wheel of steel, do you still have the information with the Northrail and Southrail Phases and the timetables? I'm interested in hearing news about the NR-SR Linkage Project as well as Southrail.

I am sure WoS put this on the thread earlier. It would be in the later half of Northrail-Southrail Thread II.

Hope this helps
Brad

Isn't that what the Linkage Project will do? So when the Northrail and Southrail is completed, including the Linkage Project, people will be able to travel from Bicol to say...Clark without a hitch? Or are they different platforms?

As of February the plan was that you would have to change trains. This is for no other reason other than the systems are operated by different operators.
In reality, if PNR and Northrails relationship actually improves over what it was early in the year, perhaps an agreement could be struck where only the hook and pull power changes and passengers could remain in joint stock carriages.
This would assume the longer distance trains are loco hauled, it would be harder with DMUs where crews for each operator would not be trained in the other vehicles.

Obviously for any serious attempt to be made at freight around the country some sort of track access or hook and pull agreement would have to be reached. Otherwise you would be returning to the old ridiculous days of transhipment between trains that once held back our railways.

Brad

^^ I'll be gone for a while for a while to pick my asawa!!!:lol: Maybe alcogoodwin will help you... Later I'll repost it again those Northrail-Southrail Phase and project description.... baboooo!!!:cheers:

Don't be late for her Wheels, I know only to well the trouble one cops when a little late to get her at work :lol:

How is that APEC meeting affecting life in Sydney? I heard they have boxed-in the meeting area...
?

Bit of a mess.
Bus services are cut short and roads cut in many spots. The huge fence around the city is making it hard to get to previously inaccessable locations.

For me its easy. I don't have to go near the city until we pull it out on Sunday :)

Brad

Brad: haha.. Well it looks modern alright.. :lol: but it does look like a gymnasium. I'm sorry guys. Just voicing out what I feel. They could have done a better design.. :D

Believe me, I agree with you.
I don't like many modern designs myself and far prefer the older Philippine stuff.
Sadly I am in the minority so I learn to live with it :lol:

Failing that there is always :cheers:

Brad

Was informed tonight that as an Aussie I am unable to get dual citizenship for Australia and the Philippines. :ohno:

Best I can do is get the asawa to have dual citizenship and then I can have an immigrent VISA which gives me benefits like being able to work there and stay as long as I went (ie: live there).
Don't think it allows me to own land there though.

Buggar :( My wife always tells me I am a true Pinoy, I had hoped to make it official.

Brad

^^ Well, we Filipinos are having a hard time getting Aussie citizenship as well, I guess our countries should start exploring "better relationship"...:lol:

^^Tell that to GMA. :lol:

^^Tell that to GMA. :lol:


Can I have her cellphone number please? :lol:

I wonder how they will design the Northrail bridge along "Candaba swamp"...

I hope they reinforce the foundations in the areas prone to flooding, the railway could be an important means of bringing in relief goods during calamities... wish they make it an all weather transport...

Can I have her cellphone number please? :lol:

Hello Garci??? :rofl:

Can I have her cellphone number please? :lol:

^^ Brad! Ingat ka baka ma Hello Garci ka dyan! :lol:

sweet.. great picture updates! finally conclusive evidence of the work up north.. i cant believe the speed that the posts are coming.. hehe..

I wonder how they will design the Northrail bridge along "Candaba swamp"...

I hope they reinforce the foundations in the areas prone to flooding, the railway could be an important means of bringing in relief goods during calamities... wish they make it an all weather transport...

^^ Definitely any rebuild of the Northrail in this portion would be designed to be elevated. Although they can put a trapezoidal enbankment, increase risk of erosion are more common. So if the designed call for a viaduct, the best option is to put a concrete pile in the likelihood of NLEX Viaduct in Pampanga...

sweet.. great picture updates! finally conclusive evidence of the work up north.. i cant believe the speed that the posts are coming.. hehe..


^^ Pile boring is common now mainly used for vertical construction. It offers a great solution for foundations requiring fast and deep excavation. Bore the soil up to its strata (the hardest portion of the soil) and erect the prefabricated reinforcement and fill cement... Tha'ts it.. Older fashion use pile, inthis case it really takes time and time is matters when a huge project like this..

As of February the plan was that you would have to change trains. This is for no other reason other than the systems are operated by different operators.
In reality, if PNR and Northrails relationship actually improves over what it was early in the year, perhaps an agreement could be struck where only the hook and pull power changes and passengers could remain in joint stock carriages.
This would assume the longer distance trains are loco hauled, it would be harder with DMUs where crews for each operator would not be trained in the other vehicles.

Obviously for any serious attempt to be made at freight around the country some sort of track access or hook and pull agreement would have to be reached. Otherwise you would be returning to the old ridiculous days of transhipment between trains that once held back our railways.

Brad

^^ Yup, that's right, DMU's have different system. But with the loco hauled, there is a good chance that we can have a seamless ride from Clark to Bicol to Matnog.. If that happens this will be a great opportunity for long distance travellers. They will not question the fare as long as they feel confort in their travel....:cheers:

^^ Well, we Filipinos are having a hard time getting Aussie citizenship as well, I guess our countries should start exploring "better relationship"...:lol:

Our extremely pompous and irritating foreign affairs minister was talking to that ANC news presenter on 'Mornings @ ANC' saying that he wants more Philippine students coming out here for university.
We have hundreds from Indonesia, Malaysia and elsewhere, but he said there really needs to be a lot more Filipinos.
I agree with him. Sometimes its hard to find 20 for the karaoki nights :)

Brad

^^ Brad! Ingat ka baka ma Hello Garci ka dyan! :lol:


Chito, my Tagalog is limited to about 30 words only.
Saddly none of the 30 words were amongst the above :)

Brad

sweet.. great picture updates! finally conclusive evidence of the work up north.. i cant believe the speed that the posts are coming.. hehe..

Your telling me. The last couple of days has been slow, then today about four pages in an afternoon.

Still its with good reason, everyone is excited by the Northrail photos.

Brad

^^ 1 photo speaks a thousand words... It means that only photos can generate a thousands of comments, posts and replys....:lol: :banana:

wheel of steel, do you still have the information with the Northrail and Southrail Phases and the timetables? I'm interested in hearing news about the NR-SR Linkage Project as well as Southrail.

By NorthRail Corp.
Northrail Phase 1 (From Tutuban to Malolos) - Feb. 2010
Northrail Phase 2 (From Malolos to Clark) - Dec. 2010
Linkage Phase 1 (Caloocan to Alabang) - June 2008

By Philippine National Railways (PNR)
Linkage Phase 2 (Alabang to Calamba) - June 2009
Southrail Phase 1A (Calamba to Lucena) - Dec. 2009
Southrail Phase 1B (Calamba to Cotmon to Legazpi) - 2011
Southrail Phase 2 (Cotmon to Matnog) - 2013

Might Start If Funding Available

By NorthRail Corp.
Northrail Phase 2 (Clark to Subic)
Northrail Phase 3 (Caloocan to Fort Bonifacio)
Northrail Phase 4 (Clark to La Union to Ilocos)

By Philippine National Railways (PNR)
Cagayan Valley Railways (Caloocan to Balagtas to Cabanatuan to Tuguegarao)
Panay Railways Phase 1 (Ilolo to Roxas)
Panay Railways Phase 2 (Roxas to ???)
Mindanao Railways Phase 1 (CDO-Iligan)

Pipelines..
Calamba to Batangas Line
LABART (FTI to Calamba to Sta. Cruz to Mauban Line)

Don't be late for her Wheels, I know only to well the trouble one cops when a little late to get her at work :lol:

^^ :lol: ^^

^^ I wonder why the Northrail is still looking ways to widen the tracks from Caloocan to Malolos. Although this is already confirmed but why are they still opting to get more ROW when infact we can already fit 6 tracks in this Malabon ROW..

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1023/1308748968_f1de7ef97c_o.jpg

Now theres a great idea. We also have garbage trains that are sealed and run from Sydney to the south. The waste is being dumped in an old mine if I remember correctly.
Ours runs with around 30 carriages a couple of times a week. 100 carriages is an awesome amount of rubbish. Do they dump it underground or just on a massive pile?

[QUOTE=wheel of steel;15145315]^^ The original plan is that every container van that will be dropped to Manila port will be brought by rail to FTI and distribute it to the truckers... Unfortunately it didn't went click because apparently they find it that there were lots of traffic in that area and that the roads are quite small... As a result, ICTSC went on action and finds Canlubang as their distribution point and vice-versa... At Canluband, truckers need not to go to FTI just to pick up...[QUOTE]

Yeah I think a location more closer to the old ICTSI one would be evn better. A company could get by with half the amount of trucks as two return trips could be done in the time it now takes for one (dependant on where in southern Luzon its coming from).
The savings on time and equipment would be a big bonus for the trucking companies, depsite the fact trains are being used for part of the way now.

Brad

Brad,

Is there a possiblity that those sealed container cars can be passed in an ordinary station? Have you experience one in Australia? In Japan, while I am waiting for my train ride down beneath the soil, one JR train passed by full of methane tanks cars. I couldn't imagine that JR trains share lines with JR freight in a subway? :lol: So I was opted that PNR can also do that. Thanks...

WoS

^^ Probably there a really big reason why Northrail really needs to be fenced. First of all, once the fenced erected, we can use it as a buleetin board and advertisement... It's really nice to see this fence painted and put equally spaced panaflex advertisements, let say 2m x 4m signboard. In nightime, you can really see it glowing and add lights to the railroad. Isn't it nice guys..

^^ I wonder why the Northrail is still looking ways to widen the tracks from Caloocan to Malolos. Although this is already confirmed but why are they still opting to get more ROW when infact we can already fit 6 tracks in this Malabon ROW..
]

Good question.
Can't imagine they would have a need for 6 lines unless they were planning on a yard there.
Its highly unlikely, but could they be planning just in case of the eventual possibility of standard gauging? It would be a very bad move unless all Luzon was done, but maybe they wish to be prepared for any possibility.

Then again it may be as simple as they are laying landmines well away from the tracks in case squatters return. :)

Brad

I would venture the right of way acquisition has got to do with certain bridge points and intersections.

Brad,

Is there a possiblity that those sealed container cars can be passed in an ordinary station? Have you experience one in Australia? In Japan, while I am waiting for my train ride down beneath the soil, one JR train passed by full of methane tanks cars. I couldn't imagine that JR trains share lines with JR freight in a subway? :lol: So I was opted that PNR can also do that. Thanks...

WoS

WoS,
Yep all our freight goes through stations and on the same tracks as the passenger trains in most cases.
Whether it be garbage trains, containers, fuel, coal, grain, steel, it all travels on the same tracks with no real restrictions unless something unusual is out of the normal loading gauge.
The garbage trains don't really smell. The cattle trains we got rid of ome years ago did stink (mabahu) terribly and you could smell them for ages after they past.
Normally you should find the freight will run on the same tracks there. UNless of course they choose to build a seperate line due to the amount of traffic.

Brad

WoS,
Yep all our freight goes through stations and on the same tracks as the passenger trains in most cases.
Whether it be garbage trains, containers, fuel, coal, grain, steel, it all travels on the same tracks with no real restrictions unless something unusual is out of the normal loading gauge.
The garbage trains don't really smell. The cattle trains we got rid of ome years ago did stink (mabahu) terribly and you could smell them for ages after they past.
Normally you should find the freight will run on the same tracks there. UNless of course they choose to build a seperate line due to the amount of traffic.

Brad

Brad,

Now I know, that's probably why there is no need for further tracks. Anyway a double track for now is enough to handle trafficks for a while. I thought before that trains passes stations in separate tracks, that's why I am very surprised of what I've seen in Japan!ha ha ha.... Well anyway, thanks another lesson was learned....:okay:

WoS

^^ Probably there a really big reason why Northrail really needs to be fenced. First of all, once the fenced erected, we can use it as a buleetin board and advertisement... It's really nice to see this fence painted and put equally spaced panaflex advertisements, let say 2m x 4m signboard. In nightime, you can really see it glowing and add lights to the railroad. Isn't it nice guys..

Just hope we can see that beautiful country beyond the fence.
I will never forget the amazing feeling when I travelled north out of Manila for the first time in 1999. The scenery enroute to Baguio was amongst the best I have ever seen. The Philippines is a very beautiful (maganda) place.

Brad

Good question.
Then again it may be as simple as they are laying landmines well away from the tracks in case squatters return. :)



:lol: :lol: :lol: But we still be open for any option to change the tracks from narrow to standard. Maybe Chinese Trains boggies can be converted into standard. Let's see...

^^ And also looking for a reason that they will build a trapezoidal enbankment, meaning the viaduct will occupy a lot of space below..

Brad,

Now I know, that's probably why there is no need for further tracks. Anyway a double track for now is enough to handle trafficks for a while. I thought before that trains passes stations in separate tracks, that's why I am very surprised of what I've seen in Japan!ha ha ha.... Well anyway, thanks another lesson was learned....:okay:

WoS


I am always happy to help.
Afterall you always are generous enough to help the rest of us.
Every one of us has something we can learn each day.

Anyway its time for me to head to sleep. Should be on the net around 5am (your time) again.
Have a nice sleep everyone.

Nite
Brad

^^ I dont know if this is viable or not. Maybe the reason why they want to widen the ROW is that first of all NorthRail is a different company to PNR, but it is using the ROW of PNR NorthMainline. In all cases that NorthRail would introduce a rapid express with its own tracks, that would make up about 4 tracks running parallel with each other. From Caloocan to Balagtas, the tracks separates into two. The other is going to Cabanatuan. If Cagayan Valley realized, probably it would be operated by another company let say PNR. This line would occupy at most 2 tracks (1 upstream and 1 downstream). This would make up at least 6 tracks running parallel with each other. What do you think guys....

^^ ok... goodnight every one, my asawa is looking na for me... he he he....:lol:

@ kalbongdad...

Thanks for the photos again daddy... hope more photos to come... it is really awesome that our imaginations are appreciated.:banana: ... goodluck.. c u 2m!

By NorthRail Corp.
Northrail Phase 1 (From Tutuban to Malolos) - Feb. 2010
Northrail Phase 2 (From Malolos to Clark) - Dec. 2010
Linkage Phase 1 (Caloocan to Alabang) - June 2008

By Philippine National Railways (PNR)
Linkage Phase 2 (Alabang to Calamba) - June 2009
Southrail Phase 1A (Calamba to Lucena) - Dec. 2009
Southrail Phase 1B (Calamba to Cotmon to Legazpi) - 2011
Southrail Phase 2 (Cotmon to Matnog) - 2013

Might Start If Funding Available

By NorthRail Corp.
Northrail Phase 2 (Clark to Subic)
Northrail Phase 3 (Caloocan to Fort Bonifacio)
Northrail Phase 4 (Clark to La Union to Ilocos)

By Philippine National Railways (PNR)
Cagayan Valley Railways (Caloocan to Balagtas to Cabanatuan to Tuguegarao)
Panay Railways Phase 1 (Ilolo to Roxas)
Panay Railways Phase 2 (Roxas to ???)
Mindanao Railways Phase 1 (CDO-Iligan)

Pipelines..
Calamba to Batangas Line
LABART (FTI to Calamba to Sta. Cruz to Mauban Line)

Many thanks! I had thought that both Northrail and Southrail were both under PNR; I didn't know Northrail was its own company. This would explain the not-so-seamless travel between the two railways (BTW, thanks for the explanation guys!)

^^ I dont know if this is viable or not. Maybe the reason why they want to widen the ROW is that first of all NorthRail is a different company to PNR, but it is using the ROW of PNR NorthMainline. In all cases that NorthRail would introduce a rapid express with its own tracks, that would make up about 4 tracks running parallel with each other. From Caloocan to Balagtas, the tracks separates into two. The other is going to Cabanatuan. If Cagayan Valley realized, probably it would be operated by another company let say PNR. This line would occupy at most 2 tracks (1 upstream and 1 downstream). This would make up at least 6 tracks running parallel with each other. What do you think guys....


I would assume that Northrail Corp would have a clause in their agreement where by PNR would not be able to build and operate railways on the same ROW, at least for the term of the current agreement.
This being said, if there was another branch to a town (towns) that Northrail would not be interested in and for some reason PNR thought it to be viable, there may be a possibility of them having a line with stations only on the new branch with an express line to Manila not picking up Northrail passengers anywhere.
This is just all possibility and bares no relation to any reality that I am aware of. I can't see PNR thinking such a thing would be viable to do, but if by chance they found an amazing coal outcrop there and want it railed, then who knows.
Personally I don't think they have any intention to use the whole formation for rail. They may beautify it and make for a lovely journey. They just don't want squatters trying to get anywhere close.

Brad

Many thanks! I had thought that both Northrail and Southrail were both under PNR; I didn't know Northrail was its own company. This would explain the not-so-seamless travel between the two railways (BTW, thanks for the explanation guys!)

Yeah it a bit of a shame it has worked that way and has been a source of friction within PNR ranks who have been pushing the 'We are the only people with a legal mandate to oprate trains' barrel.
While being a big PNR fan, I have to admit that two different operators with two different types of rollingstock is great for the railway photographer part of me. :lol:

Brad

@ kalbongdad...

