Letter from Manila - Santol - of course!

[georgeb]

Just to save any confusion. I posted the section below back in 2014. Since then I updated it this year with a rail project I'm currently working on here in Manila. It was also suggested that various other Philippines happenings should also be incorporated, hence the title. Enjoy...

Dunno if this is of interest to folk but it’s certainly retro. Or it was when I was there.

Ladies and Gennulmen, I give you the Penang Hill Railway!



Originally opened in 1923, it links the capital of Penang, Georgetown, with the top of Penang Hill. “Why bother?” I hear you ask. Well, many years ago, Penang Hill was where all the owners of the rubber plantations and tin mines built their houses to get away from the heat and humidity of the lowlands. So, obviously, you have lots and lots of rich people stuck up a hill, so you need a railway to get ‘em down again.



Although some of the houses are still private, some have become hotels and restaurants and the only other way up the hill is by a very tortuous road only passable in a 4x4 that is regularly washed out by the torrential rains that Malaysia is somewhat prone to. So even now, it is still the main link for people and goods from top to bottom and is fairly vital to the local economy in terms of tourists as well.

Anyway, not in 2008 it wasn’t. The line was basically split into two with passengers having to change halfway up the hill. Unfortunately, the relatively new cables on the upper sections had given up the ghost and this, in funicular parlance, is classed as “Not a good thing”. So Georgie-boy was asked to go take a peek and see what was to be done. Here's your's truly next to one of the original 1923 cars with some random Malaysian stalker.



The cable on the left shows how it should look, the one on the right is kinked and will almost certainly have fretted through some of the inner strands.





Anyway, all that aside, this is what goes on behind the scenes.

All the original winding gear beautifully, and unusually for Malaysia, maintained!









The Operations Control Centre



The tool kit.



From Middle Station looking down.



From Top Station, looking down.



Anyway, the work I was doing was overtaken by events and in 2010, it reopened with all new cabling and rolling stock. Should you ever be passing, it's well worth a trip. Oh, and if you can, blag a trip up the road as well if it's open, it's a pretty spectacular white knuckle ride!

[mat91]

very interesting, that cable does look pretty scary

[luckyseven]

Clever stuff, funicular railways. I like the simplicity of it, and how they use physics to do the work; put simply the weight of the car going down pulls the weight of the car going up. The points to access the passing loops are generally cunning bits of engineering on those two-rail setups as well, though in the old days they just left a gap in the rail and had double-flanged wheels. Thanks for the pics, interesting stuff

[georgeb]

Feb 21, 2014 22:55:33 GMT luckyseven said:

Clever stuff, funicular railways. I like the simplicity of it, and how they use physics to do the work; put simply the weight of the car going down pulls the weight of the car going up. The points to access the passing loops are generally cunning bits of engineering on those two-rail setups as well, though in the old days they just left a gap in the rail and had double-flanged wheels. Thanks for the pics, interesting stuff

This one uses the same technology. The "outer" wheel is double flanged to guide the vehicle onto the appropriate side of the passing loop and the inner wheels are unflanged but about three times the width so they bridge the gaps in the rail over the crossing.

It was really a bit of a fun job but with a serious intent. Apart from the cable being goosed, the operation and maintenance organisation was a real mess resulting in huge downtime for the slightest fault whilst Georgetown council guys came out to fix it. On recommendation, it now has it's own small team of full time maintenance workers and downtime has all but disappeared.

[georgeb]

One of my projects here in Manila is to get some freight back onto the rails of Philippine National Railways. The plan calls for operating a 2000t freight train along around 5km of street running until we hit the PNR main line, where it will continue south for 50-odd km until reaching Calamba.

The street running section goes through a heavily populated squatter area before running along a major highway. The track then turns left and runs through the inside(!) of a shopping mall before linking with PNR at their main terminal station.

So it was, with a view to checking out the track and infrastructure, that I blagged a cab ride a few months back. A fine and sunny morning saw me rocking up at Tutuban Station in time to pick up the 06:07 southbound commuter departure for Alabang.

Our weapon of choice was one of these

All 1500hp (once) of GE 900 Series diesel locomotive, the latest one of which was built in 1991, probably the last time it was serviced as well.

