Celebrating 20 Great Years

Of The PRHS.

It is hard to believe I have been running this for 20 years.
There has been many ups and downs, people good and repugnant, but as we move into this very important milestone we find ourselves not only going strong but bigger than ever before.
  The blog has been rather quiet in recent times, however, I find my interest returning after taking a large beating earlier this decade. To mark both the anniversary and this return, we will be taking a look back at the last 20 years.

As part of the 20th anniversary, we have published a special full-colour special issue of 'Along Da Riles' that will be distributed to rail operators, as well as those fans who have done so much to help me over the years.
  I am hesitant to mention them all here as I am sure I will miss many people.

Of course there are my close mates Rey, Arvin, Mark and Aris who constantly make it easier for me to keep up, despite being a few thousand kilometres away.
  Then there are all the wonderful contributors to our 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' group. Far too many to mention here, but we are lucky to have some of the countries best rail historians amongst us.
Finally, a HUGE thank you to the managers and employees of the 'Philippine National Railways' who have patiently put up with my love of what they do. I have always said that PNR had great days ahead and, thanks to the amazing efforts of Sir Jun Magno, those days are finally being realised.

Stay tuned during our 20th anniversary year

2019

as we look back on the last 20 years.

Mabuhay!

Two locomotives that have disappeared over the last 20 years.

903 had finished her days as an operational unit when I first arrived in 1999.
By the time I returned in 2004, she had been taken to Caloocan to be stripped and, subsequently, scrapped.
  Her demise left only 908 (formerly 904) above and 902 as the only Mk1 U15C locomotives in the fleet.
  Time was running out for 908 though, she was also in Caloocan by 2004 and being stripped. She managed to survive until around the end of the decade before her last remains were scrapped. Before the final chop, her cab was removed and I am told utilized on another locomotive.
As for the last survivor, 902. She is the subject of the PRHS logo and still exists today. She was out of service for work in May during my most recent visit. However, she is receiving some much needed TLC and will again serve the nation, as she has done since 1973.

Brad Peadon - PRHS Founder

~~ HISTORY REDISCOVERED ~~

G'day one and all.

Last weekend I started a extensive cleanup/downsizing of the railway collection in preparation for a pending move of residence. Have also collated all the records of the RIHSPI(ANZ) for disposal as parted of a long drawn out process to wind up everything officially.

In one box I found a number of long misplaced shots that I have been looking for. Their disappearance leaving a big gap in my early photography of the Philippine railways.

Below are a few shots from this collection that may interest.

Ooooh so much has changed.

2532 had the distinction of being the very last in the reverse version of green and yellow.

Her days are certainly numbered in this shot at Caloocan Workshops.

2509 also had seen better days by the time I came across her. Wearing the more standard green/yellow scheme, this bunch of scrapping wiped out all but one wearing these colours, the survivor still exists to this day.

921 (919 at other end) is seen at Tayuman station. They were being used on the shorted Caloocan and Espana shuttle services. The early 2000s would see both the livery and these services end.

Argueably one of the better liveries worn by PNR diesels, the red with yellow lining was not a long survivor. Introduced around the time of the new 5000s, it was worn also by a few 2500 class and all surviving 900s.

At this time, only 5010 survives in the livery, but is stripped at Caloocan workshops and the first of her class considered beyond economical repair.

When I took this shot I had no idea it would lead to many years of trying to find out the history behind 916. No builders lists include her, no record of her having actually been delivered actually exists.

2007 finally revealed the answer we had been looking for. She was originally U14C 908 and had been renumbered after the killing of an army persons son. This sad occurance leading to revenge attacks on the locomotive whenever seen.

Interestingly enough this discover lead us to another, as yet unsolved, mystery of why there was still a 908. While we know the second one was 904, we are not sure how she came to be renumbered. Yet....

The second 908 (originally 904) during her final moments of life. She would soon go to Caloocan, where she would sit of many years, slowly being robbed of parts, until her rotten carcus was finally scrapped in 2009.

Another photo I have clearly shows here U15C Phase One origin, with the large radiator grill at the end of the long hood. The original 908 had the smaller grills associated with the U14C and Phase 2 U15C of Philippine National Railways.


These were indeed great times to be a fan of the Philippine National Railways.

Employees were friendly and the system so open to those with an interest. Sadly it is not so today and visitors to the main railway yard can be expected to be treated with suspicion by security guards - railfanning still appearing to be considered a highly unusual past time.

However much opportunity still exists to shoot modern railcars around Manila at the local stations, or a more friendly atmosphere down south in Naga. That alone makes the trip still worthwhile.

~~ FROM THE PERSONAL FILES ~~

Howdee all,

Am gradually going through all the old boxes and boxes of railway guff to find what is in there.
Here be one of my first shots of the PNR and of a locomotive that is impossible to photograph in this condition anymore.

Ol 908 was awaiting repairs back here in 1999, but by 2004 was beyond economical repair at Caloocan workshops and severely stripped.
As of June 2009 she was still sitting out the back of the shops, with cab and short hood gone, severely stripped of anything salvageable. Given she was like this in 2007 it is a wonder she hasn't become a Korean car by now.

Maybe she could become a good testbed for a trial rebuild.

It should be noted that 908 was originally 904, with 916 the original locomotive to carry this number.