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. _ _
G'day regular readers, and those who may have stumbled here completely by mistake.
I am currently partaking in the mammoth task of going through and cataloguing all my Philippine photos from 2009 and 2010. This is part of a much larger task to get through 80,00+ shots taken from 1999 until recently in 2022.
While many shots form a theme in blog posts, there are also many that really just don't lend themselves to that. However, I would still like to share them with people who have an interest. After all, that's what the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' has always been about.
So, while going through this process, all these photos have been getting placed into three different categories on the site.
Locomotives - Rollingstock - Infrastructure/Other
All three will likely be multi-part, due to the sheer amount of times I pushed my poor old worn-out shutter buttons.
Ultimately, I just hope they are of interest.
Builders plate off U14C locomotive 914.
One of many plates Engineer Besmonte has preserved in his office at the time.
Photo: Brad Peadon
U15C 908 (originally 904) sure had seen better days when I captured here at Caloocan Workshops.
Below she is seen on one of the former tracks outside the main workshop, stripped of anything that can be reused and waiting for the gas axe which was very near in her future.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Poor ol U14C 906 looks a bit unbecoming without her nose.
Photos: Brad Peadon
U15C (GE 39240 of 1973) 903 at Caloocan Workshops was the last locomotive to still wear (sort of) the 'Philippines 2000' version of the red/yellow livery.
In 1999 she was noted as out of use at Tayuman shed. Soon after she was hauled to the workshops and be gradually stripped prior to scrapping.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Some detail shots of U14C (GE 41855 of 1979) 913 at Caloocan Workshops.
Photos: Brad Peadon
U14C 911 awaiting some TLC at Caloocan.
She is still waiting in 2022.
Photos: Brad Peadon
U6B 5005 (4754.5 of 1992) rests in Tayuman locoshed (Manila).
Photos: Brad Peadon
Shunting around Tutuban yard in Manila.
5009 (GE 4754.9 of 1992)
5002 (GE 4754.2 of 1992)
Photos: Brad Peadon
A wee bit moist in Tutuban yard. Photo: Brad Peadon
Tiaong is a railway station in the Province of Quezon (Philippines). While the station currently sees four services daily to San Pablo (soon to extend to Calamba) and Lucena, most of the station itself has been removed and current services are served by small stairs.
Timetable below.
This was my first visit to Tiaong, well, that's if you don't count screaming through in the rear of a Raymond Transportation bus being driven by a crazy man :-)
Alas, unlike other locations explored on the trip, there was very little left of Tiaong station. However, on the flip side, there was a lot more than in many other locations
Remains of Tiaong railway station and platform.
Photo: Brad Peadon
A lovely local outside the remains of Tiaong railway station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
A sleeper from the time John Holland rebuilt the south line.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Looking towards Manila from Tiaong station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Looking towards Bicol from Tiaong station.
Photo: Brad Peadon
PNR stamped into another 'John Holland' rebuild sleeper.
Thanks to that delightful virus, it seems so very long ago.
Indeed, at the time of this trip, I would never have dreamed that it would be the last time I could return to the Philippines until 2022. We had been getting used to being back in the routine of at least one annual visit, sometimes two.
Anyway, that guff is all quite irrelevant to the article.
While partaking in my twelfth visit, we were blessed with an invitation from the 'Philippine National Railways' to visit the DESCO Engineering factory in Binan Laguna.
For it was here that they were rebuilding my beloved U15C 902, along with sister unit 913, and we were able to photographically cover progress of historical reasons.
Part of the agreement of the visit was that the photos would not be used until after these two locomotives were finished. While they were completed, and back in service, some time ago, it was just recently that I confirmed the ability to share.
I am very excited to be able now to show the photos of this very interesting part of PNR locomotive history.
Due to the nature of these shots (they must be unaltered in any way), any desire to use 'needs' permission to be granted. You can contact the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' at the email address on each image with details of where, and how, you wish to use them and I can follow up with the relevant organisations.
Please try to respect their generosity in allowing us to bring this part of Philippine railway history to you.
Mark Chua (PNR, PRHS, GMA Star) is seen on arrival at the DESCO factory.
Behind you can see the underframes, and cab, of 902 and 913.
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
Left: U14C - 913
Right: U15C - 902
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
A big moment for me, seeing my pride and joy getting the TLC she so deserved.
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
DESCO sure does a wonderfully thorough job on these rebuilds. The locomotives come out looking like they just rolled out of the GE factory.
See the video at the bottom of this article.
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
The long hoods off locomotives 902 and 913.
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
Cab of locomotive 913.
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
Under U15C #902
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
The control stand out of either 902 or 913.
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
Left to right:
Myself, Mark, Rene (DESCO) and Edwin (DESCO).
A truly great group of people were met at DESCO, and it was quite a privilege to have been allowed to view the wonderful work they do there.
Photo: Brad Peadon (PRHS Collection)
Thanks To:
The management of the 'Philippine National Railways', in particular then General Manager Junn Magno and Atty Ces Lauta.
The management and staff of DESCO Engineering (Binan, Laguna), in particular manager Rene and Kuya Edwin.
Members of the Philippine Railway Historical Society.
We always welcome news, photos and small articles for inclusion on both this site and our parent group (see below). Please email us!
PRHS.Society at gmail.com
The Philippine Railway Historical Society websites and forums on Facebook and Twitter, along with our YouTube channel, have further information regarding these interesting railways and also a number of chat forums for those interested in all areas of Philippine transportation.
Our various forums have the latest news and information from a number of very knowledgeable people. Please join in with our PRHS family, learn about the railways of the Philippines and make new friends.
We now act as a information society, having removed ourselves from the badder elements of the Manila railfan hobby, existing to meet and help others with similar interests.
PRHS - Longest Running Philippine Railways group.
26 years of serving the Philippine railway hobby.
Brad
Australia
FREE PRHS RAILWAY PUBLICATIONS
The PRHS regularly publishes magazines (mostly ezines, but sometimes hard copies) covering different railway topics. Locomotive, rollingstock and transit updates, publications aimed at modellers and our occasional magazine 'Along Da Riles'. In the future, we are planning a number of other publications of interest to everyone, along with plans for a regularly updated database, and another plan that could prove to be a first for the Philippines. PRHS: Bringing a railfan hobby to the nation.
Want more information on the PRHS or have another Philippine railway enquiry?
Philippine Railway Historical Society
For all your Philippine railway information photos and chat, please visit our HOMEPAGE! Our group and activities are free - we are here to promote interest in the Philippine railways, make friendships and help with information. We are not a fundraising group and do not ask for funds. Do you support the past and future of the railways in the Philippines? Come chat with us atPRHSFacebook.We look forward to meeting you.
