OPERATION ADOBO #6

A November 2011 Trip To Manila.

I know I have been slack with my blog posts again.
I've been busy with my Filipino shop since my recent return, along with a couple of new projects to build a PNR database and the long planned HO scale model railway based on Manila.
I have also been working hard to get a new PRHS service up and going to help modellers in the Philippines avail themselves of cheaper modelling options. This being by way of free freight to the Philippines through an occasional Balikbayan box. Obviously every peso counts for the locals, so why not give the chance to help with zero freight cost and the ability to buy second hand models for far less than brand new?

I am always looking for new ways to help my wonderful railfan friends in the Philippines and, along with local British ex-pat Phil Clark, am very proud of this new idea.

ANyway, enough rabbiting on with excuses, below is the first lot of shots from our recent trip.
Sadly the weather was a bit chronic at the start, but they do get better.

The railfan day certainly got off to a dark, gloomy and wet start.

It was a day to meet lots of new friends and catch up with many old ones.
Roberto, Mark, Rodney and Adrian I have know since the last trip, while Phil and Tessie (above), Brian and Michael (Philippine Railways Railfan Group) and many other new people also turned up on the day.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have so many great friends so far away. Many people are lucky to have one or two locally. You guys are all much cared about.

Wooohoo finally got to see one of PNRs new twin-level sleepers.
Great looking beasts and part of the new PNR lineup.
Also got to meet PNR boss Mr Ragragio, Mr Nierva (head of the Transportation division) and the lovely Ms Emma Papa. All do a wonderful job with the nations railways and all true examples of how wonderful Filipino people are.
Thank you so much guys - I miss you.

Heavy rains delayed trains at Pasay Road.

Another highlight, getting CMC-201 out on the tracks on perway duties.

CAR-2 on the Bicol Express. Last time I saw her was 2010 on the Bicol Commuter Train to Sipocot and Ligao.

Creek Bridges - Sucat To Alabang

Howdee all, as part of my plans to build a model railway based on Manila, I asked members of the various forums for photos of the creek crossings.

Thanks to Gat Gontok of the Philippine Railways Railfans Group who actually got up pre-dawn to help me (maraming salamat Gat) I ahve got some great ideas for the proposed canal on the layout.

The following is a few examples of the shots he sent.
More will be on our new PRHS Modelling Group website, which is currently available through our similar Aussie groups site.

http://smutgroup.wordpress.com

I hope these are of interest to people - they were for me.

~~ PRHS Video ~~

Transportation Videos of the Philippines.

PNR - South To Libmanan - 2010

902 'Pride Of The Fleet' Departs Tutuban

~~ MALACANANG GARDENS LINE ~~

Klarence Pitoc has brought up the Malacanang Gardens line today which set me Googling again.

At first wondering how it could have got there from Pandacan, but then decided to revisit the fuel branch again.

Continuing on from the terminal it does seem there is an obviously likely route for the balance of this line.

See green line below for what I assume to be the case - Corrections welcome.

~~ THE BRANCH LINES OF PANDACAN ~~

While not a huge amount is currently known about them, we are aware that there were a number of lines in the Pandacan area, the only one that's ROW is confirmed being the one to the fuel terminal.
Some recent discussions on the PRHS Yahoogroup lead me to have a bit of an initial look at the area via Google Earth (sadly the Philippines do not have something comparable to our local NearMap) which gives a reasonably good look at the area.
Below are a selection of images found so far, both original and marked.
Of greatest interest is what appears to be intact sidings still in the fuel terminal which, if looks don't deceive, would be well worth an official visit to try and cover photographically.
Has any local ever walked this line in its entirety and given it a full photographic survey?

The final two photos show what looks very much like another ROW on the opposite side of the PNR mainline and working its way to a large warehouse on the river bank.
Does anyone know what this warehouse is now, or what it was previously?

The junction from the PNR mainline (red) just north of Pandacan station.

There appears to have been at least one siding opposite Pandacan station which survived, covered in squatters, until the recent rebuild.

Second part of the Pandacan branch, showing the terminal sidings and a possible extra bit on the end with an opposed facing siding.
Below is a clear view of the sidings area, outlined in yellow.

The Mystery Branchline?

Actually we are unsure if it (below) even was a branchline, but is certainly looks to be the case.
Branching off a little closer to the river than the fuel branch, it heads in the other direction for some distance, before a clearly defined curve and another straight toward a large factory on the river bank.

Again, has anyone done a photographic survey of this section?

Does anyone know who the current and/or previous owners of the large factory are?

Any information on both of these lines would be greatly appreciated

If your interested in the railways of Pandacan, or any other historical railway discussion about the Philippines came join our FREE PRHS Yahoogroup. Our group also contains the latest news, information and photography from the Philippine railways.