Thanks for the photos again daddy... hope more photos to come... it is really awesome that our imaginations are appreciated.:banana: ... goodluck.. c u 2m!

aray ko.... daddy na tawag sa akin.......although i'm a dad...and my head is shaven......i'm not yet old...baka ....akalain nyo na malapit na akong maagnas....:lol:

aray ko.... daddy na tawag sa akin.......although i'm a dad...and my head is shaven......i'm not yet old...baka ....akalain nyo na malapit na akong maagnas....:lol:

^^ :lol: GOOD MORNING RAILROADERS!!! :lol: ^^

^^ This week, Nathan will once again update for the FTI to Alabang Relocation. I think there are a lot already packed up their things. Anyway this portion is not that much concrete so the demolition team can able to move quickly.

Personally I don't think they have any intention to use the whole formation for rail. They may beautify it and make for a lovely journey. They just don't want squatters trying to get anywhere close.

Brad

^^ This one I think is the best reason we can derived. To beautify things along the railway tracks is very unique among the railways here in S.E. Asia. For so long time, Philippine has been well known for having slums along the tracks. If it materialized... Wow!!! Passengers and Tourist will be totally stunned. Although there are beautiful railways specially in Japan and Malaysia, I can say that Northrail has an edge for them...

^^ Im calling the attention of the NorthRail administration to hasten the construction of the tracks because they are getting the high risk of developing it to an expressway from DPWH.. ha ha ha....:lol: What can we do....Nice Road!!!:nuts: :nuts:

^^ The Northrail Southrail informations and photos are just like an Stock Market where only 1 good news, bang!!! stock market shoots up...

The Northrail-Southrail III holds the record for breaking the most pages achieved per day at 5.... Congratulations

its really steaming hot!!! 5 pages per day! :lol:

good day N-S Forumers! :D

Magandang Umaga!!! :)

@el_dasik_001... we will wait for your pics of Binan area of the Linkage Ph. 2... I wonder if these areas are as worse as those in the NCR...

@WoS... your list showed the time of completion for the Southrail project phases... I wonder if you have the complete timetable which will also show the target start dates of the projects...

To sum up, after PGMA's term (c. June, 2010), barring any "unfortunate events" in N-S rail, the fully operational lines would be:
1. Linkage (Caloocan-Tutuban-Calamba)
2. Northrail (Caloocan-Malolos)... (Malolos-Clark completed in Dec. 2010)
3. Southrail (Calamba-Lucena)

Focusing on the Calamba-Lucena Section (S.rail Ph.1A), the relocation of informal settlers might not be a big hassle since there are lots of open areas in the provinces of Laguna (Los Banos, Calauan, Sn.Pablo) and Quezon (Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Lucena) which are near the rail tracks... I believe this portion might take a little over a year to rehab/upgrade.

I remember some years ago, I saw a small PNR depot/repair shop near Tiaong-Candelaria border close to the hi-way...

Magandang Umaga!!! :)

@el_dasik_001... we will wait for your pics of Binan area of the Linkage Ph. 2... I wonder if these areas are as worse as those in the NCR...

@WoS... your list showed the time of completion for the Southrail project phases... I wonder if you have the complete timetable which will also show the target start dates of the projects...

To sum up, after PGMA's term (c. June, 2010), barring any "unfortunate events" in N-S rail, the fully operational lines would be:
1. Linkage (Caloocan-Tutuban-Calamba)
2. Northrail (Caloocan-Malolos)... (Malolos-Clark completed in Dec. 2010)
3. Southrail (Calamba-Lucena)

Focusing on the Calamba-Lucena Section (S.rail Ph.1A), the relocation of informal settlers might not be a big hassle since there are lots of open areas in the provinces of Laguna (Los Banos, Calauan, Sn.Pablo) and Quezon (Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Lucena) which are near the rail tracks... I believe this portion might take a little over a year to rehab/upgrade.

I remember some years ago, I saw a small PNR depot/repair shop near Tiaong-Candelaria border close to the hi-way...

^^ Nice dev't out there Lucentino, here in Albay the local authorities started ways to avoid housing along the tracks. Here in our town, instead of allowing slums to built houses, they build roads, actually low quality roads at 2 meters wide both sides of the rails. This make sense considering that before there are numerous activities here along the tracks.. Now, it was gone and I think NHA would not find it hard to repossed the ROW...

^^ Actually I don't know the exact date but my informant says that it will take at most 2 years before they finished, for example the Southrail 1A and they are scheduled for preliminary works this September. They will be conducting construction activities in several portions of the Line. Their priorities are bridges first and to be conducted in 8 locations.. and also simultaneous with the landscaping of the Right of Way... Immediately after they finished the bridges will be transfered to next phase which is from Lucena down South. It would take again 2 years to finish the line from Lucena to Legazpi. Another 2 years from Legazpi to Matnog....

^^ :lol: GOOD MORNING RAILROADERS!!! :lol: ^^

Goooood morning and welcome back.

This week, Nathan will once again update for the FTI to Alabang Relocation. I think there are a lot already packed up their things. Anyway this portion is not that much concrete so the demolition team can able to move quickly.

Looking forward to the update.
Since my mention of FTI the other day I have been told that the platform still remains for people wishing to get on and off. From the original report I got it sounded like the whole thing had gone AWOL.

Brad
** Today live from Burwood (for a change) as we are working on the Philippine section of the next e-zine.

^^ Nice @WoS! Just share your infos about Southrail anytime... to me, S.rail (Calamba-Sorsogon) is more interesting --- and should be prioritized by the gov't since this will benefit the larger population (from Calabarzon, Bicol, part of Visayas & Mindanao)...

Is your friend working at PNR? If he has good connections, perhaps you ask him for a weekly or monthly update... and for renderings of the S.rail stations when they become available... :)

^^ Nice @WoS! Just share your infos about Southrail anytime... to me, S.rail (Calamba-Sorsogon) is more interesting --- and should be prioritized by the gov't since this will benefit the larger population (from Calabarzon, Bicol, part of Visayas & Mindanao)...

Is your friend working at PNR? If he has good connections, perhaps you ask him for a weekly or monthly update... and for renderings of the S.rail stations when they become available... :)

^^ He works in NHA with friends at NEDA, the monitoring agency of the project. Yup, I will stick with him for a while since they have an up to date relocation activities. In Naga City, they are currently undergoing a census.

^^ In my analysis, I assume that LRT8 is part of PNR East Rail Line. In order to profitable the line must converge in a common terminal. In my design, heavy railways will converge in 3 major locations, Caloocan, Tutuban and Fort Bonifacio. Northrail as earlier assumed that it will be a separate line from PNR. NAIA will be connected to Northrail via a subway heavy rail line from NAIA to Fort Bonifacio. Passengers from Northrail will be able to transfer from these 3 terminals. Seamless travel from Bicol and Calabarzon to Clark cannot be realized but transfer points will also be provided by these 3 tranfer locations.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/1318138754_8da5997a99_b.jpg

^^ This one I think is the best reason we can derived. To beautify things along the railway tracks is very unique among the railways here in S.E. Asia. For so long time, Philippine has been well known for having slums along the tracks. If it materialized... Wow!!! Passengers and Tourist will be totally stunned. Although there are beautiful railways specially in Japan and Malaysia, I can say that Northrail has an edge for them...

I agree. The chance is there to make something beautiful, not just a railway.
I'm following it all closely, yet I still expect I will be stunned by the change when I return.

Brad

^^ The Northrail Southrail informations and photos are just like an Stock Market where only 1 good news, bang!!! stock market shoots up...

The Northrail-Southrail III holds the record for breaking the most pages achieved per day at 5.... Congratulations

We will be passing 1000 posts in a fraction of the time of Northrail-Southrail Thread II :)
Wait till they start building lines south of Lucena (and hopefully Batangas/Sta Cruz), we may reach 10 pages a day :lol:

Brad

I remember some years ago, I saw a small PNR depot/repair shop near Tiaong-Candelaria border close to the hi-way...

Lucentino,
Can you recall exactly what you saw at this depot? Was there any locomotives? What colour were they? Was there any track work rail vehicles there?
To my knowledge actual depots are located at Tayuman, Lucena and Naga.

Regards
Brad

^^ Nice @WoS! Just share your infos about Southrail anytime... to me, S.rail (Calamba-Sorsogon) is more interesting --- and should be prioritized by the gov't since this will benefit the larger population (from Calabarzon, Bicol, part of Visayas & Mindanao)...

Is your friend working at PNR? If he has good connections, perhaps you ask him for a weekly or monthly update... and for renderings of the S.rail stations when they become available... :)

Back in the late 90s I got a copy of the PNR employee newsletter.
I wonder if this is even still published. I imgine not with the money problems they have had.
Must look for it amongst the massive pile of boxes of railway junk.

Brad

Is your friend working at PNR? If he has good connections, perhaps you ask him for a weekly or monthly update... and for renderings of the S.rail stations when they become available... :)

One of the guys involved in the historical society, plus a family friend, is a manager at the PNR.
He gives me the occasional updates, but is only on the net irregularly.
I will of course pass anything of interest on. The last contact we had sounded positive for the Carmona line, they just wait for funding.
I'd like to know how bad the damaged bridge is that apparently keeps this line closed.

Brad

@wheel of steel...i'm having a hard time publishing my updates ...its got pics...i received an advisory that there is a problem on the int'l submarine cable where our uplink provider is connected....oks lang ba if i e-mail you the material and you post it yourself?....

Hello Garci??? :rofl:

"Hello Garci" is too "gasgas" *wow I sounded like a coño:lol:*

"Hello Papi" anyone? :)

About the Biñan station pic. Just hope my phone won't get snatched and the jeep is not crowded.. :D

@wheel of steel...i'm having a hard time publishing my updates ...its got pics...i received an advisory that there is a problem on the int'l submarine cable where our uplink provider is connected....oks lang ba if i e-mail you the material and you post it yourself?....


^^ :banana: Ok na ok daddy grooveee... :lol: O cge, Ill check it again and have some pictures post here of course courtesy from no other than Sir kalbongdad...^^

^^ If Naga - Legazpi commuter will be realized, I will add 5 pages sure per 1 day. Im sure guys, because someday I'm dreaming about Bicol along with other regions becoming an industrial place never to worry incase there are typhoons which really destroy our agricultural. Im dreaming also to have a good transportation down here to be led by railways......:banana:

^^ Actually guys you can add more lines if you want and lets try if it is viable because I believe that everytime we open this thread, probably somebody watches us and if he sees that it is important, maybe our dream will come true.

Regarding the COSCO in Sangley Point, there is always a possiblity of freightline to be connected to Subic... Im very glad that COSCO for their third visit decided to look for Subic aside from Sangley.. So there will be 2 locations now and that the probablity of planning a railway to be connected from FTI to Sangley must be studied now...

INSIDE THE SUPER TRAIN...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/1308891436_b1024ce34d_o.jpg

Guys,
What are your views on the seating arrangement?
I am guessing they are wanting to go for the most people that can bit fit into the space, but how logical would this be for more longer journeys?
Trains attract tourists who wish to see the countryside, but these seats mean there won't be many vacant sitting possibilities and all you will see is the people opposite you or standing right in front.
This sort of layout for short metro services is fine, but for longer rail journeys it is an unusual choice.

I mean don't get me wrong, if I was sitting across from four maganda Filipinas I would probably be grateful for these seats :lol: but if it was just a few Pinoys I would probably just want to see what is passing by.

I wonder if they will change it to the usual 2+2 arrangement? Admitedly the CMC/CTC cars are like this as well, but these remain within the Manila area.

Brad

^^ If in case this two industrial locations finally be realized, theres another one more.. The original Chinese LABART plan to open a railway system from FTI to Mauban eastern side of the Luzon. This one if realized would make the Philippines the no. 1 logistic center in Asia.. They will set a container terminal in Mauban also port for the ships enroute to the Pacific Side. Then Container Vans will be railed to FTI or Calamba wherever they wish to put up their enbarcation point...

@wheel of steel...i'm having a hard time publishing my updates ...its got pics...i received an advisory that there is a problem on the int'l submarine cable where our uplink provider is connected....oks lang ba if i e-mail you the material and you post it yourself?....


Don't you just love the strange messages you get when dealing with computers :lol:

Brad

Guys,
What are your views on the seating arrangement?
I am guessing they are wanting to go for the most people that can bit fit into the space, but how logical would this be for more longer journeys?
Trains attract tourists who wish to see the countryside, but these seats mean there won't be many vacant sitting possibilities and all you will see is the people opposite you or standing right in front.
This sort of layout for short metro services is fine, but for longer rail journeys it is an unusual choice.

I mean don't get me wrong, if I was sitting across from four maganda Filipinas I would probably be grateful for these seats :lol: but if it was just a few Pinoys I would probably just want to see what is passing by.

I wonder if they will change it to the usual 2+2 arrangement? Admitedly the CMC/CTC cars are like this as well, but these remain within the Manila area.

Brad


^^ Yap!! that's a good question. KTM commuter lines seating arrange doesn't look like this. They were all arrange as row. We'll anyway I wish that they could planned it very well... the inside stuff...:lol:

^^ Again, strange looking, what are those pictures above the seats.. It looks like a burger to me...:banana: :banana:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/1308891436_b1024ce34d_o.jpg

"

About the Biñan station pic. Just hope my phone won't get snatched and the jeep is not crowded.. :D


Would love to see shots of Binan station, have never had a look at the current south line terminus.
Actually would love to see shots of all stations between Alabang and Calamba.

Unrelated question. How do you get that little ~ thing above the 'n; in Binan? Never been able to work that out :)

Brad

@wheel of steel...i'm having a hard time publishing my updates ...its got pics...i received an advisory that there is a problem on the int'l submarine cable where our uplink provider is connected....oks lang ba if i e-mail you the material and you post it yourself?....

Gud pm,

Sir, you can email me at tdpprince2007@yahoo.com or tdpjr2007@yahoo.com.. You're welcome always...

WoS

Would love to see shots of Binan station, have never had a look at the current south line terminus.
Actually would love to see shots of all stations between Alabang and Calamba.

Unrelated question. How do you get that little ~ thing above the 'n; in Binan? Never been able to work that out :)

Brad

In Word2003, you can click the Insert then go to Symbols and then you can select from the letters.. But anyway, sometimes it is already understood that n could be n... I forgot the shorcut keys for it..

^^ Again, strange looking, what are those pictures above the seats.. It looks like a burger to me...:banana: :banana:



Hmmmm may be a Jollibee :master: 'CHAMP' burger. YUM
Would be an artist impression of the advertising they will place along each carriages to increase income from advertising revenue. Lots of money there.
Like anywhere else they will look at any opportunity to get extra Pesos from their investment.
Apparently there is a 'LOT' of shopping centre owners already homing in on Northrail for the ability to build big shopping centres around the new stations. Looks like decisions in this regards have already been made in some cases.

Cheers
Brad

In Word2003, you can click the Insert then go to Symbols and then you can select from the letters.. But anyway, sometimes it is already understood that n could be n... I forgot the shorcut keys for it..

Thanks.
I rarely have a need for it, but there is a couple of Philippine places that I sometimes mention in articles that usually have this.
After all these years you would think I would know how now :lol:

Brad

Lucentino,
Can you recall exactly what you saw at this depot? Was there any locomotives? What colour were they? Was there any track work rail vehicles there?
To my knowledge actual depots are located at Tayuman, Lucena and Naga.

Regards
Brad

I believe it was set up during the rehab years in early 2000... I saw a locomotive (blue) placed on an elevated platform (perhaps for repairs), and there was a crane (perhaps to lift the locos into the platform)...

It was located past the steel bridge connecting Candelaria & Tayabas towards Lucena... its about a hundred meters from Maharlika Hiway... in this section, the railroad is parallel to the hiway...


Back in the late 90s I got a copy of the PNR employee newsletter.
I wonder if this is even still published. I imgine not with the money problems they have had.
Must look for it amongst the massive pile of boxes of railway junk.

Brad

Is that stuff a part of your collection of PNR history? Hope you'll find it and be able to post here :)


One of the guys involved in the historical society, plus a family friend, is a manager at the PNR.
He gives me the occasional updates, but is only on the net irregularly.
I will of course pass anything of interest on. The last contact we had sounded positive for the Carmona line, they just wait for funding.
I'd like to know how bad the damaged bridge is that apparently keeps this line closed.

Brad

Perhaps you could ask your PNR friend about the Candelaria-Tiaong facility...

I believe at a certain point in time, Ayala Corp. was interested in rehab and operation of PNR line from Makati to Carmona, Cavite. They called it MCX (Manila-Calabarzon Express)...

I believe it was set up during the rehab years in early 2000... I saw a locomotive (blue) placed on an elevated platform (perhaps for repairs), and there was a crane (perhaps to lift the locos into the platform)...


Perhaps you could ask your PNR friend about the Candelaria-Tiaong facility...



Have worked it out.
The locomotive you saw would have been one of this type.
An Australian built English Electric. Wonderful sounding locomotives and as tough as nails.
A number were brought to the Philippines for the rebuild by John Holland. Two later went to Thailand and still exist. The remaining locos were only recently scrapped apparently.
The depot was down around that area. You obviously found it :)

Regards
Brad

http://locopage.railpage.org.au/photos/1629.jpg

^^ Yeah, that looks like the blue loco I saw! So it was really a depot after all... I was with the impression too that Lucena was the only depot in Quezon province... The last time I pass by this area (2 weeks ago), there was nothing but cranes...

