See you in 2008!

Thanks to all the contributers to the Philippine Railways SIG website, blog and forums.

Mindanao LRT!

Exciting times in Mindanao.

Photo:

Manila LRT enroute to Baclaran during October 2007. Jeffrey

(Philippine Railways SIG)

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A memorandum of agreement on the proposed Davao LRT has been signed by the Mindanao Business Council, Davao Integrated Development Council, MCC Capital Inc (A financial institution based in the UK) and local government areas in the Davao region.

It is expected that the new LRT system will serve built up areas of the coastline at Davao City, as well as Davao delSur and Davao del Norte. The system will ultimately be 60 kilometres in length and be a 'build, operate, transfer' type project.

Gradually Turning Pinoy!

I am often told this by all the Pinay lovelies I regularly hang out with.

Quite the honour really, and helped along greatly by my recent flirt with disaster, trying a balut. Yep managed to keep it down and thus make half my asawa's family sick in the process (they are mostly turned off by the thought of this delicacy).

One of my new years resolutions this year is to learn Mahjong, a game very commonly played in Australia by the Philo population and one that, until now, has quite frankly baffled me. To be honest, after a few hours lessons last night I am still in a bit of a cloud and suffering from severe thinkers headache.

However one is determined, I will learn it gradually. Afterall, just photographing PNR is not getting me to far through my 'Becoming Filipino Course' is it :-)

Brad

PNR's Grand Ol Lady!

So what is the oldest 'Philippine National Railway (or predecessor) locomotive still in operation today?

The oldest locomotive still in existence would be a title of honour to the semi preserved 114 (ex 107, ex 3502) sitting at Lapaz station on the former Panay Railway, however this locomotive has not run for quite some years. Built in Japan as one unit in a class of four during 1963.

Next oldest locomotive type is the 2500 class, the first lot of which, 2501-13, were built in 1965. While some of these still exist, all are out of service at Caloocan, officially 'awaiting repair' but really excess to need.

This leaves 902 as the oldest operational locomotive still seeing regular daily use in the Philippines, either shunting the yard around Tayuman and Tutuban, or doing a occasional shuttle to Alabang, San Pedro or Binan.

Built by General Electric as their #39239 in 1973, she was one of five members of the first U15C type to work there. This particular type stand out from their near identical U14C and later U15C sisters due to a larger radiator grill area to the rear of the locomotive.

Of her sisters:

901: Scrapped

903: Heavily stripped, still in red livery.

904: Believed to be the now heavily stripped 908 at Caloocan. Large radiator seems to help confirm this.

905: Scrapped

Despite her years of service in this harsh environment, she still looked in quite good condition, externally at least.

Surely she would have to be a prime contender for preservation, as the only operational member of her class. Only a major fault would warrant replacing her with 903.

Heres hoping she somehow weathers the modernisation and finds a job in the new railway system.

Brad

Narrow Gauge Downunder - Philippine Article!

Issue #28 of Australias 'Narrow Gauge Downunder' magazine has an article on the Philippine National Railways by Brad Peadon (owner of this blog site).
The article looks at the situation there as of March this year, just prior to the commencement of clearing operations.
If your interested in purchasing a back issue feel free to check out the Narrow Gauge Downunder website. Apart from the Philippines, the issue is full of other interesting narrow gauge topics from Australia and elsewhere. It is always well worth a read - numerous times.
NOTE: The cover shown is issue #27.