were going to go down the paying path, so an alternative needed to be found.

So it was that we came across Blogger (Google), where you are reading this today. We had already surpassed 60,000 viewers on Tripod, a figure (rounded down to 60,000) that we use in our counting to this day.

Our blog site has been the one constant in this endless world of change. While our websites, and our forums especially, have changed. Our blog continues on, sharing information and helping build a community of like minded fans who share a passion for the railways (and other local transport) of the Philippines.

There has been the usual ups and downs over the years, with trouble-making railfans being a worldwide phenomenon. But they come and go, eventually realising that their efforts to destroy others are futile.

The blog did suffer from some disinterest, thanks primarily to the haters in the hobby, between 2012 and 2017, this meaning it has taken just over twenty years to reach this milestone.
However, renewed interest in 2017, saw it relaunched and it now is aimed at being a major part of new heritage and hobby promoting plans currently in the formation stage, as well as a conduit for Philippine transport information.
This revival is in no small part due to my dear friends Arvin, Mark and Reynante, who showed me that there really is good in the hobby.

The hobby is what we make it.

From here the PRHS blog will continue on, expand into new areas and ideas, but will continue on it's prime mission of promoting, and supporting, the 'Philippine National Railways', other Filipino rail operators and taking the hobby to the world.
We will continue to widen what we do and continue to publish items of interest.
If you have any contributions, photographic or otherwise, please do email us.

As part of the aim to build a Philippine hobby, last year we partnered with the local 'Philippine Association of Rail Enthusiasts (PARE)', a locally based group started by Justin Torrejas.
This is a first for the PRHS. we have been involved with many groups over the years, but, until now, have never felt an official partnership was in order.
Justin, like myself, has been the subject of ridicule and attacks in the past. Yet he moved beyond that and set up a local railfan group that promotes the same ideals that the PRHS has always tried to.

I have achieved much since starting out on this journey, but seeing a local group like PARE really justifies all that I have gone through.

In 1999 I was told that I would never start a railfan hobby in the Philippines.

I took it as a challenge :-)
I am pretty proud of what I have done in a country that I never knew until I was 30, and a country that has become my second home.
Mahal kita Pilipinas.

Interested in being part of us?

We have numerous websites and forums for those with a love of Philippine transportation.

Philippine Railway Historical Society Website

All our news and free publications.

Philippine Railway Historical Society Forum

Our main Philippine railway chat forum. News and history.

Philippine Railway Historical Society Page

Updates on all areas of our hobby and rail news.

PRHS Transportation Forum (No Railway)

Road-Air-Sea Transportation news and photos.

PRHS Transportation Modeller

Modelling all facets of the Philippines.

PRHS Association of Philippine Train Researchers

Railway Chat from Outside The Philippines.

PRHS Philippine Jeepney

All the jeepney news, photos and chat.

PRHS Philippine / Australia Aviation Fans

Plane info from Australia and the Philippines.

A huge thank you (maraming salamat) to all our supporters over the past 21 years. We look forward to being here for you in the future.

Please support us by visiting our blog advertisers.

Pili - Late Renato Perdon Collection

With PNR GM Junn Magno
The man instrumental in the current rebuilding of the nations railways.

Dinner with the 'PH Model Railroaders' group.

Long live the real jeepney.

Mark at my 20th wedding anniversary party.

The late Bill Sullivan, PRHS Vice-President and my greatest source of motivation.

LRT-1 Readies Mobile App

LRT-1 1016 With LED Desto.

PNR Timetable - July 24th

CALOOCAN RAILWAY WORKSHOPS

VIDEO SURVEY - DECEMBER 2018

 With the future of the historic Caloocan Workshops under a cloud due to pending redevelopment, the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' was generously granted permission to visit to photographically record the buildings.

  We would like to thank PNR General Manager Jun Magno and his team at the 'Philippine National Railways' for allowing us the honour to record this for history.
Railway heritage is something new to the Philippines and, despite a few setbacks from people with personal agendas, it is wonderful to again be raising awareness, and making a tangible difference, yet again.

  The railway history of the Philippines is worth fighting for.

Below is a two part special for 'Philippine Railway Historical Society TV' covering these amazing workshops back in December 2018.

If you are interested in being part of our group, click here.
Check out our website here.
Or our regularly update blogsite can be found here.