Nice to know thanks!!!

Is that stuff a part of your collection of PNR history? Hope you'll find it and be able to post here :)


Yes it is.
\Over the years I have collected massive amounts of railway stuff and have been trying to do the same with Philippine railway items.
Have also managed to get the original builders promotional stuff for the 2500 and 900 classes, drawings on the 3500 class from Nippon Sharyo, builders plates off a 2500 and a 5000, plus a few other railway souveniers
Somewhere I also have old PNR tickets as well.
One day I shall find it all as I gradually go through cataloging everything. Have to make copies of it all if the historical society project finally takes off.

Regards
Brad

Just watching a show on TFC all taken around Camalig, Albay. They even went into a Jollibee. Ahhhhh I miss the Phils.

Cross-Manila conflict
www.railwaygazette.com

ON AUGUST 1 Philippine National Railways Assistant General Manager Rafael Jiminez called for the planned Manila - Calabarzon Express (MCX) commuter rail network and the Northrail link to Clark Air Base to be integrated to offer through services between north and south Luzon via central Manila.

Developer Ayala Land Inc said in July that it was close to finalising a build-transfer-operate concession for the US$600m MCX project, under which it would transfer the infrastructure, buy the rolling stock and run the services (RG 5.97 p271). Phase 1 involves upgrading the PNR line from Kalookan to Calamba and building branches to Carmona and Canlubang. Services would be hauled by diesel locos.

Jiminez is concerned that Bases Conversion Development Authority wants to build Northrail to standard gauge, whereas MCX will stick with 1067mm gauge for compatibility with the rest of PNR. Conversion of the PNR route out of Manila for Northrail would isolate disused lines in Northern Luzon for which the government is inviting reconstruction concessions.

^^ Yeah, that looks like the blue loco I saw! So it was really a depot after all... I was with the impression too that Lucena was the only depot in Quezon province... The last time I pass by this area (2 weeks ago), there was nothing but cranes...

Nice to know thanks!!!

Yep was John Holland's depot for many years. For the lst few the locos were slowly stripped of bits by thieves.
A contact from John Holland inspected them a year or so ago and found them to be beyond economical repair. They then scrapped them :(

Brad

^^ Oh man! I should have taken pics of that loco 2 yrs ago... Do you know any future plans for this depot?
This depot is close to a steel bridge which looks eerie as seen from the hiway...

^^ John Holland was the contractor of PNR for their sleeper replacement. When they performed their work here in Albay, they were so fast. In just a day, they could weld and replace 1km of wooden sleepers and rails. I thought they going to regrade the road bed but unfortunately only the ballast. It was nice cause you can actually the see the concrete sleepers just like the LRT.

^^ Oh man! I should have taken pics of that loco 2 yrs ago... Do you know any future plans for this depot?
This depot is close to a steel bridge which looks eerie as seen from the hiway...

No plans for it sadly.
I did notify John Holland regarding the likehood of the lines needing to be rebuilt.
As it transpired the work is all being done by the Chinese and the Koreans so John Holland would not get any work out of it. I suppose the place will be entirely cleared before long. Wish you had got photos s they are very rare and much sought after.
I had planned to finally get photos of them on the recent trip, howeer another railfan friend from Europe gave me the bad news of their scrapping while I was still in Legazpi :(

Brad

After checking out the new flix, those new trains remind me of the HK Airport Express minus the seating arrangement. Other than improving the commuter railway system. PNR should also emphasize and improve the freight system as well.

Would love to see shots of Binan station, have never had a look at the current south line terminus.
Actually would love to see shots of all stations between Alabang and Calamba.

Unrelated question. How do you get that little ~ thing above the 'n; in Binan? Never been able to work that out :)

Brad

ok. I'm not too sure if it is the Biñan station but you'll definitely see the station I'm talking about if you're coming from San Pedro exit of SLEX.. It's kinda weird because at the other side of the station, it is very muddy but on the other side, very dry..:lol:

shortcut for the 'ñ': Press and hold ALT then press 1,6 then 4. For the biggie, same process but instead 4 press 5. :)

After checking out the new flix, those new trains remind me of the HK Airport Express minus the seating arrangement. Other than improving the commuter railway system. PNR should also emphasize and improve the freight system as well.


^^ They will surely give much emphasis to the freight business. This is the lifesaver of both Southrail and Northrail. Revenues from cargos and other heavy stuffs will generate large percentage of the income of both Northrail Corp. and PNR. I think in other countries, railways are being subsidize by the government so they won't have much problems with regards to the operation. Here in the Philippines, we need to find a ways to pay this project... But I very positive that this was already pain resolved.

Guys,
What are your views on the seating arrangement?
I am guessing they are wanting to go for the most people that can bit fit into the space, but how logical would this be for more longer journeys?
Trains attract tourists who wish to see the countryside, but these seats mean there won't be many vacant sitting possibilities and all you will see is the people opposite you or standing right in front.
This sort of layout for short metro services is fine, but for longer rail journeys it is an unusual choice.

I mean don't get me wrong, if I was sitting across from four maganda Filipinas I would probably be grateful for these seats :lol: but if it was just a few Pinoys I would probably just want to see what is passing by.

I wonder if they will change it to the usual 2+2 arrangement? Admitedly the CMC/CTC cars are like this as well, but these remain within the Manila area.

Brad

It does look like the seating arrangement of MRT/LRT.. But I think it will be for the commuter train but for the long journeys, I don't think so. Imagine if the train is jampacked and you're going to Bicol.. Then there's no seat available.. By the time, you finally reached your destination, you're dead! :lol:

ok. I'm not too sure if it is the Biñan station but you'll definitely see the station I'm talking about if you're coming from San Pedro exit of SLEX.. It's kinda weird because at the other side of the station, it is very muddy but on the other side, very dry..:lol:

shortcut for the 'ñ': Press and hold ALT then press 1,6 then 4. For the biggie, same process but instead 4 press 5. :)

^^ Nice lesson Mr. El..:lol: :lol: :lol: . Actually I've been around computers for more than 8 years but I've never been learned much from this letter n..he he he....

^^ Thanks. I need to know it. I'm a computer science graduate! :lol:

It does look like the seating arrangement of MRT/LRT.. But I think it will be for the commuter train but for the long journeys, I don't think so. Imagine if the train is jampacked and you're going to Bicol.. Then there's no seat available.. By the time, you finally reached your destination, you're dead! :lol:

^^ It's all ok guys, believed me when I went to Japan I used to ride on trains enroute to provinces and I noticed that the seating arrangement is still the same although it was already 150km out of Tokyo.. Check the Joban Line Commuter Trains from Tokyo to Mito....

^^ Thanks. I need to know it. I'm a computer science graduate! :lol:

^^ Can you help me el...

I have a computer internet shop but I wonder why all of the workstations internet are not working. I checked it already and I didn't have any problems with my hub. BTW, my setup is the SmartBro was connected to the Server and from the Server a connect UTP to Hub and all the worskstation was all connected directly to Hub... When start this business last May, I did not have any problems with the internet sharing, only this last 5 days that I noticed not a single workstation has an internet...Can you help me with it?

ok. I'm not too sure if it is the Biñan station but you'll definitely see the station I'm talking about if you're coming from San Pedro exit of SLEX.. It's kinda weird because at the other side of the station, it is very muddy but on the other side, very dry..:lol:

shortcut for the 'ñ': Press and hold ALT then press 1,6 then 4. For the biggie, same process but instead 4 press 5. :)

Thanks for that, I shall give it a try.

I really need to spend more time around that area having a look.

Brad

^^ Sori guys, that is supposed to be an offlist message..:lol:

^^ They will surely give much emphasis to the freight business. This is the lifesaver of both Southrail and Northrail. Revenues from cargos and other heavy stuffs will generate large percentage of the income of both Northrail Corp. and PNR. I think in other countries, railways are being subsidize by the government so they won't have much problems with regards to the operation. Here in the Philippines, we need to find a ways to pay this project... But I very positive that this was already pain resolved.


Yeah governments really need to subsidise passenger transport.
In recent years there has been many examples of governments privitizing passenger transport which has had limited success in some cases and been a disaster in others.
In Queensland, the huge government owned 3ft6 system has massive amounts of coal haulage and this more than subsidises the whole network.
Don't stop them closing less profitable lines though :ohno:

Brad

^^ Can you help me el...

I have a computer internet shop


This would explain why I see you on here so much :)

That would be the perfect job for me.

Brad

Thanks for that, I shall give it a try.

I really need to spend more time around that area having a look.

Brad

The Binan Laguna is only a small station. I wonder where is the whole 60m ROW from that area. The PNR website shows that all of their stations have 60m ROW and the railroad was 30m.. I don't know for the NorthRail because they have been built in 1900s.

This would explain why I see you on here so much :)

That would be the perfect job for me.

Brad

^^ Yup, am always present guys, from time to time I used to check the updates in this thread so I also fast enough to reply.

* O T A l e r t *

WoS: I'm not real good at troubleshooting but anyway.. Does your server still has an internet connection? if so, then there might be a problem with your hub. You can have the guys who installed your smartBro check it. :)

It does look like the seating arrangement of MRT/LRT.. But I think it will be for the commuter train but for the long journeys, I don't think so. Imagine if the train is jampacked and you're going to Bicol.. Then there's no seat available.. By the time, you finally reached your destination, you're dead! :lol:


You would be needing a new set of legs hehehehehehe

Really those carriages last used on the Bicol run would be fine if they were given a bit of a refurb. Had a look at two in Tutuban and they were in quite good condition.
They have good seating and in the usual 2=2 formation.
They had only just refurbed two of the 7E power cars to go with them and these looked great.

Brad

* O T A l e r t *

WoS: I'm not real good at troubleshooting but anyway.. Does your server still has an internet connection? if so, then there might be a problem with your hub. You can have the guys who installed your smartBro check it. :)

^^ Ok!! Thanks friend, I'll try to check it again the hub.... My server anyway is still ok since this is the one im using for to reply you...:lol: But anyway I will just call the Smart guys...:cheers:

^^ Yup, am always present guys, from time to time I used to check the updates in this thread so I also fast enough to reply.

:) For me I am on here all day whenever I have a day off. Either that or I check as soon as I get home.
Spend my whole day at work looking forward to getting home for this chat.

Tomorrow I am on all day again. Working on the e-zine looking for railway info from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Should keep me busy between posts here.

Brad

You would be needing a new set of legs hehehehehehe

Really those carriages last used on the Bicol run would be fine if they were given a bit of a refurb. Had a look at two in Tutuban and they were in quite good condition.
They have good seating and in the usual 2=2 formation.
They had only just refurbed two of the 7E power cars to go with them and these looked great.

Brad

I agree... Actually the return of this Locos if undergoes refurbishing will be highly appreciated since it was with this Locos that modernized the PNR.. It was history already and infact it is still working. Im just praying that they could still use it for freight hauling.

Anyway I am getting some imagination and expectation that the new locos to be used in Southrail would be the likelihood of the Blue Tiger of KTM.

* O T A l e r t *

WoS: I'm not real good at troubleshooting but anyway.. Does your server still has an internet connection? if so, then there might be a problem with your hub. You can have the guys who installed your smartBro check it. :)


You know, I can actually understand more Tagalog than I can the language of computers :lol:

Brad
** Time for sleep guys, been feeling a little sick. Will catch up with you all tomorrow.
Take care and keep up the great work. PNR Forever!!

You know, I can actually understand more Tagalog than I can the language of computers :lol:

Brad
** Time for sleep guys, been feeling a little sick. Will catch up with you all tomorrow.
Take care and keep up the great work. PNR Forever!!

^^ Ok!!! you better relax now so you can recover for tommorroww... Take care.. ^^

You would be needing a new set of legs hehehehehehe

Really those carriages last used on the Bicol run would be fine if they were given a bit of a refurb. Had a look at two in Tutuban and they were in quite good condition.
They have good seating and in the usual 2=2 formation.
They had only just refurbed two of the 7E power cars to go with them and these looked great.

Brad

Definitely! :lol:

ok.. that's nice.. If they are still in good condition then the gov should refurb and use it. I think it cost less than buying new ones.. right?

Anyway, here is a "spy" view of the Biñan station. It is really small station. Intended for commuters. It is near University of Perpetual Help and the gimmick places. :D
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6913/binanau0.jpg

wow great news

Definitely! :lol:

ok.. that's nice.. If they are still in good condition then the gov should refurb and use it. I think it cost less than buying new ones.. right?

Anyway, here is a "spy" view of the Biñan station. It is really small station. Intended for commuters. It is near University of Perpetual Help and the gimmick places. :D
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6913/binanau0.jpg

I can actually the small station of Binan... I mean Binyan... ha ha ha.... I can see it from here that those houses close to each other and the station was the property of PNR and that is 60m ROW...

^^ There's a lot of squatters, can't imagine that place was plague by lots of squatters. I know they have already slot to the relocation site. I assume also that they have already left that area. NHA website has not been update maybe 6 months now.. so we will just rely on friends...

^^ I assume that the areas enclosed by the thick red line are the original ROW of the Binan Station. I believed this was true since all of the older stations of PNR has this wide area....

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/1319503293_36833147dc_o.jpg

^^ This is the PNR compound in FTI enclosed by the blue line. If ever materialize, this area will the the New Central Terminal of Northrail and Southrail and the South Intermodal Transport Terminal... I also assume that the yellow curve line is the Central Terminal's Upstream Link why I propose the red curve line is the Downstream Link...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/1319548153_ccba9c2694_o.jpg

^^ The beauty of this location is that it is located at the very heart of Metro Manila Industrial Areas and also the future gathering of the Offices and Condominiums.... Our railway projects was really designed for both freigh and passenger operations... It's only, the garbage services that we must address....

someone told me that in the 1960's to 70's PNR is the richest and the largest government owned company (GOC) by the gov't..

someone told me that in the 1960's to 70's PNR is the richest and the largest government owned company (GOC) by the gov't..

^^ That's true Nathan, infact we have the best railway image after Japan in Asia... Look at the Tutuban Station alone, I think someone posted it here, I think it's you... Ang ganda di ba... I've tried to research for other Asian countries stations dated back 1900s. None of them every match our Tutuban Station. So we better reback it again and we have too...

^^ I have to go now guys.. 2m ulit coz my asawa is looking na for me... ha ha ha...!!! 2m ulit hope we have another bunch of Northrail and Southrail photos again especially for 2m.... :banana: :banana: :banana:

^^ I suspect that this is the future site of the Malolos Station. The highlighted thick red line was the length of the viaduct section. I think the viaduct will be concrete wall retaining type in which case ver similar to the approach of the flyovers....

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/1325686164_f3db10db2b_o.jpg

Anyway I am getting some imagination and expectation that the new locos to be used in Southrail would be the likelihood of the Blue Tiger of KTM.

Certainly something similar to these locos could be sent there for freight trains. Not sure how they compare in cost to other new locomotives.
I hope they do refurbish the 900 class, they are a nice looking locomotive from a railfan point of view. The Blue Tigers a little on the pungit side :lol:

Brad

^^ Ok!!! you better relax now so you can recover for tommorroww... Take care.. ^^

Am up again.
Had hayfever last night so took some tablets. These things send you to sleep and they worked well, I was asleep for 13 hours and feel better now.

Sounds like President Gloria is coming to Australia tomorrow for APEC. I wonder if she wants to come over for karaoki. You guys can give her an invite if you want :lol:

Brad

Am up again.
Had hayfever last night so took some tablets. These things send you to sleep and they worked well, I was asleep for 13 hours and feel better now.

Sounds like President Gloria is coming to Australia tomorrow for APEC. I wonder if she wants to come over for karaoki. You guys can give her an invite if you want :lol:

Brad

^^ Actually I can't sleep well thinking that somebody might have updated the very latest information and photos in this thread...:lol: :lol: :lol: I have to go to my internet shop since i don't have one in my house...:lol: :lol: :lol:

Definitely! :lol:

ok.. that's nice.. If they are still in good condition then the gov should refurb and use it. I think it cost less than buying new ones.. right?

Anyway, here is a "spy" view of the Biñan station. It is really small station. Intended for commuters. It is near University of Perpetual Help and the gimmick places. :D
]

Thank you. That view should make it easier to find when I am there.

Am I right in thinking that it has a run around track at Binan station, like is used at Alabang to run locomotives around the train?
There would have to be one for the locomotive to change ends of the train given there are no operational DMUs there at the moment.
This run around line wouldn't have been used for many years until the bridge damage south of there. I wonder if they had to work on it to make it usable again.

Brad

^^ I assume that the areas enclosed by the thick red line are the original ROW of the Binan Station. I believed this was true since all of the older stations of PNR has this wide area....

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/1319503293_36833147dc_o.jpg

Wow thats a lot of room that was once the PNR. You don't really realise exactly was railway ownered until you see maps like these.
Many thanks
Brad

^^ It's a pride of all of us that we have a good news with the President in the recent upswing of Philippines GDP. Whenever I go, I always thought that the sincerity of one country lies on the friendship and economic background of its people..

