Trams are first introduced in the Philippines with the completion of the steam-powered Malabon Line of the tranvia system in 1885 under the Spanish colonial era. Horse-drawn tram lines were in full operations in 1889. During the American occupation, the existing tranvia had been electrified and expanded, and construction of new lines in provinces outside Manila had commenced. Trams in the Philippines are long defunct, though short stretches of heritage light rail serve as part of tourist attractions.
Tranvia edit
The tranvia was the first railway system to run in the country and at Manila. The tranvia came from a decree that details plans and standards for railways in the Spanish colony, known as the Formularios para la reducion de los anteproyectos de ferrocarriles. The standard gauge tramway became part of a business venture of Jacobo Zóbel y Zangroniz, engineer Luciano M. Bremon, and banker Adolfo Bayo, in 1882. The tranvia first served the province of Manila and the city of Malabon, and then was extended throughout Manila, utilizing horse-drawn coaches.[note 1][1][2]
When the Americans took over the Philippines, Charles M. Swift with his franchise of Meralco assumed ownership of the tranvia in 1902. The streetcar system was subsequently expanded, with services extending to Pasig and other districts in Manila.[3] Animal power was replaced with overhead electric systems and subsequently, trolleybuses.[note 2]
Today, replicas of the tranvia had been produced. Within Intramuros, the replicas had rubber tyres as the steel rails had long been removed. Streetcar designs are housed at the Meralco Museum.
Corregidor edit
A cape-gauge railroad system was constructed in Corregidor in 1901 to ease the transport of heavy goods during the fortification of the island, despite having around 104.6 km (65.0 mi) of roads and trails.[note 3] The overall track length was about 21 km (13 mi).[4]: 473 As the rugged terrain called for tight curves, 0-4-0 saddle tank engines were utilized; the steam engine technology was regarded as a "prime mover" back then. The island also had varying steep grades, and so cable inclines are used. This first stretch of railway allowed the Americans to construct the resistant concrete structures and gun batteries that exist up to this date.
In 1909, construction for electric trolley lines commenced. The island streetcars used a 600V overhead electric system, and are used to facilitate easier transport between batteries. U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps managed the short railway, with some technical assistance from the Manila Street Railroad Company.[note 4] Operations are reported to be with no incident except during 1925 when a runaway trolley car went down a hill that killed eight people.
When war began on December 8, 1941, the railroad allowed evacuation of the hospital, heavy equipment and other utilities to Malinta Tunnel using electric freight motors. Continuous bombing rendered severe damage to the railway, and the salvaged railroad parts were used to reinforce additional protection during the Japanese Occupation. As Corregidor was liberated in 1942, the Japanese attempted to revive the railway by repairing a single line, but that plan was then scrapped. Today, the line remains unused, with a few markers and slabs standing and some trails, covered through erosion along the island's contours.[5][6]
Philippine National Railways edit
Streetcar branch lines of narrow gauge were connected to the Main Line North of the then-Manila Railroad Company. These provincial tramways are built during the American colonial period, and are connected to the Main Line North.
Paniqui-Camiling railway edit
In 1907, 17.7 km (11.0 mi) of tracks were laid, utilizing 11.3 kg (25 lb) rails. The Manila Railroad Company played a role in operations by providing traction engines and other railroad vehicles for use in the line.[3]
Daet-Mercedes Tramway edit
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar edit
The resort catering to bahay na bato architecture and historical architecture in Bataan operated a short tramway. The attraction uses wooden painted coaches.
Nagcarlan tramline edit
Resembling more of a cable car system, the Nagcarlan agricultural tramline system was made in 2011 to haul local harvest vegetables and fruits at Barangay Bukal.[7][8] The tramline is powered by a diesel engine, and its length is 1.8 km (1.1 mi), connecting the farmland at Mount Banahaw to the market road.[9] Beyond the year of construction, no updates had been made.
Notes edit
- ^ a b The horse-drawn (tranvia de sangre) trams ply four major points in Manila: Intramuros, Malate, Sampaloc, and Malacañan.
- ^ Experimental trolleybuses replaced the streetcars that service at Calle Santa Mesa between the Rotonda and San Juan Bridge.[10]
- ^ a b Utilization of 914.4 mm (36.00 in) track gauge was common practice in the 20th century for American railroads for construction and plantation purposes.[5]
- ^ a b "Manila Street Railroad Company" was better known as Meralco handling the tranvia those days under the American rule.
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References edit
- ^ Satre, Gary L. (1998). The Metro Manila LRT System—A Historical Perspective (PDF) (Report). Japan Railway & Transport Review. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- ^ Jose, Ricardo T. (August 25, 2018). "Planning Metro Manila's Mass Transit System". riles.upd.edu.ph. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Secretary of Commerce and Police (1907). United States Congressional Serial Set. Philippine Commission. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ Morton, Louis (1953). The Fall of the Philippines. CMH Pub. LCCN 53-63678.
- ^ a b Feredo, Tony (June 6, 2011). "The Corregidor Railway System". corregidor.org. The Corregidor Historic Society. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ Campbell, Don (June 6, 2011). "The Corregidor Tramway". corregidor.org. The Corregidor Historic Society. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ Department of Agriculture (March 27, 2012). Nagcarlan Tramline (Web photograph). Department of Agriculture Information Service. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala tries to unload baskets of vegetables hauled through the 1.8 kilometer tramline system which was turned over to the farmers of Nagcarlan, Laguna.
- ^ "100 Years of Meralco: Colonial Outpost". meralco.com.ph. Wire Rope Corporation Philippines. October 11, 2004. Archived from the original on September 18, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ DA turns over agricultural tramline in Nagcarlan (Report). Provincial Government of Laguna. August 26, 2011.
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