Caloocan Video Survey Pt 1

Caloocan Video Survey Pt 2

Lets save history for future Filipino generations.

Howdee readers,
  This trip was very last minute, originally not expected until early in 2020.
  However, a trip to Manila is never knocked back and, despite all efforts to make it a quiet one, my second home has thrown up many important things to do.
  Most readers would be well aware of President Duterte's massive efforts to 'Build Build Build' and how this is greatly benefiting the railways of the country. There is so much going on that it is proving quite hard to keep up with it all.
  However, the train hobby is also seeing some major developments, something I have been pushing for over 20 years through the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society'.
  These developments are varied and in their early stages, so while I am unable to say a huge amount now, when I can all members will soon know. I am just honoured that my 20 years of efforts is finally seeing some change for the better in our hobby, change that will benefit Filipino railfans now and in the future.

MABUHAY.

  This will be the first of a small series showing images from this trip, mostly they will be transport, and transport hobby, related.

A visit to the office of my friend, and PNR GM Junn Magno is always much enjoyed.
Mr Magno has a passion for rebuilding the nations railways that would inspire anyone. He also has a love of railway history here and that shows
in the work he does.
  More than just the railway industry, a talk with him motivates me to work harder in the hobby. Something I used to get from our late PRHS VP Bill Sullivan.

One building that stands in the way of the upcoming progress is the rollingstock shed at Tutuban.
New standard gauge tracks will soon come barreling through here and this building will be one of a number of casualties, another large shed and a elevated control tower also to go.

Mark Chua.
I have been coming to the Philippines for just over two decades and this guy has been part of that for at least half that long. Always there to help this foreigner experiencing the railways he grew up with and loves, there is no words to thank him enough.
Mark achieved his dream of working on the PNR and, as such, now earns a living doing his hobby. Something most of us only dream about.
All rail operators, worldwide, would benefit form staff as passionate as he.

Combining both my loves, trains and jeepneys.
Like the narrow gauge PNR behind it, the future of the jeepney also looks quite grim, with governmental moves to gradually wipe this icon from the street of the Philippines.
  While I know a huge part of the population will be sad to see them go, I personally feel their demise will be ripping the soul out of Manila.
Still, I am a foreigner and not entitled to my opinion on government decisions, no matter how correct said opinions actually are.

Oh yes, arguably PNR's most historic surviving vehicle.
The very last, PNR owned, four-wheeled boxcar.
I am personally pushing for this one to be removed from here, restored and placed on display somewhere safe. This would, by far, be the oldest vehicle in ownership of the national operator and desperately needs a safe home.
Stay tuned.

CTC-174 has managed to hide from me on recent visits. I had actually thought she was gone until the other day.
The CMC/CTC railcar sets were built in Japan, but are now very close to extinct. Despite mass scrapping, there is still enough to make up a set should a museum proposal gain legs and occur. This, despite the debacle of 2007-2010, is still a possibility.

My mate Mark doing what he was born to do, protecting 921, and it's load of passengers, as it passes Yuseco crossing on it's way to Alabang.

Philippine National Railways - 127 years of serving the nation.
I am proud to have the PRHS associated with them.

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Next part will cover the 'Philippine Model Railroaders' Dinner.
Stay tuned.

HONDAGUA - QUEZON, PHILIPPINES

Opened: 10th May 1916 as part of the extension of the south line from
Padre Burgos to Calauag.
This is the first of a multi-part series on the location.

Image courtesy of Google Earth and used under Google guidelines.

Area 1 in above Google Earth image.

PNR Engine Crew Dormitory.
Structure is believed to be haunted by people killed during the war.

The last of the 1956, Japanese built, observation cars.
Today it lives in semi-retirement at Hondagua and occasionally used on perway duties.

FL643 is one of many of her type across the PNR system.
This one being allocated locally for perway duties.

Hondagua station building (more shots of the structure to follow)

Builders plate on the former observation coach above.
Niigata Engineering Co Ltd - Japan 1956

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Area 2 in above Google Earth image.

Former leg of triangle serving the 'Philippine Flour Mill' at Hondagua.

STAY TUNED: More images from our recent Hondagua survey.

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Want to know whats happening?

PRHS Group - For all the latest news on the railways of the Philippines.

Thanks to Mark Chua