^^ I hope I could get into Manila this month. Im so busy here but i need to post here some kind of a special shot taken from the Malolos Station. I really like this station. At least some kind of an imagination firt time in the Philippine History we could have this modern station in the provinces. This could even more modern than the LRT2.. Who knows, and another one important thing, the way they will preserve the old Malolos Station. A couple of weeks ago, i accedentally browsed the internet for this old Malolos Station photos. On that photo, there are soldiers standing and seating at the station. I think that photo was taken during WW1. I could imagine that sooner or later there will be a newly repaired Old Malolos Station and I could be standing there also

Wow thats a lot of room that was once the PNR. You don't really realise exactly was railway ownered until you see maps like these.
Many thanks
Brad

^^ In my analysis, any crowded house and deformed lots are assumed to be of no legal papers. In the first place it wouldn't be like that if they really own the lot. So every houses and lots along the line or nearby station, I suspect PNR owns it...

Thank you. That view should make it easier to find when I am there.

Am I right in thinking that it has a run around track at Binan station, like is used at Alabang to run locomotives around the train?
There would have to be one for the locomotive to change ends of the train given there are no operational DMUs there at the moment.
This run around line wouldn't have been used for many years until the bridge damage south of there. I wonder if they had to work on it to make it usable again.

Brad

I see, the run around track is just like the one in Legazpi where in the absence of DMU, can still manage to come first the locomotive in the opposite direction... Nice!!!

someone told me that in the 1960's to 70's PNR is the richest and the largest government owned company (GOC) by the gov't..


Nathan,
You would be pretty much spot on with this.
The PNR, well mostly its predecessor MRR, were a massive operation.
Not only did it own/operate the railways it also branched out to own bus companies around the Philippines, inter-island ferries, a vast amount of trucking services and property.
The MRR was a massive powerhouse, much of it stemming from a need to make the railways still viable over other competition that was growing.

Now stop for a minute, digest this massive operation and then think about what the PNR is today.
It is really beyond belief and very, very sad.

In reality, had it all continued, it could have been a very different PNR today.
PNR could have now been the primary transport/freight operator in the Philippines, indeed one of the biggest single operations in asia, had they continued to grow until today.
The country would have been a lot better off with PNR trucks hauling good to PNR freight yards, with PNR buses acting as feeders from outlying areas to PNR stations for conveyance to Manila.
Through tickets on coordinated rail-ferry-bus tickets. You could by one ticket for travel from Tutuban to Cebu and anywhere in between.

Yep, it was set to be a very different story :ohno:

Brad

Nathan,
You would be pretty much spot on with this.
The PNR, well mostly its predecessor MRR, were a massive operation.
Not only did it own/operate the railways it also branched out to own bus companies around the Philippines, inter-island ferries, a vast amount of trucking services and property.
The MRR was a massive powerhouse, much of it stemming from a need to make the railways still viable over other competition that was growing.

Now stop for a minute, digest this massive operation and then think about what the PNR is today.
It is really beyond belief and very, very sad.

In reality, had it all continued, it could have been a very different PNR today.
PNR could have now been the primary transport/freight operator in the Philippines, indeed one of the biggest single operations in asia, had they continued to grow until today.
The country would have been a lot better off with PNR trucks hauling good to PNR freight yards, with PNR buses acting as feeders from outlying areas to PNR stations for conveyance to Manila.
Through tickets on coordinated rail-ferry-bus tickets. You could by one ticket for travel from Tutuban to Cebu and anywhere in between.

Yep, it was set to be a very different story :ohno:

Brad


^^ Oh my!!! too bad this things happened in our country.. We're supposed to moving up... Oh my.. it's a long story... I hope the world is watching us how we rebuild that reputation again.....

^^ Actually I can't sleep well thinking that somebody might have updated the very latest information and photos in this thread...:lol: :lol: :lol: I have to go to my internet shop since i don't have one in my house...:lol: :lol: :lol:


:lol: You never really know what sort of news will be appearing on here while you are away from the computer, thats why I always head straight to the computer when I get home.
I don't think your asawa would be happy about a computer at home. They get rather upset about having to compete for attention with the PNR :lol:

I have to admit, most nights I fall asleep thinking about getting back to the Philippines, or what to do that could help the historical society become a reality.
Funnily enough, I have quite regular dreams about being over there again. Whats really strange is while I am there I often have dreams about being back in Australia.
Hate dreaming about Australia, I don't really want to think about here while I am over there.

Brad

^^ Actually it's not anymore impossible to build an undersea tunnel or railway bridge between Matnog and Allen and also between Leyte and Northern Cebu. We could have been travelling by train from Cebut City to Manila... In this case, PNR will get its biggest operating revenue between two Mega Cities...

:lol: You never really know what sort of news will be appearing on here while you are away from the computer, thats why I always head straight to the computer when I get home.
I don't think your asawa would be happy about a computer at home. They get rather upset about having to compete for attention with the PNR :lol:

I have to admit, most nights I fall asleep thinking about getting back to the Philippines, or what to do that could help the historical society become a reality.
Funnily enough, I have quite regular dreams about being over there again. Whats really strange is while I am there I often have dreams about being back in Australia.
Hate dreaming about Australia, I don't really want to think about here while I am over there.

Brad

Actually I haven't yet contributed any orginal photos taken by me to the PRHS. But I wish that still many wants to join, its only time that it matters to them since many are also busy. So anyway I wish this Month I could go to Manila for original photos...

^^ I hope I could get into Manila this month. Im so busy here but i need to post here some kind of a special shot taken from the Malolos Station. I really like this station. At least some kind of an imagination firt time in the Philippine History we could have this modern station in the provinces.

I look forward to seeing the changing view of the railways in local peoples minds when new stations like these are built.
I have asked many Filipinos about the PNR and they always have negative views and comments about it. The view was always that it will eventually disappear as the railways are pungit, mabahu, slow and unreliable.
This will be a huge culture shock I think.

Brad

I look forward to seeing the changing view of the railways in local peoples minds when new stations like these are built.
I have asked many Filipinos about the PNR and they always have negative views and comments about it. The view was always that it will eventually disappear as the railways are pungit, mabahu, slow and unreliable.
This will be a huge culture shock I think.

Brad

^^ 100% percent the bottom line surfaced. I think this is the true minds of the Filipinos, very much negative with this PNR. I have a lot of friends and sometimes I talked with them the about the railway projects, but none of them remarked, I mean at least any word lamenting the fact that they also travel by bus and still complaining that it takes too long to get there. They have this sort of very little trust that the PNR could get back again with faster and more realiable trains...

I see, the run around track is just like the one in Legazpi where in the absence of DMU, can still manage to come first the locomotive in the opposite direction... Nice!!!


Actually the one in Legazpi is quite unique and the only example I have ever seen outside Queensland where some outback railmotors (DMUs) had to be turned this way.

Looking at the Binan aerial shot there appears to be very little room. There must be at least a second track so the loco can get to the other side unless they run a locomotive at both ends (looking at the records, only one loco was rostered).

Legazpi while having a couple of tracks in the station, requires the whole train to reverse out onto the former line to Tobacco, then pull forward onto the track back to Manila, before reversing the whole train back into the station. It does make you wonder why a run around loop like in Alabang wasn't just put in.

Still at least when the train did this movement it made for a great opportunity to photograph it with the volcano behind. Sadly my arrival at Legazpi was a few months after the line was damaged and my dream photo never occured :(

Brad

^^ That's the problem when someone doesn't manage to go out to abroad, at least for a vacation. They don't have an opportunity to experience the benifits of riding trains. On my experience, very timely my vacation to Japan I realized the importance of JR trains in their movement. I also realized that it is not impossible running a train with a speed of 160km/h on a narrow gauge railway passing on grade at crossing very risky to the blocking traffic and have a very minimal accident history.. This sort of ideas inspired me that, everything is possible now..

^^ Oh my!!! too bad this things happened in our country.. We're supposed to moving up... Oh my.. it's a long story... I hope the world is watching us how we rebuild that reputation again.....

There is a very big story when it comes to the history of the MRR/PNR there.

I got a book in Manila called

"The Colonial Iron Horse 1875-1935" Arturo G Corpuz
Published by the University of the Philippines Press.

I can really recommend this as a great source of railway history during this period. It not only gives the main railway history, it looks at changes in population and peoples attitudes during this period.
A fantastic piece of history.

Brad

^^ Future Guiguinto NorthRail Station site....

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1312/1325188441_1b58b31029_o.jpg

^^ The runaround tracks at the Legazpi PNR Station....

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/legazpi.gif

^^ The Legazpi PNR Station

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/3P5010129.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/3P5010143.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/3P5010010.jpg

http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/~Philrail/3P5010091.jpg

Actually I haven't yet contributed any orginal photos taken by me to the PRHS. But I wish that still many wants to join, its only time that it matters to them since many are also busy. So anyway I wish this Month I could go to Manila for original photos...


The main to problems we have identified when it comes to involvement in the PRHS by locals is money and time.
Money thus far has been the main hassle for people. There just isn't enough disposable income to be paying membership fees that are considered normal in other countries.
We are now discussing other options for local Philippine people wishing to join in and help, using an interesting idea used by a couple of museums here in Australia.

While we have not come to any firm plans as yet, further details can be got offlist from me. I check this address every fortnight.

philippinerailwayhistorical @ yahoo.com.ph
'remove the spaces'.

We have had quite a bit of interest from locals in helping. As this is a project for the Philippines we wish to investigate any idea that ensures they are able to.

Brad

^^ 100% percent the bottom line surfaced. I think this is the true minds of the Filipinos, very much negative with this PNR. I have a lot of friends and sometimes I talked with them the about the railway projects, but none of them remarked, I mean at least any word lamenting the fact that they also travel by bus and still complaining that it takes too long to get there. They have this sort of very little trust that the PNR could get back again with faster and more realiable trains...

We will show em :lol:

^^ The run around scheme at Legazpi PNR Station courtesy of googleearth.com

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/1325284025_d725353e52_o.jpg

^^ That's the problem when someone doesn't manage to go out to abroad, at least for a vacation. They don't have an opportunity to experience the benifits of riding trains. On my experience, very timely my vacation to Japan I realized the importance of JR trains in their movement. I also realized that it is not impossible running a train with a speed of 160km/h on a narrow gauge railway passing on grade at crossing very risky to the blocking traffic and have a very minimal accident history.. This sort of ideas inspired me that, everything is possible now..

This is great.
What is needed is for more Filipinos to look at what exists elsewhere and start asking of themselves and the government "Why can't we have this?"
So why no have the best rail system. The Filipino deserves it just as much as the rest of the world.

Brad

@Sir kalbongdad...

Daddy, ill be waiting for your photos, kind of interesting about the drawing perspective of guiguinto northrail station..... just sent me the photos at tdpjr2007@yahoo.com, il just post it here...Many Thanks..

WoS

This is great.
What is needed is for more Filipinos to look at what exists elsewhere and start asking of themselves and the government "Why can't we have this?"
So why no have the best rail system. The Filipino deserves it just as much as the rest of the world.

Brad

Ill be off for an hour, replacing the worn out photodrum of my copier... C.U later guys....

^^ Future Guiguinto NorthRail Station site....



Is Guiguinto station expected to be at ground level?

Brad

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/1325284025_d725353e52_o.jpg


I am trying to remember if that crossover exists on the approach to the station. It appears in your Google Earth but not the drawing above from that Japanese guys site.
I can't remember it, but it would mean the shunt around the triangle would be a strange thing to have to do. They could just run around using a crossover there.
Anyway if the local governemnt gets their way this will become a road from Daraga and no trains will ever get there again :(
Brad

Is Guiguinto station expected to be at ground level?

Brad

^^ If this is really the Guiginto Station Design, then theres a probability that the station is elevated. I couldnt clearly view the station so ever we have a photo again to confirm it...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1425/1326517562_219dc688b4_o.jpg

^^ If location of the station will be retained then the Guiginto Station will lies at grade level. So in the drawing which, it is visible that the upper deck of the station is quite short to fit all of the 4 cars plus 1 loco. So I therefore conclude that it is an over pass going to the other side of the main road. The bottom is the main road in Guiginto. The station platform is on the left side. The railway will be at grade so it guarantees the train will come into halt posing no problems with the vehicles crossing the rail. If in case a rapid, then the flagstops and signs will work...

I am trying to remember if that crossover exists on the approach to the station. It appears in your Google Earth but not the drawing above from that Japanese guys site.
I can't remember it, but it would mean the shunt around the triangle would be a strange thing to have to do. They could just run around using a crossover there.
Anyway if the local governemnt gets their way this will become a road from Daraga and no trains will ever get there again :(
Brad

^^ I really not agree with the decision of the local government to use this as an alternative highway to Legazpi City... Before, back in 2001 I am in because that time there was no clear issue about the PNR rebuild. It is very clear also that PNR will lost a good right of way leading to Legazpi Port.

The Legazpi Gov't should also find their own solution for this... Again they are taking the advantage of the other government lands. This only shows that they are very much negative with this issue of PNR rebuilt. I hope they had changed their minds....

I live not far from Legazpi and I noticed that for the last 2 decades not a single wide road has been built in Legazpi... Whenever I take a motor ride going there, I always experience heavy clogging of vehicles along the way, the foreigners and tourist doesn't want to experience.... This is the reason why Legazpi is very much left behind by its closed rival Naga....

If Legazpi wants to be a livable city, then revive the PNR and introduce a commuter service to Naga, vice versa....

^^ I repost it again since we've already seen the perspective drawing of Malolos Northrail Station.. So I decided to revised the type of the roof in the likelihood of LRT Stations... I am not sure whether they will put extra tracks for rapid passing trains or retain two tracks only...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1163/1325750551_44be8d6256_o.jpg


This is the final rendering of Malolos Station

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/1307859875_7a9f6b9339_b.jpg

Image of the old Tutuban Station back in the late 1800's.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p21ima1.jpg

Amazing, especially for its time!

Image of the old Tutuban Station back in the late 1800's.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p21ima1.jpg

Amazing, especially for its time!

^^ This is the best reason to say that Philippines has an edge to other Asian couterparts, then....

BTW, I got that photo from http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/page21.htm

Very informative website about the old Philippines and our relatively advanced technology and infrastructure at the time.

BTW, I got that photo from http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/page21.htm

Very informative website about the old Philippines and our relatively advanced technology and infrastructure at the time.

^^ Nice website you got!!! Many Thanks....

^^ If location of the station will be retained then the Guiginto Station will lies at grade level. So in the drawing which, it is visible that the upper deck of the station is quite short to fit all of the 4 cars plus 1 loco. So I therefore conclude that it is an over pass going to the other side of the main road. The bottom is the main road in Guiginto. The station platform is on the left side. The railway will be at grade so it guarantees the train will come into halt posing no problems with the vehicles crossing the rail. If in case a rapid, then the flagstops and signs will work...


Wow if thats the station it also is quite a large structure.
I hope some of these stations are at ground level. It would certainly be cheaper to build some at ground level and it wouldn't make a difference to the huge modern designs tet want.
Just hope they are a little more photographer friendly than the LRT and MRT systems.

Brad

Wow if thats the station it also is quite a large structure.
I hope some of these stations are at ground level. It would certainly be cheaper to build some at ground level and it wouldn't make a difference to the huge modern designs tet want.
Just hope they are a little more photographer friendly than the LRT and MRT systems.

Brad


^^ Yup, regardless of the type of station infrastructure, those are stations were desinged to be usable for I think 50 years or more... I think only the Malolos and Valenzuela stations are partly elevated and the line to Clark will be fully elevated...

^^ I really not agree with the decision of the local government to use this as an alternative highway to Legazpi City... Before, back in 2001 I am in because that time there was no clear issue about the PNR rebuild. It is very clear also that PNR will lost a good right of way leading to Legazpi Port.

The Legazpi Gov't should also find their own solution for this... Again they are taking the advantage of the other government lands. This only shows that they are very much negative with this issue of PNR rebuilt. I hope they had changed their minds....

While this was discussed on the Legazpi forum a member placed a Google Eart shot of the area up for viewing.
I forget the names of the roads concerned, but there was an obvious alternative existing in the widening and extending of another road which had, mostly, no structures along its length.

While it may act as a short term solution, what of five years down the track when again this new road is clogged with the extra traffic due to a lack of decent transort service? What of ten years down the track when fuel costs make road transport very expensive.
It is known worldwide that adding a new road to relieve congestion just transfers the problem elsewhere. You put in a freeway here in Sydney to bypass clogged roads, then this clogging goes to where the freeway ends and banks up.

Perhaps such a choice will make the current local government look good, but it will prove to be a nightmare for future governments and the local populations. The government has to sit down and ask themselve whether the people are more important than just his votes?
These are votes from the people who chose them to reprisent their needs and wants.

Brad

Wow if thats the station it also is quite a large structure.
I hope some of these stations are at ground level. It would certainly be cheaper to build some at ground level and it wouldn't make a difference to the huge modern designs tet want.
Just hope they are a little more photographer friendly than the LRT and MRT systems.

Brad

^^ You've change your avatar and besides you are your family and in-laws? Nice meeting with you guys....

This is great.
What is needed is for more Filipinos to look at what exists elsewhere and start asking of themselves and the government "Why can't we have this?"
So why no have the best rail system. The Filipino deserves it just as much as the rest of the world.

