Photos Are Copywrite. Please Ask Permission To Use And Credit Correctly.

It is indeed an exciting time to be part of the rail industry of the Philippines, whether it is a passing interest, an obsession (I'm guilty), or if you work on rail, the last couple of years has seen old rail services upgraded and restored, as well as all new lines being built, on a scale not seen since the early days of rail in the country.
The national rail operator, 'Philippine National Railways' has been a big part of this and, through the great leadership of GM Junn Magno, we see a system on the mend and gradually returning to it's rightful place in the Philippine transport industry....on top.
I have been incredibly fortunate to be a part of the rail scene there since 1999, having been blessed with many good people who have made me welcome in my second home. Sadly, distance means I cannot attend everything, but thanks to these people I am always able to share in the bigger moments.

One of those 'BIGGER' moments occurred yesterday with the brand new, Indonesian built, DMU set arriving in Manila. This is the first of a number of new items that includes a brand new locomotive and rollingstock.
My mate Mark has generously supplied us with photos and video footage of this historic event. Enjoy!!

Note: Related videos are down below the photos.

For those of us who are fleet researchers, this first set in numbered as follows.

K3 3 19 01 (HC)
K3 3 19 02 (TC)
K3 3 19 03 (HC)

K3 (Third Class) 
3 (Hydraulic) 
19 (Year of Build)
01 (Unit Number)

In regards to the 3.
In Indonesia, 1=Electric, 2=Diesel Electric and 3=Hydraulic.

Mark on the scene.

Offloading - Official 'Philippine National Railways Photo

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Offloading - Official 'Philippine National Railways Photo

VIDEOS

Footage of initial trials in Indonesia.
Video courtesy of PNR.

Footage of unloading in Tutuban yard.
Taken by Mark Chua.

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All photos taken by 'Mark Chua' unless specified.

All remain the property of the owner and are used with permission.

Thanks to Reynante Bulaon and Nurman Candra.

Photos Are Copywrite. Please Ask Permission To Use Or Alter.

  Caloocan Workshops has seen it's fair share of historically important rollingstock over the years, but for this century, there has been none  more important than that PC-286 'Kalayaan'.

  Believed to have been built in Japan (can someone confirm the builder?), it was originally numbered PC-777.
 The 777 is apparently significant in that '7' was the favourite number of President Marcos. The same number was carried by the presidential bus, as seen here in a photo from Mark Chua's collection.

So why the number change?

Marcos was removed from power in February of 1986 (or 2/86) and it is believed the number change was made soon after. As such, it is unlikely that he would have ever been in the carriage under it's current designation.
'Kalayaan' is Filipino for 'Freedom', obviously also aimed at the fall of the former president. While the name is in official 'Philippine National Railways' computer records, I have not seen any evidence that the carriage has actually ever carried it.

Today the carriage resides in Caloocan Workshops, and has done so for all the 20 years I have been visiting there. Records say that it was in Manila Yard back in late 1988, but it is unlikely it was used post 1986.

Below are a selection of detail shots I took, with a view to building a model should measurements ever come forward.
Following those, I am indebted to my friend Mark Chua, who recently went and took some exclusive photos inside the carriage.
All thoughts of it being filled with money, jewels and the First Lady's shoe collection, have been well and truly dashed :-)

Overall view of the Presidential carriage, along with north wall of 

the main workshop building.

A huge thanks to Mark Chua for sharing these important 

internal photographs with us.

Thanks also to Ap Cal and John Tickvah.

Earn some extra Pesos for that Jollibee dinner. Timebucks.

Caloocan Workshops - Pt3

The third thrilling installment in our series celebrating the last 20 years of the famous Caloocan Workshops in Manila.

This traverser was built in Japan back in 1989, replacing one that was built in the United Kingdom back in 1908. I have been generously sent some photos of the earlier traverser, which I hope to include in a future installment.

Kogane 59 railcar while undergoing a extensive refurbishment.
This work has since been completed, with photos having appeared on this blog and our Facebook group.

The following images show the elevated office 

area of the workshops and views from same.

If you missed them, previous parts in this series 

can be found here.
Part 1

Part 2

In coming weeks we shall work our way back towards 1999 and beyond.

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