CALOOCAN WORKSHOP TRAVERSER - AUGUST 2022

2023 is looking to be the year of change for the 'Philippine National Railways'.

It was recently announced that the rail services around Manila, and down to Calamba, would be closed for a period of five years for elevated road construction (yeah road).

Details have been light at best. It is not clear whether there will still be rail access for transfers to Tutuban and Caloocan.

Depending on what report you wish to believe, Tutuban yard will see some severe changes during this period, while Caloocan Workshops may finally see the redevelopment first expected to be commenced some years back.

Last August I visited a number of railway locations in Manila. Expecting these developments, I went to extra special lengths to cover more than has been the case previously.

Philippine Railway Historical Society TV

August visits showing soon. 

To start the 2022 series, I thought it was time to give the Caloocan Workshop traverser a good going over.

A few years back there was talk of a new workshop being built down in Laguna. 

To our knowledge, nothing has commenced construction wise and, even if the project does happen, it is probably unlikely to include this 1989 built traverser.

Photos: Brad Peadon (PRHS)

KYOSAN KOGYO

1989

FUKUSHIMA JAPAN

Photos: Brad Peadon

Looking west along traverser.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Newly painted 52 122 goes for a ride on the traverser.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Looking east along the traverser.

In the background is the new elevated road that follows above the PNR right of way.

Sadly this construction lead to severe damage to the original Caloocan station, as well as the disappearance of the last semaphore signal in the country.

Both being significant heritage losses.

Photos: Brad Peadon

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Caloocan Workshops Content 

Click Here.

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Many thanks to Mark Chua &

Philippine National Railways.

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  In the sixth part of our series, we will take a look at what was in Caloocan Railway Workshops during a visits a decade, and more, ago.
Much of the passenger rollingstock has since been scrapped, while others still survive in 2020.
Thank you to the 'Philippine National Railways' for your ongoing support. Most especially, PNR General Manager Mr Junn Magno.

Please support the PRHS by checking out some of our website advertisers here. All we do is done voluntarily and checking out the ads helps a little with the costs.
Salamat Po.

  We shall also take a look at some rollingstock there back in 2004 and 2007.

3 Feb 2010
Class	Numbers	Type	Notes
_12	_801	Dining	From Japan and not yet used at this time.
_900	906 911 913 914 917	Loco
_900	920 921	Loco	920 Bent Underframe
_2500	2535 2540	Loco
_5000	5003 5004 5006 5007 5008	Loco
_5000	5008 5010	Loco	5010 last locomotive in red livery
BC	507 561 580 588 590	Freight	Boxcar
CMC	_374	DMU
CTC	_154	DMU	Being scrapped
FL	44 542 3070	Freight	Flat wagons, both outside
GC	_120	Freight	Gondola Car (Open Wagon)
IC	_888	DMU	Inspection Car
MCBP	_4	DMU	Pieces following scrapping
PC	_286	Passenger	Presidential Car (Marcos)
TA	_5	Passenger	Last of her class
	Copywrite 2020		Compiled By Brad Peadon (Philippine Railway Historical Society)

Inspection car. Only saw outside the workshops on my first trip in 1999.
Following that first sighting, it found itself in the dark blue livery, but was stored by the time of my visit in 2004.

The 7C was becoming a rarity even in 2007.

MCBP-4 was the last of her type and would be scrapped three years later.

12 801 is a dining car that was donated by Japan.
It had not seen use at the time of these 2007 photos.

Above two shots show CMC railcars in the smaller workshop building back in 1999.