Brad

^^ I certainly agree that we only just innovate what are already exists... Japan had been known to the world of railways as the innovator and one of the best thing I've notice was the introduction of the tilting trains.. Tilting trains were develop to provide a comfortable rides in the existing railways. You have one in Queensland by Hitachi.. I think it travels at 170kpm max and I saw it in the Youtube... Nice train...

While this was discussed on the Legazpi forum a member placed a Google Eart shot of the area up for viewing.
I forget the names of the roads concerned, but there was an obvious alternative existing in the widening and extending of another road which had, mostly, no structures along its length.

While it may act as a short term solution, what of five years down the track when again this new road is clogged with the extra traffic due to a lack of decent transort service? What of ten years down the track when fuel costs make road transport very expensive.
It is known worldwide that adding a new road to relieve congestion just transfers the problem elsewhere. You put in a freeway here in Sydney to bypass clogged roads, then this clogging goes to where the freeway ends and banks up.

Perhaps such a choice will make the current local government look good, but it will prove to be a nightmare for future governments and the local populations. The government has to sit down and ask themselve whether the people are more important than just his votes?
These are votes from the people who chose them to reprisent their needs and wants.

Brad


^^ The problem with Legazpi Gov't is that they don't want to find a solution... But rather they are giving problems to PNR... What if they will try to find a place where future expansion of Legazpi will occur plus the total rehab of PNR... It does make sense...

^^ This is the Cotmon Area in Camalig, Albay. It is where the PNR splits into two. The new spur line will go to Legazpi and Daraga while the main line continues to south to Matnog Sorsogon highlighted by yellow thick line..

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/1326201797_2f90377c0c_o.jpg

^^ I repost it again since we've already seen the perspective drawing of Malolos Northrail Station.. So I decided to revised the type of the roof in the likelihood of LRT Stations... I am not sure whether they will put extra tracks for rapid passing trains or retain two tracks only...



The artist impression looks like a roof over two tracks and platforms.
If Malolos is to be a main terminal station for commuter runs after the line is extended to Angeles, Clark and eventually San Fernando then at least a turnback facility should be built in the form of a third platform in order to keep such trains clear of the mainline.


Cheers
Brad
** Todays News **
After all the money and time spent on taking Estrada through court for plunder, now they are saying he may be excused!!!! How do they stop this sort of conduct if they are going to excuse people later.. Streewth

Image of the old Tutuban Station back in the late 1800's.

http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/p21ima1.jpg
!

What an absolutely beautiful station building.
So sad it will not be part of the new plans :(

Brad

The artist impression looks like a roof over two tracks and platforms.
If Malolos is to be a main terminal station for commuter runs after the line is extended to Angeles, Clark and eventually San Fernando then at least a turnback facility should be built in the form of a third platform in order to keep such trains clear of the mainline.


Cheers
Brad
** Todays News **
After all the money and time spent on taking Estrada through court for plunder, now they are saying he may be excused!!!! How do they stop this sort of conduct if they are going to excuse people later.. Streewth

^^ I guess youre right, a third rail will solve this case. The KTM stations in Malaysia has also three tracks.. I wonder how it operates the changeover tracks... In this case a rapid train will have a slew before entering the third rail unless it is so straight then the train will pass the station at its normal speed. The might have designed it and positioned the third rail at the center... So we can see a three tracks formation rather than double only....

^^ Yup, regardless of the type of station infrastructure, those are stations were desinged to be usable for I think 50 years or more... I think only the Malolos and Valenzuela stations are partly elevated and the line to Clark will be fully elevated...

I would dearly love an offical map of the route of the line right up to San Fernando.
Do you mean Clark would be fully elevated all the way from Malalos to Clark? I wonder if this will be above the old PNR formation the whole way?
This certainly does not look good for generating future freight traffic between these locations.
I mean if a large freight company set up just north of Malalos and wished to rail 20 wagons of goods to Manila each day they would not easily be able to. They would have to build an expensive railway ramp from the factory up to the elevated trackage, something most companies would not wish to invest in :(

Brad

^^ If we could only have extra pictures from Sir kalbongdad different angles of the Malolos Viaduct then we can confirm it by ourselves. When I went to Japan, I noticed also that the Joban Line Hatori Station has three tracks... Composed of 1 side platform and 1 island platform... I am really interested in knowing how it works?

I would dearly love an offical map of the route of the line right up to San Fernando.
Do you mean Clark would be fully elevated all the way from Malalos to Clark? I wonder if this will be above the old PNR formation the whole way?
This certainly does not look good for generating future freight traffic between these locations.
I mean if a large freight company set up just north of Malalos and wished to rail 20 wagons of goods to Manila each day they would not easily be able to. They would have to build an expensive railway ramp from the factory up to the elevated trackage, something most companies would not wish to invest in :(

Brad


Sorry, I was wrong only from Angles to Clark Airport will be fully elevated... The rest from Malolos to Angeles will be partly elevated, at-grade and partly tunneled.....

^^ You've change your avatar and besides you are your family and in-laws? Nice meeting with you guys....


Yeah that last avatar was terrible and I needed something better until I can get a railway related on again.
The people from left to right are:

My asawa Ana
Friend Annabelle
Me
Indonesian friend Anna
and lastly the extremely maganda Maria

It was taken during a recent party here in Sydney. Just some of the many beautiful Pinay friends I have made here :)

Brad

^^ Im confident that the design of the Northrail was placed a heavy empahsis on the cargo services.. So I expect that every major station like Malolos should have at least 2 platforms for unloading and loading goods....

^^ You've change your avatar and besides you are your family and in-laws? Nice meeting with you guys....


One day hopefully you will get to meet the family in person.
All going well with getting enough work, I hope to be in Bicol during early 2009.

Brad

Yeah that last avatar was terrible and I needed something better until I can get a railway related on again.
The people from left to right are:

My asawa Ana
Friend Annabelle
Me
Indonesian friend Anna
and lastly the extremely maganda Maria

It was taken during a recent party here in Sydney. Just some of the many beautiful Pinay friends I have made here :)

Brad


:lol: :lol: :lol: All your friends begins with letters A.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

One day hopefully you will get to meet the family in person.
All going well with getting enough work, I hope to be in Bicol during early 2009.

Brad

^^ Am always be here in Albay.....

^^ I certainly agree that we only just innovate what are already exists... Japan had been known to the world of railways as the innovator and one of the best thing I've notice was the introduction of the tilting trains.. Tilting trains were develop to provide a comfortable rides in the existing railways. You have one in Queensland by Hitachi.. I think it travels at 170kpm max and I saw it in the Youtube... Nice train...

The New South Wales government was trialing one here for a while, attaching the vehicles to our decrepid old XPT trains.
Of course, as always, our governments backward thinking governemnt didn't do anything about itand Queensland become the first (and still only) tilt operator down here.
They do look great, especially when you stand near a bend in real life and it screams by.

Brad

^

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/1326201797_2f90377c0c_o.jpg


Great map.

You can tell by looking at this that should Daraga to Legazpi closes that the whole section back to the new junction will soon follow.
There would be no point keeping the remaining piece, it will on be viable with a commuter and freight service out of Legazpi City itself. I would be very surprised if they retained a line to just Daraga.
Actually I think people in Legazpi actually think the new extention is being built from Daraga and not further back as you have shown. I don't think they realise exactly what is the likely eventuality of a cut back to Daraga.
Heres hoping it dosen't happen. Don't wish to loose more trackage.

Brad

^^ I forgot to continue the line... :lol: :lol: :lol: It has a very sharp curve up from the first line and connects to the second line... Anyway, the revival of Legazpi line will give enormous economic and tourism activity...

^^ I guess youre right, a third rail will solve this case. The KTM stations in Malaysia has also three tracks.. I wonder how it operates the changeover tracks... In this case a rapid train will have a slew before entering the third rail unless it is so straight then the train will pass the station at its normal speed. The might have designed it and positioned the third rail at the center... So we can see a three tracks formation rather than double only....

The operation of the changeover tracks could be done in many ways nowdays.
If they use normal convention nowdays they will likely choose controlling the whole line from one location, say Manila.This is obvously much cheaper than emloying people in control centres at all major stations.
You can sit in a signal box nowdays and control yards for hundreds of kilometres.

Brad

^^ Station diagram with no high speed pass....

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1047/1327290068_071ae22885_o.jpg



^^ Station diagram with high speed pass...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1280/1326405469_352f71685f.jpg?v=0

:lol: :lol: :lol: All your friends begins with letters A.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Actually we often laugh about the amount of Ana/Annas in the family and amongst our friends. There is lots and lots of them.
We also have a number of Annabelles in both our family and friends while my beautiful niece is called Aireen.
You guys certainly like the letter 'A' :lol: :lol:


Im confident that the design of the Northrail was placed a heavy empahsis on the cargo services.. So I expect that every major station like Malolos should have at least 2 platforms for unloading and loading goods....

The most popular rail freights nowdays are what they call the block train/ This being a length of freight train all of the one type of traffic, ie: containers, grain, coal etc.
Most railways have dispensed, regretfully, the idea of general goods traffic loaded onto a train from a platform as it isn't financially viable.
However your good news that it is only the Angeles to Clark section that is elevated means the problem probably dosent exist anyway.
If much of the Manila-Angeles line is actually at ground level then the chances are any freight source may be able to have ground level access to the railway. A lot of the elevated sections appear to be in heavier population areas which alone would mean such businesses large enough to ship freight in containers would not fit there anyway.

Brad

^^ Am always be here in Albay.....


It be funny if one day I use your internet shop to post to this group :)

Had I found this group earlier I would likely have posted to this thread from QC, Roxas City and Legazpi in February.

Brad

^^

^^ Station diagram with high speed pass...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1280/1326405469_352f71685f.jpg?v=0

Hope you don't mind, but I made some changes to show what a third platform would like.

http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/REMOVE_Track_Diagram.jpg

This sort of layout permits terminating /departing on any track when on the Manila side.
It also allows for slow continuing passenger trains to stop on the third platform for an express to scream through before the slower one continues on its journey following the express train. This would also allow an all stations train to Angeles move out of the way while a freight to Angeles passes it, all the time not delaying the passenger much as it gan discharge passengers while the other train flies through.

Brad

Hope you don't mind, but I made some changes to show what a third platform would like.

http://www.geocities.com/alcogoodwin/REMOVE_Track_Diagram.jpg

Brad


I should mention that the above changes are based on Manila being to the left of the map.

Brad

I should mention that the above changes are based on Manila being to the left of the map.

Brad

^^ I see, ahhmmm ok my question has been answered... Before the station, from the left there will be right and left turnouts, and double y to make a third rail... Ok! nice..

^^ Suppose the formation would be like this composed of 2 Side Platforms and 4 Tracks...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1311/1326968353_45b40552c8.jpg?v=0


I just wonder why some stations prefer to have 1 Side Platform and 1 Island Platform from 2 Side Platforms with 4 tracks? How much money can we save if we convert it to this.....'

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1280/1326405469_352f71685f.jpg?v=0

It be funny if one day I use your internet shop to post to this group :)

Had I found this group earlier I would likely have posted to this thread from QC, Roxas City and Legazpi in February.

Brad


^^ :lol: Someday, who knows we could all have access to each other computers....

^^ Assuming two all station trains with opposite routes come simultaenously in one station and suddenly there are also 2 express trains with opposite routes expected to pass.? Where do we place the other commuter trains assuming that there are 3 tracks only.... Thanks....

^^ Wait up guys! I can't seem to keep up with this thread... I'd be gone for a day and boom! 5 pages just passed...

No plans for it sadly.
I did notify John Holland regarding the likehood of the lines needing to be rebuilt.
As it transpired the work is all being done by the Chinese and the Koreans so John Holland would not get any work out of it. I suppose the place will be entirely cleared before long. Wish you had got photos s they are very rare and much sought after.
I had planned to finally get photos of them on the recent trip, howeer another railfan friend from Europe gave me the bad news of their scrapping while I was still in Legazpi :(

Brad

Too bad the only picture I got is in my memory... I think the only thing left at that depot were the grasses and coconut trees... sad.:ohno:

^^ @ Lucentino...

Hi.. Does Lucena PNR Station Located at the Heart of Lucena?... If that's so, the station could be elevated also like the one in Malolos....

Too bad the only picture I got is in my memory... I think the only thing left at that depot were the grasses and coconut trees... sad.:ohno:

^^ Sayang, tsskkk... tssskkkk... You know guys the real problem is really the squatters.. Passenger really affraid of these squatters. If only there were no slums along the rails, maybe PNR can retain it's dominance as the no. transportation in the country. People here are affraid of these squatters since a lot of crimes comes from them... It's really better if the whole stretch of the line be cleared from any slums....

Too bad the only picture I got is in my memory... I think the only thing left at that depot were the grasses and coconut trees... sad.:ohno:


^^ That's ok guys, I mean the bottom line is the project now.... We could have as much as photos as we can free to share to anyone who supports our railway projects....

^^ I assume that the areas enclosed by the thick red line are the original ROW of the Binan Station. I believed this was true since all of the older stations of PNR has this wide area....

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/1319503293_36833147dc_o.jpg

Pare This is already a one whole barangay. ::D

and it is not really too crowded since there is still some room for the trains to pass by. However, you can't see the tracks because the mud covers it. :lol:

^^ Honestly, I am very intrigue with this Guiguinto Station. It really looks so beautiful.. Hope we could have another photos of 5 more stations of Northrail Phase 1 and also am interested in the track formations and depots...

Pare This is already a one whole barangay. ::D

and it is not really too crowded since there is still some room for the trains to pass by. However, you can't see the tracks because the mud covers it. :lol:


^^ I mean the Right of Way... The PNR is supposed to have a 60m ROW in every station except for some portion in the Makati Vicinity where the line is limited to 30m... However, we don't know yet the status but all I can say that this must be the usual case for a station....

Thank you. That view should make it easier to find when I am there.

Am I right in thinking that it has a run around track at Binan station, like is used at Alabang to run locomotives around the train?
There would have to be one for the locomotive to change ends of the train given there are no operational DMUs there at the moment.
This run around line wouldn't have been used for many years until the bridge damage south of there. I wonder if they had to work on it to make it usable again.

Brad

I think so.. I'm sorry I was too focus on the current situation of the station and the cute girl beside me at that time. :lol: From what I saw there are probably 2-3 tracks on it (I'm not too sure about it.. I'll check it out this weekend or when I go back to San Pedro).

^^ Wait up guys! I can't seem to keep up with this thread... I'd be gone for a day and boom! 5 pages just passed...

Same here.. I was suprised since my last post is probably 2-3 pages away. :lol:

I think so.. I'm sorry I was too focus on the current situation of the station and the cute girl beside me at that time. :lol: From what I saw there are probably 2-3 tracks on it (I'm not too sure about it.. I'll check it out this weekend or when I go back to San Pedro).

:lol: :lol: Ok... Thanks el... don't 4get to catch that girlaloosss beside you...:lol: :lol: :lol: We'll anyway thanks for the tracks formation... Sa 2008, hmmm.. Liligaya na ang iyong paglalayag mula dyan sa inyo patungong Manila...:okay:

^^ I mean the Right of Way... The PNR is supposed to have a 60m ROW in every station except for some portion in the Makati Vicinity where the line is limited to 30m... However, we don't know yet the status but all I can say that this must be the usual case for a station....

Ok.. Wondering where will the government relocate these people and (OF COURSE!) the Basketball Court? :D

Ok.. Wondering where will the government relocate these people and (OF COURSE!) the Basketball Court? :D

^^ Definite it its all comes from the heart and ecitement... I am also looking formard making this forum a key to educate the people before the start of the operation of NorthRail and SouthRail Trains.... What do you think guys?

:lol: :lol: Ok... Thanks el... don't 4get to catch that girlaloosss beside you...:lol: :lol: :lol: We'll anyway thanks for the tracks formation... Sa 2008, hmmm.. Liligaya na ang iyong paglalayag mula dyan sa inyo patungong Manila...:okay:

Sorry but I only look and appreciate the beauty but no touch.. Or else I'm dead with my kumander (GF). :lol:

Ok.. hopefully I'll be able to get some pics of other stations as well especially here in my city. I'll try to contact my relative who is working with the city government. She might have some pictures of old San Pablo Station.

Ok.. Wondering where will the government relocate these people and (OF COURSE!) the Basketball Court? :D


^^ A friend from NHA says their agency is really serious in pursuing the PNR ROW, even if theres a lot of structures alread as long as the title belongs to them... Everything will be removed in favor of PNR... That was also confirmed when my cousing verifies it from the PNR...

Sorry but I only look and appreciate the beauty but no touch.. Or else I'm dead with my kumander (GF). :lol:

Ok.. hopefully I'll be able to get some pics of other stations as well especially here in my city. I'll try to contact my relative who is working with the city government. She might have some pictures of old San Pablo Station.


^^ :lol: :lol: :lol: My kumander is becoming strict now specially when my most of the time deals with computers.. he he he....

^^ Ill be off for a while guys, be back later... goodluck and happy viewing those photos our friends posted here... Mabuhay!!!

^^same here.. Doing my project.

^^ Suppose the formation would be like this composed of 2 Side Platforms and 4 Tracks...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1311/1326968353_45b40552c8.jpg?v=0


I just wonder why some stations prefer to have 1 Side Platform and 1 Island Platform from 2 Side Platforms with 4 tracks? How much money can we save if we convert it to this.....'



