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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 Railway station. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Railway station. Show all posts

Sunday, February 2, 2025

2010: SPOTLIGHT ON GUMACA AREA (QUEZON)

 



Howdee, and welcome to the 25th year of the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society', a celebration of a quarter century of existence.
We will be looking back on those 25 years later on in the year, but most of this year will be spent looking back on our massive 2010 visit.
Due to the huge variety of photos taken during the 2010 trip, we will be separating the different subjects into various posts over the next 12 months. 

Locomotives - Rollingstock - Infrastructure
Railcars

If you find an interest in non-railways topics in the Philippines, you are invited to check out our 
Semi-Retired Foamer Travel Blog


Interested In All Things Philippines? We Have Heaps.
Check out our new Link Tree site.



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  Gumaca Railway Station is located, not surprisingly, in the town of Gumaca in Quezon Province, Philippines. It is part of the historic southern line and once played a significant role in the region's transportation system. The station was part of the Manila-Bicol railway line, operated by the Philippine National Railways (PNR), which connected Metro Manila to the Bicol region in the southern part of Luzon.

  Historically, Gumaca Railway Station was an important stop for passengers traveling to and from the southern parts of Luzon, and it was one of the key stations in Quezon Province. However, like many other stations along the line, it saw a decline in service over the years as road transport became more popular and rail services in the region were suspended or reduced.

  In recent years, there has been plans to revive and improve the various railways of the Philippines, including plans to rehabilitate and expand the rail network. This includes potential improvements to the Manila-Bicol line, which could lead to a revival of stations like Gumaca, though the specifics of such projects are still in the planning stages.
  To my knowledge, passenger train services only get as close at Lucena (to the north), and Sipocot (to the south).

The station itself, as of now, remains a point of historical interest, albeit in a very poor condition. It's one of the remnants of a once-thriving rail system that connected different provinces across Luzon.
  Today though, the station has declined much further than what appears in my 2010 photos. The awning has all been removed, as has some of the station walls (2016 Google photo below).
  Going by recent experience with the railways heritage disinterest (Ragay station a case in point), and how the station is currently, it is likely that any reopening will see this historic structure obliterated for something modern and far less visually appealing. 


In 2010, what was left of the station awning was in appalling condition. 
Evidently it must have become a safety concern and later removed (see below)
Photo: Brad Peadon



Above and below.
The south end of the station building.
Photo above: Brad Peadon
Photo Below: Google




Looking towards Manila, there was a second track under all that guff to the left.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Wider shot of Gumaca station.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Passengers have boarded the next train to depart Gumaca.
Photo: Brad Peadon



A good look at the details under the awning for any potential modellers out there.
Photo: Brad Peadon




Though it would have pointless turning up there in 2010, well even now in 2025, Gumaca was obviously the timetabled crossing location for the two Bicol Express services.
Right on the stroke of midnight no less.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Whoever owns that washing is going to be less than impressed with any train that may have passed by.
Not much danger of it at the time though.
Photo: Brad Peadon



The Manila end of the building.
Photo: Brad Peadon



Crossings of the Maharlika Highway (AH26) around the Gumaca area..
Photo: Brad Peadon



Maharlika Highway (AH26) taken from a level crossing.
Photo: Brad Peadon
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Video Above: Plaridel Station (Quezon Philippines)


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MrX, Nhing, and Onyo.
Tanggol Lao (PNR)

Philippine National Railways Management & Staff.
wikipedia.org









Interested In All Things Philippines? We Have Heaps.
Check out our new Link Tree site.

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Philippine Railways Historical Society (Since 1999).
Come join the longest running Philippine railfan group.




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Saturday, December 21, 2024

2010: PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PT2



2010

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.
Check out our new Link Tree site.
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Hitachi crane sitting in Tutuban yard Manila.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c) 


Espana station looking south.
Today a massive elevated road sits above this now-closed section.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c) 


Track joint at Espana.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c) 


Patiently awaiting the next train at Espana.
They would be waiting a long time nowadays.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c) 


An officially sanctioned PNR sled at Espana.
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.
Photo: Brad Peadon (c)





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MrX, Nhing, and Onyo.

PNR Management & Staff.
wikipedia.org




Website. 


Interested In All Things Philippines? We Have Heaps.
Check out our new Link Tree site.

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Are you interested in the fascinating sugarcane tramways and industry on the islands of Negros and Panay?
You are invited to come join the new forum looking at a very little covered part of Philippine industry.






 

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