That diagram is another possibility, especially with crossovers facing both directions to the Manila end. This would be particularly useful in peak hour if two trains are to terminate there, or if one is to stand overnight after the peak for the early morning services.

The flexibility of the three platform idea is the ability to have fast cross platform exchange of passengers between all stations and express trains and more flexibility of platform use. No matter what direction any train is going, cross platform (as opposed to needing to use stairs etc) can be achieved and allow for faster commencement of journeys.
The three platform design also lends itself easily to the addition of a fourth platform, where as the design with two express lines in the middle would mean a need for a fifth line.

Brad

^^ Assuming two all station trains with opposite routes come simultaenously in one station and suddenly there are also 2 express trains with opposite routes expected to pass.? Where do we place the other commuter trains assuming that there are 3 tracks only.... Thanks....

In normal operation this should not happen, even if train services were 10 minutes apart the last commuter train would have left the station before the next showed up to terminating.
This would then still allow for the possibility of two expresses going through at the same time.
If they felt that services required a train every 5 minutes in the future then two island platforms with double crossovers again would be th way to go. This would still allow for cross platform exchanges between express and commuter trains.

Brad

Wait up guys! I can't seem to keep up with this thread... I'd be gone for a day and boom! 5 pages just passed...

Hop aboard the 'Northrail-Southrail Thread' Express.
First station 7 pages then all pages to 10 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Too bad the only picture I got is in my memory... I think the only thing left at that depot were the grasses and coconut trees... sad.:ohno:

Yeah it will now slowly return to its original condition.
I haven't even seen where it was.
I found a website many years ago that showed the locos at the compound. Sadly I never wrote down the URL and can't find it anymore.

Brad

I think so.. I'm sorry I was too focus on the current situation of the station and the cute girl beside me at that time. :lol: From what I saw there are probably 2-3 tracks on it (I'm not too sure about it.. I'll check it out this weekend or when I go back to San Pedro).

:lol: :lol: :lol: Thts OK, cute girls come before trains :) I nearly missed a photo at Tayuman concentrating on a cute pinay.

Thanks for checking it out for me on the weekend.

Brad

^^ Definite it its all comes from the heart and ecitement... I am also looking formard making this forum a key to educate the people before the start of the operation of NorthRail and SouthRail Trains.... What do you think guys?

A terrific idea. Need to mention the thread everywhere and get people interested.
How great would it be to attract the attention of railway workers, managment and officials...

Brad

Sorry but I only look and appreciate the beauty but no touch.. Or else I'm dead with my kumander (GF). :lol:

Ok.. hopefully I'll be able to get some pics of other stations as well especially here in my city. I'll try to contact my relative who is working with the city government. She might have some pictures of old San Pablo Station.

:lol: Yeah my asawa calls me in all the time to look at the 'Honey Girls' on Wowowee every day and dosent mind me looking, having a cuddle (with friend ones) and taking photos.
But tells me not to sleep with a door unlocked if I ever do more :nuts:
She may be small and cute, but she has a fearsome temper :lol:

Any photos are always much appreciated, by all of us.

Brad

^^ @ Lucentino...

Hi.. Does Lucena PNR Station Located at the Heart of Lucena?... If that's so, the station could be elevated also like the one in Malolos....

Hi comrade @WoS, here is a rough sketch:

http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/7527/z1ka9.jpg

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8937/z1lg6.jpg

^^ I repost it again since we've already seen the perspective drawing of Malolos Northrail Station.. So I decided to revised the type of the roof in the likelihood of LRT Stations... I am not sure whether they will put extra tracks for rapid passing trains or retain two tracks only...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1163/1325750551_44be8d6256_o.jpg

^^ I'm hoping for the 4 rail 2 platform design with a glass skybridge connecting both platforms (or an connecting lobby level if the stations are elevated like in the lrt2) that for me is a simple but effective design

My kumander is becoming strict now specially when my most of the time deals with computers.. he he he....

Or more specifically our beloved railway thread :lol: :lol:

^^ Ill be off for a while guys, be back later... goodluck and happy viewing those photos our friends posted here... Mabuhay!!!

Yeah I better disappear for a bit and look for some dinner for us, otherwise we wont kain (eat?) tonight.

Brad

Hop aboard the 'Northrail-Southrail Thread' Express.
First station 7 pages then all pages to 10 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Wow, we're not building a shinkansen here... I wonder if we were, then it might be 50-100 pages per day! :lol:

Hi comrade @WoS, here is a rough sketch:

http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/7527/z1ka9.jpg

What road would I have been on when travelling on the bus from Legazpi to Manila. Would it have been the 'Old Manila South Road'?

Brad

What road would I have been on when travelling on the bus from Legazpi to Manila. Would it have been the 'Old Manila South Road'?

Brad

Its the Maharlika Hiway above... :)

Wow, we're not building a shinkansen here... I wonder if we were, then it might be 50-100 pages per day! :lol:

We may not need a shinkansen to do it.
Records are made to be broken :lol:

Brad

Yeah it will now slowly return to its original condition.
I haven't even seen where it was.
I found a website many years ago that showed the locos at the compound. Sadly I never wrote down the URL and can't find it anymore.

Brad

Searching for answers, I stumbled upon this report...

Today's Railways and Preserved Steam in the Philippines
This is a Philippines Trip Report January-February 2007 by Thomas Kautzor
http://www.steam.dial.pipex.com/trains/philippines01.htm

From January 30 to February 11, I participated in a tour to the railways of the Philippines organized by German tour operator FarRail. I also spent two days before and after the tour exploring some locations on Luzon and Panay on my own.

LUZON ISLAND:

Philippine National Railways (PNR):

Operations:
PNR operates passenger services on the 479 km-long main line south between the Tayuman Road in Manila and Legaspi, as well as a 4.7 km-long branch between San Pedro (Laguna) and Carmona, on the outskirts of Manila. The whole system is in a very bad state of neglect and lacks significant government funding. The main line north between Manila via San Fernando (Pampanga), Tarlac and San Carlos to San Fernando (La Union)(165 miles), together with the branch from Tarlac to San Jose (34 miles), have been closed since the early 1990s, following the outbreak of Mt. Pinatubo. Much of the alignment, tracks, bridges and most stations are still in place, although there is a lot of encroachment. The alignment is to be used by the Chinese Northrail project.

Currently, PNR operations are limited to its commuter service to Alabang (km. 28.09), as well as two evening trains running up to Binan (Km. 39.76) and San Pedro (Km. 35.56), returning the next morning. The only daily long distance service to Legaspi, the Bicol Limited night train (nos. 587/588), has been suspended since November 2006 following washouts near Legaspi which blocked the tracks and the closure of a number of bridges which have been unsafe following the recent typhoon, including one between Binan and Sta. Rosa. As a result, commuter train 302/305 now ends at Binan instead of running to Calamba (Km. 56.16), and the train using the Carmona branch (201 in the morning, 302 back) is also suspended. Given the financial situation of PNR, and the lack of help from the government, no significant effort has been made at present to reinstate services south of Binan. The only revenue PNR is getting at the moment comes from ticket sales for the commuter trains.

One view is that the PNR is just kept running until it will be taken over by the SOUTHRAIL project. This project involves two phases, the first of which would see the line modernized, electrified and double tracked all the way between Tayuman Road, Alabang and Calamba. A branch to the port of Batangas is also planned. Financier for this part of the project is expected to be South Korea and Daewoo would get a share of the construction work. The second phase would involve modernizing the track between Calamba and Legaspi and extending it into the southern port of Matnog in Sorsogon Province. This would involve financing and construction work from China.

NORTHRAIL is most advanced project at the moment. For example, the PNR track at Caloocan station, north of the PNR workshops, has already been cleared in preparation for the project. Ownership of the line will go to the North Luzon Railways Corp., with financing and construction work from China. The line would run from Caloocan to Malolos, and would in a second step be extended all the way to San Fernando (La Union) in Ilocos Sur Province.

An uncommon and interesting feature of the line through Manila is that for almost its entire length the tracks (double-track up to Sucat ?) are surrounded on both sides by squatter homes, except on some sections were these have been cleared by the authorities. This does not mean that the line goes through shantytowns all the way, but rather that the squatter homes are in fact mostly present only along the tracks because PNR property rights have not been enforced in the past. Often the houses are only a few inches away from the trains and accidents are a common occurrence. All coaches and locomotives have metal screens over the windows in order to prevent passengers from putting their heads outside (which would prove fatal), and also to protect from projectiles being thrown inside the trains. Apart from being used as the front yard for the squatter homes, the tracks are also used, not only in Manila but along the whole southern line, by self-built hand-pushed or motorized ‘sledges’ which the locals use for passenger and freight transport.

Trains operate to the following timetable, in effect since March 26, 2006 (except for the alterations due to the line closure)

Southbound: Northbound:
302 San Pedro 0526 - Tayuman 0717
402 Binan 0601 - Tayuman 0802
401 Tayuman 0645 - Alabang 0813 404 Alabang 0830 - Tayuman 0958
301 Tayuman 0810 - Alabang 0938 304 Alabang 0955 - Tayuman 1123
403 Tayuman 0930 - Alabang 1058 406 Alabang 1115 - Tayuman 1243
303 Tayuman 1230 - Alabang 1358 306 Alabang 1415 - Tayuman 1543
405 Tayuman 1330 - Alabang 1458 408 Alabang 1515 - Tayuman 1643
407 Tayuman 1530 - Alabang 1658 410 Alabang 1715 - Tayuman 1843
409 Tayuman 1720 - Binan 1923 305 Tayuman 1820 - San Pedro 2010
(587 Tayuman 1630 - Legaspi 0810+ 588 Legaspi 1500 - Tayuman 0645+)

All trains run daily, except for trains 403/406 and 405/408, which are cancelled on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Three 4-car rakes are in use on the commuter trains, of which one spends the night at Tayuman Rd. and one each at Binan and San Pedro. All trains change engines after returning to Tayuman Road, so on a typical day there are seven engines in use. The long-distance service used two rakes, only one of which had air-conditioning.

At Tayuman Road, where there is only a small passenger shed beside the ticketing office, the tracks end across the road from the former Tutuban station, which has been replaced by a shopping mall. One track continues across the road south to the port of Manila, but is now disused. Behind the end of the tracks there is a new three-story building which was inaugurated as the PNR Headquarters by Philippine President Fidel Ramos on May 30th 1996, but has not been put into use up to now. In front of it can be found the following steam locomotives on display:

Manila RR 0-6-0T CABANATUAN (Kerr Stuart 777/1905)
Manila RR 0-6-0ST DAGUPAN (this locomotive has previously been reported as Kerr Stuart 1021/1907, originally named SANTO TOMAS, but some parts are stamped 1007 which would actually make it CAVITE). This loco was formerly on display at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, the old Spanish city.
Previously, MRR 0-6-2T B class no. 17 URDANETA (Dübs 2577/1890) was also on display here, but was moved to Dagupan City at some time after March 2005, and is now on display in the Town Hall/ Museum park there.

The headquarters remain at Caloocan, which is also the location of the main workshops. It is located 5.8 km north of Tayuman Road. There is a four-track running shed at Tayuman Road, where day-to-day maintenance and smaller repairs are being carried out. There are also running sheds at Lucena (Km. 133.04) and Naga (Km. 377.57), both two-track sheds that are presently used to store a diesel locomotive with a derailment/wreck train. At all locations on PNR we were made readily welcome, could access all areas without prior arrangement and there was no problem with taking photographs.

At Paco (Km. 9.4), the monumental station is being redeveloped as part of a shopping mall and the facade will therefore not be demolished. Small waiting sheds and platforms have been erected a short distance away, where commuter trains now stop.

Concerning freight traffic, there was a proposal some time ago to introduce garbage trains whereas the squatters could toss their garbage into open wagons, but this did not take place following the opposition of the people living around Tayuman Road station, the location at which the garbage would have had to be transferred into trucks or disposed of.

Diesel locomotives have a dark blue livery while passenger stock is painted dark blue with two red stripes.

Motive Power situation:
Three classes of locomotives have survived on PNR, 900, 2500 and 5000, all three from General Electric. These include:

901-905 GE U15C 39238-42 11/1973
906-915 GE U14C 41848-57 1-2/1979
916 GE U14C/U15C
917-922 GE U15C 4753.1-6 11-12/1991
2501-2513 GE U10B 35673-85 11/1965-1/1966
2514-2523 GE U10B 40742-51 5-8/1976
2524-2533 GE U10B 40901-10 7-8/1976
2534-2543 GE U10B 41838-47 1/1979
5001-5010 GE U10B 4754.1-10 4-5/1992

Units 917-922 and 5001-5010 were built at GE Montreal, Canada (former MLW plant).

Some mystery surrounds the origins of unit 916. One explanation is that it is a rebuild of 901 that was wrecked in a fatal derailment in 1979. But according to PNR records the rebuild of 901 was not completed and it was scrapped following complaints by superstitious PNR employees. At about the same time, unit 908 was said to have hit the son of a military officer, who started taking revenge on it whenever he saw it. Stones turned into bullets and at some point a grenade was thrown against 908, injuring the crew. As a result, 908 was renumbered 916. The presence of today’s 908 is explained by it being the former 904, which was renumbered at a latter date for some obscure reason, and after the military officer had stopped being a threat.

Following units remain on PNR (all units were seen at Manila on January 29/30th, except 916 seen at Lucena on February 12th, and 918/922 at Naga, which was not visited):

902 on service Tayuman Road
903 awaiting repair Caloocan
906 awaiting repair Caloocan
908 beyond repair Caloocan
909 on service Tayuman Road
911 awaiting repair Caloocan
913 awaiting repair Caloocan
914 under repair Caloocan
915 under repair Caloocan
916 on service Lucena (stranded)
917 on service Tayuman Road
918 on service Naga (stranded)
919 awaiting repair Caloocan
920 awaiting repair Caloocan
921 on service Tayuman Road
922 on service Naga (stranded)

2504 beyond repair Caloocan
2510 awaiting repair Caloocan
2515 awaiting repair Caloocan
2518 awaiting repair Caloocan
2522 beyond repair Caloocan
2528 beyond repair Caloocan
2536 beyond repair Caloocan
2537 beyond repair Caloocan
2535 awaiting repair Caloocan
2538 on service Tayuman Road
2539 awaiting repair Caloocan
2540 awaiting repair Caloocan

5001 on service Tayuman Road
5002 on service Tayuman Road
5003 on service Tayuman Road
5004 awaiting repair Caloocan
5005 on service Tayuman Road
5006 awaiting repair Caloocan
5007 on service Tayuman Road
5008 awaiting repair Caloocan
5009 awaiting repair Caloocan
5010 awaiting repair Caloocan

Many of the units listed as “beyond repair” or “awaiting repair” have been stripped of spare parts in order to keep the active fleet serviceable, as there are no funds available for spares.

In 1988 International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) won a 25-year concession to operate the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), in the Port of Manila. In March 1997 it bought a diesel locomotive from PT Lokindo (Indonesia) in order to operate container trains over PNR trackage from MICT to its inland container facility at Santa Rosa/Calamba, south of Manila, from where the containers could be forwarded to customers by road. The locomotive, ICTSI No. 1, was built under GE license as a type UM20C Co’Co’-de with an output of 2000 h.p.. After a few years this operation was stopped. Although I did not see the locomotive, according to the Chief Engineer at Caloocan Works, it is still stored at the ICTSI Calamba facility. Also according to the Chief Engineer, when the Northrail project enquired whether PNR had any diesels available for lease to run construction trains, PNR management stated that they could not spare any of their serviceable diesels, but suggested that ICTSI might be willing to lease out its unused loco.

PNR also had a number of railcars and DMUs over the years, but none remain as such. The inspection train, composed of inspection car IC-888, middle trailer TA-5 and motor car baggage and power MCBP-4, was until recently hauled by a diesel locomotive after the traction motors failed. It has recently been transferred to Caloocan and is presently awaiting repair. There are also two more intermediate trailers numbered TA-2 (marked DE LUXE) and TA-6. All of this stock has come second-hand from Japan. The former Japanese Bullet-nose railcars have all disappeared, either scrapped or returned to Japan according to staff. All of the 3-car DMUs have been demotorized and are now used as loco-hauled stock.

CMC-201, a former DMU power car now used as re-railment car, is based at Tayuman Road together with a former box car used as tool car. It was previously powered (as late as January 2004), but is now loco-hauled.

Also at Caloocan, in derelict condition, is inspection car “Buda Car-22” (one axle missing, motor removed), the wrecked remains of another inspection car as well as a tamper numbered 07-16 G and a Plasser & Theurer ballast regulator numbered PBR202.

Rolling Stock :
The following information is based mainly on the “Status of Rolling Stock” sheet by PNR, dated January 9, 2007). PNR had a total of 26 former railcars and trailers, as well as 54 coaches and baggage cars on stock. This included the following:

26 METROTREN former Commuter Motor Cars (CMC) and Commuter Trailer Cars (CTC). These are the Japanese-built DMU cars which were previously used in 3-car formations (CMC/CTC/CMC) on the commuter trains. Presently these cars are used on the commuter trains in 4-car formations. Some have received pointed roofs in order to prevent the squatters from throwing garbage on the roofs.

In service: CMC-380, CTC-170/1/2 (4 units);
Under repair (Tayuman): CMC-382, CTC-174/5/6 (4 units);
Awaiting repair (Caloocan): CMC-365/74/7/9/84, CTC-154/7/61/2/7 (10 units);
Awaiting repair (Tayuman): CMC-369/72/86/87, CTC-153/66/9 (8 units).
29 COMMEX (Commuter Express) cars, which were donated to PNR by the JR East Workers’ Union (Japan) in the mid-1990s. They run in 4-car formations on the commuter trains and formerly on the trains to Legaspi. Some units have driving cabs at one end. The cars are equipped with air-con, but most of the a/c units do not work anymore. Four units were stranded at Naga after the southern line closed down.

In service: 7A-2004/6/7/8/9/14/5/6/9/23/9/30 (12 units);
Under repair (Tayuman): 7A-2013/7/22/5 (4 units);
Awaiting repair (Caloocan): 7A-2012/8/24/8 (4 units);
Awaiting repair (Tayuman): 7A-2001/2/5/10/20/6 (6 units);
Beyond repair: 7A-2003/11/21 (3 units).
12 NORTHRAIL cars. These are of same type as the COMMEX coaches of both types and have been effectively taken over from the Northrail project, as it will now get newly-built stock from China. The coaches are not numbered, have a blue and white livery and air-con. They have been used on the long distance trains to Legaspi. Eleven units are listed as “on service”, one as “under repair” at Tayuman Road.

18 passenger cars, all listed as “awaiting repair” at Caloocan (they will probably scrapped).

7C-96/100/3/6/8/12/3/26 (1949? older type ECONOMY coaches with doors at one end only);
7A-120/9/30 (1949? older type DE LUXE coaches with doors at both ends);
7SE-302/5, 7E-316/20/37/42/4 (1979 Indian-built SLEEPER ECONOMY and ECONOMY coaches).
9 Baggage and Baggage-Power cars with a generator for lighting and air-con on the Legaspi long distance service.

In service : 7C-105 (baggage), 7C-114/5 (baggage-power) (3 units) ;
Under repair (Tayuman): 7B-41;
Awaiting repair (Caloocan): 7C-104, 7BP-2/7 (baggage-power), 7B-42 (4 units);
Awaiting repair (Tayuman): 7B-40 (used as locker room).
There is also the Presidential Car numbered PC-2.86 (Kalayaan 2-86 in the list) which was used by President Ferdinand Marcos as PC-777 and is stored awaiting repairs at Caloocan. It is officially named Kalayaan 2-86, ‘Kalayaan’ meaning ‘Freedom’ in Filipino and 2-86 standing for February 1986, the month in which the Marcos regime was brought down by the masses.

Many of the cars listed as awaiting repairs are in fact used as storage or housing by PNR employees at Tayuman and Caloocan.

Although freight traffic has stopped, there are still a fleet of freight cars around, either for departmental use or just dumped around the system. I have seen the following types:

BC = Box Cars, some marked CARGO EXPRESS;
FCD = cabooses;
FH = Flat cars with High ends;
FL = Flat Cars, some have been converted to ballast cars;
GC = Gondola Cars;
TF = Tank cars for Fuel.
Most of the wagons are Japanese-built, except for the tank cars which are U.S.-built and ex-U.S. Army Transportation Corps (USATC). Under repair at Caloocan there is a modern-looking covered wagon with sliding side-doors, still with all of its Japanese markings.

There are three diesel breakdown cranes on the system:

A Nippon-Sharyo 6+6W crane with inscriptions ENG’G DEPT. based at Lucena. It was seen on February 12th being prepared for work on a bridge near Candelaria.
A Hitachi 6+6W crane numbered 7503D, which is stored at Tayuman Road awaiting repairs.
A Gottwald 6+6W crane, probably No. 142025/1979, serviceable and based at Tayuman Road.
John Holland plant (visited on February 12th):
In the mid-1990s John Holland Contruction & Engineering Pty secured a contract to relay the PNR main line with their own brand concrete sleepers and “part-worn” rail, but a dispute with the Philippine Government led to the abandonment of the project.

A large amount of material for sale, including five ex-Queensland Railways 1620 class locomotives, four ex-DR type 100 diesels rebuilt and regauged by Newag-Recon in 1996, ex-NZR loco-tractor WW792, two tamping machines and a Cowans-Sheldon crane, was stored at a site along the main highway between Tiaong and Candelaria, and was last reported in February-March 2005.

On February 12th, 2007 I visited the site and found that everything had been cut-up on site and taken away as scrap, and the site cleared. This happened sometime in 2005 according to the locals. According to PNR employees at Lucena station, the ballast hoppers reported dumped at Sariaya station had also been scrapped some years ago and there was nothing left there as well.

Manila Rail Transit:

MERALCO Streetcar system:
The first horse-drawn streetcar in Manila was opened in 1890 by the Compana de los Tranvias de Filipinas (11 km). This company was later bought-out by the Manila Electric Co. (MERALCO) and the first electric streetcar was inaugurated on April 10, 1905, which evolved into a large network over the years reaching 84 km. During WWII and the battle of Manila the streetcar system had suffered so badly that it was abandoned and replaced by road transportation (mostly jeepneys).

At the Museum of MERALCO History, located on the ground floor of the Technical Services Building (TSB), MERALCO Center on Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, there is a full-sized replica of 1920s bogie streetcar no. 1220, some memorabilia as well as numerous photographs of Manila street scenes with streetcars. The museum is open Tu-Sa 09:00-18:00 and entry is free. Available for sale from the curator is a book on the history of MERALCO and its streetcars, as well as special issue stamps and a philatelic bulletin with pictures and a description of the streetcars, which were published to celebrate MERALCO’s 100th anniversary in 2003. Adjoining the museum are the MERALCO archives, which are open for research by appointment.

There is supposedly another replica streetcar numbered 520 at the MERALCO Training Center within the same complex. Another streetcar is on display at the Children’s Museum (Museo Pambata), next to the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in Ermita. This museum is open Tu-Sa 08:00-12:30/ 13:30-17:00, Su 13-17:00, and entry costs P. 60. Neither of these locations were visited.

METRORAIL (LRT-1, Yellow line):
This south-north light rail line runs between Baclaran, in Pasay City, and Monumento, in Caloocan City, passing near the old heart of Manila. It is 14.5 km long with 18 stations, all elevated. It is standard gauge, electrified at 750 V. overhead and the depot and maintenance complex is at Baclaran. There are extra storage tracks at Central and Monumento. The line was built under the presidency of President Ferdinand Marcos with financial help from the Belgian government. It was built by a Belgian consortium and operated by MERALCO’s sister company METRO, Inc., from its opening in 1984/85 until 2000, when it was taken over by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), a government corporation, following a strike by MERALCO employees.

LRT-1 connects with MRT-3’s southern end at EDSA (Taft station on MRT-3), with LRT-2 at D. Jose (Recto station on MRT-2) and with PNR at Blumentritt, although there are no direct connections anywhere and each line has its own ticketing.

LRT-1 is open 05:00 to 21:00, with a train frequency of 2.1/2 minutes at peak hours and 3-5 minutes at off-peak hours. Fares are P.12 or P.15 according to distance. Photography is not allowed, as on the other two rail transit lines, and is prevented by the security guards present on station platforms. There are reasonable photo spots from an overhead footbridge at EDSA station and near Central station, and PNR commuter trains can be photographed from the station platform at Blumentritt station. A photography permit could possibly be requested from the Public Relations Office at +(62)2 854-0984, 854-0452 or 302-6721.

There are three types of trains:

64 1G class 1000 series three-part articulated cars (1001-1064) built by Ateliers de Contruction Electriques de Charleroi (ACEC)/ Brugeoise et Nivelles (BN) in Belgium in 1984. They used to run in two-car formations (32 sets, 59.59 m. long, with a capacity of 748 passengers), but have been modified on the late 1990s to be able to run in 3-car formations (21 sets, 89.37 m., 1122 passengers). As part of a refurbishment program they are currently being equipped with air-conditioning in order to match the rest of the fleet. As of January 31st, 2007, the rehabilitation of 37 units had been completed. Train 1037 was destroyed in a bomb blast in 2000 and is sitting burnt-out at the depot.
28 2G class 1100 series two-part articulated cars (1101A/B-1128A/B) built by ADtranz in South Korea around 1996. These run in four-car formations (7 sets) which are 105.7 m. long and have a capacity of 1350 passengers.
12 3G class 1200 series four-part articulated cars built by Kinki Sharyo in Japan in 2006/07. They are currently being delivered and were acquired to expand the capacity of the line.
There are projects to extend the LRT-1 11.7 km south to Niyog station (10 stations), serving Manila International Airport (MIA) on the way.

MEGATREN (MRT-2, Purple line):
This fully automated mass transit east-west line runs from Santolan, in Pasig City, to Recto station, in Central Manila. It is 13.8 km long with 11 stations, all elevated except for Katipunan station, which is underground. It is standard gauge, electrified overhead at 1500 V. and the depot and maintenance complex is at Santolan. The line was built with financial help from Japan, opened in 2003/4 and is operated by the LRTA.

The line indirectly connects with LRT-1 at Recto station (D. Jose on LRT-1) and with MRT-3 at Araneta Center-Cubao (Cubao on MRT-3).

Trains run weekdays 05:00-22:00 and weekends 06:00-20:00, with fares ranging P.12-15 according to the distance traveled. Travel between the two ends takes 30 minutes. Photography is the most difficult on this line, although the P.R. Office can be contacted at +(63) 2 647-3452 or 647-3491 ext. 29846. Depot visits can be arranged through the P.R. Office.

There are 18 four-car trains built by the Marubeni Corporation (Japan) numbered in the 2000 series (2001/2/3/4-2068/9/71/2). All four cars are powered, the trains are 92.6 meters long and have a capacity of 232 seated and 1396 standing passengers. There are no separations between the cars and the whole train can be walked through from end to end.

There are plans to extend the line 4 km east of Santolan station to Masinag Junction in Antipolo.

METROSTAR EXPRESS (MRT-3, Blue line):
This light rail line runs in north-south semi-circular way along the EDSA Avenue between North Avenue, in Quezon City, and Taft Avenue, in Pasay City. The line is 16.9 km long and there are 13 stations, mostly elevated or at ground level except for Buendia station which is underground. It is standard gauge, electrified overhead and the depot and maintenance complex is in the underground of an office building and shopping mall (still under construction) at North Avenue. There are extra storage tracks at Shaw Boulevard and Taft Avenue. The line was opened in 1999/2000 and is operated by the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) under a build, operate & transfer (BOT) contract with the Philippines Government’s Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Construction was awarded to the Sumitomo Corp./ Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc. It was built as part of DOTC’s strategy to alleviate the chronic traffic congestion along EDSA Avenue and was funded by Japan and the Czech Republic.

MRT-3 connects with LRT-1 at Taft Avenue (EDSA on LRT-1) and with LRT-2 at Cubao (Araneta Center/Cubao on LRT-2).

Trains run 05:30 to 22:30 with a frequency of 3-5 minutes Mo-Fr, 6-7 minutes on weekends, the journey from one end to the other taking 29 minutes. Fares are P. 10-15 according to the distance traveled. Photography is prevented by the security guards in the stations and an attempt to obtain a photo permit from MTRC was unsuccessful. There are some overhead footbridges along the line, but the best photo spot is from the footbridges at the place where MRT-3 crosses LRT-2, just north of Cubao/Araneta Center station.

There are 73 three-part articulated cars built by CKD Dopravni Systemy, Tatra (Czech Republic) numbered 01-A/B/C to 073-A/B/C which run in three-car formations (24 sets). The cars have Mitsubishi Industries plates, but this is because the maintenance contract is with the Japanese company. Some of the trains are fully covered by advertisement.

There is a project to extend the line from North Avenue west to Monumento (3 station), where it would connect with LRT-1.

General notes:
All three lines, especially LRT-1 and MRT-3, are very crowded not only at peak hours, but all day long. On LRT-2 the situation seems to be a bit better. On lines LRT-1 and MRT-3 there are designated waiting areas for single women on the platforms as well as designated cars on the trains. As said before, photography is not permitted from the platforms. This policy is effectively enforced by the security guards who are present on all platforms, and who will tell you to stop. Taking photos from outside the premises does not seem to present any problems. There are security guards who search the content of bags at the entrance of all stations in order to prevent bomb attacks, and this can create long lines at peak hours. In 2000, a bomb blast on LRT-1 destroyed a train, and recently these searches resulted in man loaded with explosives being caught before he could enter a train.

Tickets can be bought for one trip or with a stored value, but are only valid on the line on which they were bought. There are generally long lines at the ticket booths at major stations and at peak hours, so if more than one trip is expected to be made it is better to buy stored value tickets when these are available. On LRT-2 this is less of a problem as there are automatic ticket vending machines available.

There are no direct connections between the different lines. Passengers changing from one line to the other either have to walk long distances over footbridges or through shopping malls, or need to get down to street level to cross the street. Moreover, most stations on LRT-1 do not have elevators. A project by the Office of the President of the Philippines to integrate the different transit systems in Manila, the Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS), has been put on hold. Its aim was to provide interconnection facilities between the three LRT/MRT lines and with the NORTHRAIL and PNR/SOUTHRAIL commuter lines, as well as integrated ticketing.

Sugar Mills:

Canlubang Sugar Estate (formerly Calamba Sugar), Laguna Province :
This mill just west of Calamba is now the Canlubang Pulp Manufacturing Corp. According to the guard at the gate, nothing related to the former 3’6” gauge railway remains inside the mill. The area surrounding the mill has been turned into a golf course, and the railway platform can still be identified at several locations, but the rails have been lifted even at the former level crossings. The mill railway used to be connected to the PNR main line south.

Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. (CADP), Nasugbu, Batangas Province :
This mill has a daily capacity of 12,000 tons of cane with a season running from November to May. According to the Assistant to the Transportation Manager, Mr Martin Alviar, rail transportation of sugar cane from the fields ceased in 1983, while some cane was still transferred by rail within the mill until 1988. The 2’0” gauge tracks were lifted in prior to the 1999 season (as a result the closure years seem suspicious), but there are still remains to be found at the former level crossings. In 2000 the two remaining steam locomotives, 0-8-0T+T no. 1 (Henschel 22082/1931) and 0-6-0WT no. 8 (Henschel 21455/1929) were donated to unknown owners or locations (no. 8 probably to the city of Nasugbu). The six remaining diesel locomotives were sold three years ago to a dealer for reuse of their engines.

Pampanga Sugar Development Corp. (PASUDECO), San Fernando, Pampanga Province:
This mill, now operated by Basic Commodities, Inc. (BASECOM), could well be the last sugar mill to operate a rail system on Luzon, alas only for waste trains. In December 2006 PASUDECO diesel locomotive 35-C (GE 35-ton Bo-Bo DE No. 37568/1972) was seen hauling mud/lime waste trains by a visitor. As my visit was on a Sunday, there was no way of getting hold of somebody of authority to allow me access to the mill. According to the guards, the person to contact would have been Sir Arnel Ottanquin tel. +(63) 2 963-6947 at the Makati City headquarters of BASECOM. From outside the mill I was able to see a train of 4-wheel cars being loaded with waste, pulled by a cable, and two steam locomotive bogie tenders painted yellow (probably used as tank cars) standing next to a shed in the background. The mill railway used to be connected with the PNR main line north.

Paniqui Sugar Mill, Paniqui, Tarlac Province:
This small mill, last operated by the Western Agri-Ventures Corp. (WESCOR), closed in 2005. According to the guard on duty there is no rail-related equipment left on site.

Rail Preservation:
Apart from the three ex-PNR/Manila RR steam locomotives mentioned earlier and preserved at Manila and Dagupan, there are a number of other steam locomotives that have been preserved on Luzon.

Pampanga Sugar Development Co. (PASUDECO) 2-6-0 no. 2 (3’6” gauge Baldwin No. 60506 / June 1928) is on display with its tender as “Riverland Express” in front of a restaurant outside the Riverbanks Shopping Center, a former industrial compound, in Marikina City (eastern Manila). The loco is in good outside condition and still has its builder’s and number plates. This location is not far from the Katipunan station on LRT-2. Visitors in the past have reported being prevented from taking pictures from the restaurant grounds by security guards, but on the day we visited the restaurant was closed and no security guards were present.

Central Azucarera La Carlota (CAC) 0-4-0T&T no. 6 (3’0” gauge Davenport no. 1859/1921) was found stored with its tender at the Star City amusement park in the C.C.P. area, Manila. This locomotive had been sold by CAC to the Sunshine View Hotel at Paaralang, and was later reported on display at Tagaytay, but was gone from that location by 2004.

Beside MacArthur Highway (north of Manila), in front of Luisita Mall, Tarlac Province, next to the Starbucks, is 2-6-0 no. 1 (Henschel no. 20920/1927) from nearby Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT). The loco is displayed without its tender, but together with two make-shift four-wheel passenger cars converted from wagons. The locomotive still has a builder’s plate, as well as an agent’s plate from “Koppel Industrial Car & Equipment Co., Manila”. The whole train can be illuminated at night.

A little further north on the opposite side of the highway and next to Kampo Aquino military base is the Armed Forces Museum of the Province of Tarlac. Among the military vehicles are two four-wheel covered wagons with double buffers. These were allegedly used by the Japanese Army during the infamous “Bataan Death March” to transport captured allied troops to the camps in Tarlac Province. The museum was closed as it was a Sunday.

On display at the Plaza de Roxas park in the center of Nasugbu, Batangas Province, is a C.A. Don Pedro (CADP) 2’0” gauge 0-6-0WT thought to be CADP no. 8 (Henschel no. 21455/1929).

Another steam locomotive has last been reported in March 2005 in a park or private garden at Taal City (south of Tagaytay and northwest of Batangas) in Batangas Province, but I was unable to visit this location. This might be the second locomotive donated by C.A. Don Pedro, Nasugbu.

PANAY ISLAND:

Panay Railways Inc. (PRI):
The 3’6” gauge railway between Iloilo and Roxas on Panay Island (117 km) opened in 1905. It was at first operated by the Philippine Railway Co. (PRC). The same company also operated a railway of the same gauge on the island of Cebu from 1907 to 1955 or 56, with lines from Cebu City to Danao in the north (Cebu Cement Co.), and to Argao in the south (National Coal Co. mine), for a total of 96 km.

After 1945 the railway was operated by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) from 1945-74, the Philippine Veterans’ Investment Development Corp. (PHIVIDEC) from 1974-79 and Philsucom from 1979-85, before it was closed in 1985. At the time of closure the railway used diesel locomotives, some of which had been taken over from PNR, and diesel railcars with trailers.

There is a project to rebuild the railway between Iloilo and Roxas to standard gauge, together with branches from Iloilo to San Jose de Buenavista and from Cuartero to Caticlan, in order to boost the economy of the island. Partners for the project are the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Panay Railways, Inc. and PHIVIDEC, together with Siemens (Germany), Systra (France) and Voest Alpine (Austria). The only thing lacking at the moment is funding for the project.

At the site of the former PRI station and roundhouse in the Iloilo suburb of La Paz (on Huervana Street), there is still a ‘Main Office of PRI’ (tel. 320 9187), with a poster showing the outline of the planned standard gauge project and a picture of a Siemens diesel locomotive.

On display next to the office is PRI diesel locomotive no. 114, a Japanese 1000hp class DD13 Bo+Bo DH built by Nippon Sharyo in 1963. Manila RR received four of these locomotives in 1963 numbered 3501-3504 (N.S. 2328-31), of which 3502 was turned over to PRI by 1976. By 1979 it had been renumbered 107, while the other three units were dumped at Caloocan works in Manila. As no direct delivery to PRI is recorded, unit 114 might be either no. 107 once again renumbered or one of the three others refurbished and brought to Panay at a later date.

Preserved Steam Locomotive:
On display at the Chevrolet dealership on Jaro St. (which is the main highway to Roxas), about 6 km outside of Iloilo, is Bacolod-Murcia Milling Co. 2-6-0 no. BM-1 (Alco 65334/1923) without its tender, painted black and red, and renumbered 888. Chevrolet’s predecessor at the dealership, KIA Motors, had bought it from Negros.

Its the Maharlika Hiway above... :)


Of course, I should have looked a little further up the map where you show the Bicol and Manila arrows :nuts:

Sorry, just had two Tanduays and am a bit loko loko :nuts:

Brad

Searching for answers, I stumbled upon this report...

Today's Railways and Preserved Steam in the Philippines
This is a Philippines Trip Report January-February 2007 by Thomas Kautzor.

Thomas is part of my PhilippineRailways Yahoogroup and was travelling there while I was there this year.
He was the one who spent a day locating the old John Holland depot and let me know not to waste my time looking for it while coming home from Legazpi.
While there he visited the sugar mills down on Negros. I have heard a similar tour is to be conducted early next year as well.

Brad

Of course, I should have looked a little further up the map where you show the Bicol and Manila arrows :nuts:

Sorry, just had two Tanduays and am a bit loko loko :nuts:

Brad

Did you have 2 "bottles" or 2 "shots"? :lol:

In the 70's buses to Bicol has to go through Lucena CBD, until a by-pass/diversion road was built late in the Marcos era (this diversion road is now part of the Maharlika Hi-way from Aparri-Mindanao(?)).

The Marcos administration had many projects for Lucena (they also held the Palarong Pambansa every other year in this city during Apo's time). Most delegates from Bicol came through PNR trains...

Searching for answers, I stumbled upon this report...

Today's Railways and Preserved Steam in the Philippines
Pampanga Sugar Development Co. (PASUDECO) 2-6-0 no. 2 (3’6” gauge Baldwin No. 60506 / June 1928) is on display with its tender as “Riverland Express” in front of a restaurant outside the Riverbanks Shopping Center, a former industrial compound, in Marikina City (eastern Manila). The loco is in good outside condition and still has its builder’s and number plates. This location is not far from the Katipunan station on LRT-2. Visitors in the past have reported being prevented from taking pictures from the restaurant grounds by security guards, but on the day we visited the restaurant was closed and no security guards were present.


^^ I've seen this train (actually last Sunday) I don't know how it got there but I think its there because the restaurant beside it is called "The Station". Probably the owners think it would be a nice gimmick (or he could be a railfan also!)

1)Some mystery surrounds the origins of unit 916. One explanation is that it is a rebuild of 901 that was wrecked in a fatal derailment in 1979. But according to PNR records the rebuild of 901 was not completed and it was scrapped following complaints by superstitious PNR employees. At about the same time, unit 908 was said to have hit the son of a military officer, who started taking revenge on it whenever he saw it. Stones turned into bullets and at some point a grenade was thrown against 908, injuring the crew. As a result, 908 was renumbered 916. The presence of today’s 908 is explained by it being the former 904, which was renumbered at a latter date for some obscure reason, and after the military officer had stopped being a threat.

This bit of info was gained after I talked to a contact at Caloocan. He had the official record keeper come and see me.
The second explanation pans out thus far. I have identified the current half stripped 908 as a Mk1 U15C, where the real 908 should be a U14C.
916, which was never built, has the same spotting features as a U14C or one of the later U15C Mk2 types.
901s damage was supposed to be mostly around the cab, so the larger grill that identifies the later types should not have been touched.




The locomotive, ICTSI No. 1, was built under GE license as a type UM20C Co’Co’-de with an output of 2000 h.p.. After a few years this operation was stopped. Although I did not see the locomotive, according to the Chief Engineer at Caloocan Works, it is still stored at the ICTSI Calamba facility. Also according to the Chief Engineer, when the Northrail project enquired whether PNR had any diesels available for lease to run construction trains, PNR management stated that they could not spare any of their serviceable diesels, but suggested that ICTSI might be willing to lease out its unused loco.

Now not possible as the locomotive has left the country.



On display next to the office is PRI diesel locomotive no. 114, a Japanese 1000hp class DD13 Bo+Bo DH built by Nippon Sharyo in 1963. Manila RR received four of these locomotives in 1963 numbered 3501-3504 (N.S. 2328-31), of which 3502 was turned over to PRI by 1976. By 1979 it had been renumbered 107, while the other three units were dumped at Caloocan works in Manila. As no direct delivery to PRI is recorded, unit 114 might be either no. 107 once again renumbered or one of the three others refurbished and brought to Panay at a later date.

There is some doubt that the builders numbers are actually in the same order as the locos were numbered.
A friend in the UK noted a 3500 back when they were near new with a builders plate inconsistent with the number of the loco.
While 3502 did go to Panay and more than likely became 107 then 114, the builders number listed here is likely to be wrong.

Hope these changes are of interest.
Brad

^^ can't believe im just out for a while and it's almost 1 page already...he he he!!! Ang galing...Northrail Southrail fans are clever....:banana: :banana:

That diagram is another possibility, especially with crossovers facing both directions to the Manila end. This would be particularly useful in peak hour if two trains are to terminate there, or if one is to stand overnight after the peak for the early morning services.

The flexibility of the three platform idea is the ability to have fast cross platform exchange of passengers between all stations and express trains and more flexibility of platform use. No matter what direction any train is going, cross platform (as opposed to needing to use stairs etc) can be achieved and allow for faster commencement of journeys.
The three platform design also lends itself easily to the addition of a fourth platform, where as the design with two express lines in the middle would mean a need for a fifth line.

Brad

^^ Just like in Japan... Tokyo station actually has 12 lines with 6 island platforms. They usually prefer the island platform, and that's right it facilitates easy transfer of passenger from all stations to exress or from exress to all station...

^^ For the Northrail track laying, are they gonna use new trains or use the old PNR ones?

^^ The big difference is that we have a very high quality informative posts here that carefully analize to come up with a bette resullttsss... Naaakkkkkssss!!!!:banana:

^^ For the Northrail track laying, are they gonna use new trains or use the old PNR ones?

^^ Yup, its very sure that they will rip it up the old stuffs and to make it right, they would have to relay the tracks with a new one 50kg/m rail and new concrete ties, similar to LRT but with narrow gauge... They will landscape the enbankment and construct simple but new stations. In other words it would look as if it is a brand new line.. and ofcourse with a brand new trains also.

WoS: more of a quick poster/replier. Too fast, too furious :lol:

That diagram is another possibility, especially with crossovers facing both directions to the Manila end. This would be particularly useful in peak hour if two trains are to terminate there, or if one is to stand overnight after the peak for the early morning services.

The flexibility of the three platform idea is the ability to have fast cross platform exchange of passengers between all stations and express trains and more flexibility of platform use. No matter what direction any train is going, cross platform (as opposed to needing to use stairs etc) can be achieved and allow for faster commencement of journeys.
The three platform design also lends itself easily to the addition of a fourth platform, where as the design with two express lines in the middle would mean a need for a fifth line.

Brad


This 4 track 2 side platform configuration is currently being enforced by the Shinkansen system of Japan.. Some formations is 2 island platform with 4 tracks in between...

^^ Actually I really like the island platform. It was already proven that aside from being economical, it makes really sense that the passenger incase of a wrong decision to drop can immediate transfer to the other train... If we could have this multiple island platform, i planned it to be in the proposed FTI Central Station.

:lol: :lol: :lol: Thts OK, cute girls come before trains :) I nearly missed a photo at Tayuman concentrating on a cute pinay.

Thanks for checking it out for me on the weekend.

Brad

In our case, cute trains rather than cute asawa comes first..he he he!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:

^^ The more costlier part of the Linkage 1 was the uplifting of the the Pandacan Bridge. This bridge must elevate for at least a couple of meters. If this happens, the bridge approach would also rise... And sure also that due to massive flooding occured last Month, uplifting of and road bed must also be done to prevent further flooding when the line is completed. That guarantees an uninterrupted train service..

^^ Probably the best reason why vp had said that they will put 4 tracks on some sections is that mainly because of the crossover tracks at some stations. I suspect that 4 tracks will be laid only on stations. Like previously discussed here, it maybe a 4 track with 2 side platform or a 4 track with 2 island platforms. The station can be designed for as long as the frequency of the trains passing by doesn't affect the travel time. Our railways once completed can be a lot different as before.

In our case, cute trains rather than cute asawa comes first..he he he!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:

I rather them as "Cute Kumanders". :lol:

ergh.. wait, I'm lost.. What is the current discussion??

I rather them as "Cute Kumanders". :lol:

ergh.. wait, I'm lost.. What is the current discussion??

:bash: latest discussion was about the platform designs of each of the stations of Northrail and Southrail....

^^ Actually If I were to design the platform of Binan, I would rather use the 4 track 2 side platform. Just imagine the LRT station having another 2 extra tracks at the center. Binan is a big town and theres a lot of passenger expected.

Did you have 2 "bottles" or 2 "shots"? :lol:


Couple of centimetres in the bottom of a few glasses of Coke.
Two bottles? I wouldn't be able to walk for a week :lol:

:cheers:

Couple of centimetres in the bottom of a few glasses of Coke.
Two bottles? I wouldn't be able to walk for a week :lol:

:cheers:

exercise....exercise...exercise....:lol: :lol: :lol:

^^ Actually I really like the island platform. It was already proven that aside from being economical, it makes really sense that the passenger incase of a wrong decision to drop can immediate transfer to the other train... If we could have this multiple island platform, i planned it to be in the proposed FTI Central Station.

Platforms here are a complete mixture.
However in Sydney a few years ago we reintroduced at one station a platform idea that was got rid of many, many years ago.
That is the single line with a platform each side.

Why?

It is the station at Olympic Park. Normally it is very quiet, but during the 2000 Olympics, sporting/music events and the Easter Show, huge numbers of crowds are moved to and from there.
Being able to open the doors on both sides causes trains to be emptied/loaded in half the time and the train is fast on its way.

Strangely enough, we are also looking at another old way to solve the slow running and overcrowded nature of our railway system.
Since the 60s we have used double deck trains in Sydney. Gradually they replaced all the single decks.
Strangely enough they now talk about reintroducing single decks as they load and offload passengers much faster and as a result get going again and a lot less time.

Ironically our change from double deck to single deck buses (finally completed in the 80s) may also prove to have been an error. While plenty of bendy buses are coming into service to cope with the extra loads, double decks are again occasionally discussed.

Funny old world
Brad

i saw earlier this morning that some parts of the island where the rails going to the port were already been asphalted.I dont know when this happened, some vendors are now occupying the area..

some pics...share lng


http://file.uploadr.com/103a8-embed
At tayuman street crossing

http://file.uploadr.com/103a9-embed
at hizon street in PNR compound Caloocan

^^ The more costlier part of the Linkage 1 was the uplifting of the the Pandacan Bridge. This bridge must elevate for at least a couple of meters. If this happens, the bridge approach would also rise... And sure also that due to massive flooding occured last Month, uplifting of and road bed must also be done to prevent further flooding when the line is completed. That guarantees an uninterrupted train service..

Wow the lifting of the Pandacan bridge will be a big job. I wonder if they will use the current old bridge or just totally replace it?
We noticed on the recent trip that the bridge had equipment underneath for opening it up to tall boats going by. I wonder when it last did that?
After they lift it, it probably wont be as good a photo location sadly. Still fixing it up is more important :)

Brad

:bash: latest discussion was about the platform designs of each of the stations of Northrail and Southrail....

You sure?
I thought it was those maganda pinays :lol:

OK back to the platforms I suppose :)

Brad

^^ Actually If I were to design the platform of Binan, I would rather use the 4 track 2 side platform. Just imagine the LRT station having another 2 extra tracks at the center.

Which is probably the down side for the aerial LRT/MRT systems over conventional ground based rail.
These metro systems in Manila are being pushed to their limit. They all stop at all stations and as such express services are very hard to do.
If a third track for express services stopping at selected stations was introduced it would take an incredible burden off the rest of the system.
But how can you do that? Its not as easy as clearing some land to the side for another track, while I don't think you could sling another few metres of trackbed on the side of the existing overhead line without more poles underneath.
You can only have so many sets running on the system at any time as well. Although admitedly they could introduce more at the moment and introduce a 2 minute headway. Still that wont make it any easier for expresses.

Brad

some pics...share lng


http://file.uploadr.com/103a8-embed
At tayuman street crossing

http://file.uploadr.com/103a9-embed
at hizon street in PNR compound Caloocan

Thanks you for more of your interesting shots.

Seems that those twin towers (appartments in the distance) appear in nearly all peoples shots at Tayuman :)


Is that President Gloria in the Caloocan shot :lol:

Brad

In the Tayuman shot there is a white building to the far left.
ISTR that it was a police building.
The white car also visible is a PNR Police car.
Does the white building belong to the PNR police (what do they do anyway?) or just the normal police? Or are they both the same?

Brad

Well its time to head to sleep and dream of 900s pulling into Legazpi station :)
Talk to you all tomorrow.

BTW: At the current rate this express is going I think we will be facing 'Northrail-Southrail Thread IV' by Saturday.

Take care all
Brad

Thanks you for more of your interesting shots.

Seems that those twin towers (appartments in the distance) appear in nearly all peoples shots at Tayuman :)


Is that President Gloria in the Caloocan shot :lol:

Brad

that twin towers are Dynasty Twin Towers in Bambang st.,
built in around 1995-1997, still remember wen i was still studying in grade 4 in Uno High School in Mayhaligue St., i saw a brochure of that.. and the Tutuban mall was still new back then, the cinemas are still in operation those days..

that twin towers are Dynasty Twin Towers in Bambang st.,
built in around 1995-1997, still remember wen i was still studying in grade 4 in Uno High School in Mayhaligue St., i saw a brochure of that.. and the Tutuban mall was still new back then, the cinemas are still in operation those days..

I've seen so many hundreds of photos taken in Tayuman and most always you can see these buildings. THey have certainly become a landmark around there.
Never realised the buildings were so young, they were built not long before my first visit so I have never seen the area without them.

Brad

Some photos

http://i.pbase.com/o6/28/209028/1/72957159.138jPKBY.rails2.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/o6/28/209028/1/72957161.osryMssG.rail4.jpg

http://k53.pbase.com/o6/28/209028/1/72957160.bBp4ZIEi.rails3.jpg

Not lkely to be reused :)

http://k43.pbase.com/o6/28/209028/1/72957165.PpxvTL8m.rail8.jpg

http://k41.pbase.com/o4/28/209028/1/65150566.O8tni0tK.P1010122.jpg