I was assigned two armed guards for the journey, presumably because it would have been embarrassing for PNR to have a White Guy kidnapped off one of their locos. Anyway, on with the journey.

On the way out of Tutuban station

We’re about to hang a right at the points. Just as well really.

Hard to believe we're still in the middle of Manila

This is the main access route from the last station to the nearest road!

Passing one of the still operating Diesel Multiple Units. They've one less now as well following a major derailment a couple of weeks ago!

Most trains are made up like ours, which consist of a loco hooked onto 3-car ex-Japanese Railway Electric Multiple Units they very kindly let PNR have for free. The problem is, PNR have no overhead lines hence the loco needing to haul them. In addition, half of one car is taken up by a diesel genny providing power for the air-con. These trains get seriously full.

These little trolleys are everywhere

 

They act like rail-borne taxis shuttling people and stuff up and down the line. Each corner has two wheels, one mounted vertically the other horizontally which meet with the top and inside of the rail.

See? Everywhere!

Really everywhere

Note the new ballast as part of the long overdue track refurbishment programme

One half re-ballasted (with far too much) the other, as yet untouched

You can see the lovely kinks in the track too.

There’s a train coming? Who cares?

Through a squatter area. Lovely.

Waiting at Sucat for the northbound train to clear the single line section

Here she is

We get our proceed aspect. Well, a little man waves a grass green flag anyway.

Heading for Alabang

Pulling into the passing loop at Alabang station. Check out the flawless sleeper laying

That was about it really. The trip back was pretty uneventful but as we approached the city again, the trains were absolutely rammed. Trains are an affordable way for the less well-off getting around, with a ticket for the journey I’d just done costing only 35p. You don’t see any be-suited businessmen using these either!

All in all, quite a pleasant way to spend a morning, trundling around at around 30kph watching Manila go by.

The upshot? The track's fooooocked!

[luckyseven]

Holy ffffffff.....[fox picture]

So many things cross my mind seeing that... like the utter lack of any coherent safety or control systems whatsoever Tooo many questions... single line how? Token block working or just good fortune? Just as well none of the units still run electric, given the rat's nest of wiring overhead, the unbelievable state of the track below (that ballast would smash shoe gear in seconds, not to mention all the rubbish, trolleys, abandoned cars...). No kind of preventative measures at road/rail interface whatsoever... Gahhhhh. words fail me. I think you're severely brave just getting in the cab of one of those things, let alone riding it anywhere. 30kph! Scary! How many people get killed on the railways there every year/week/day lol?

And they want to run 1500 tonne freight over that? I'll look forward to hearing about it on News at Ten

[Em]

Wow, fascinating stuff!

I too love a funicular railway, my favourite being the one linking Lynton and Lynmouth in north Devon; here the weight of the 'down' car is boosted a tank below the floor that is filled with water from a stream at the top. Once safely down, it discharges its water into the sea and is pulled up again by the now-full-with-water car at the top... Wish I'd seen this one when I was in Georgetown many years ago though...

The squatter areas remind me of the run into Jakarta; I've never seen people living in such poverty or in such proximity to potential death...

[georgeb]

Jun 17, 2015 13:11:00 GMT luckyseven said:

Holy ffffffff.....[fox picture]

So many things cross my mind seeing that... like the utter lack of any coherent safety or control systems whatsoever Tooo many questions... single line how? Token block working or just good fortune? Just as well none of the units still run electric, given the rat's nest of wiring overhead, the unbelievable state of the track below (that ballast would smash shoe gear in seconds, not to mention all the rubbish, trolleys, abandoned cars...). No kind of preventative measures at road/rail interface whatsoever... Gahhhhh. words fail me. I think you're severely brave just getting in the cab of one of those things, let alone riding it anywhere. 30kph! Scary! How many people get killed on the railways there every year/week/day lol?

And they want to run 1500 tonne freight over that? I'll look forward to hearing about it on News at Ten

Good innit?

As you will note, this track has never seen a grinder, tamper or indeed any other track maintenance machine in its life. A lawnmower would be more appropriate in some places though.

Train control consists of the driver being handed a piece of paper at a station which is the authority to proceed to the next one. Not a proper token in sight! Entry into the single line section is 'controlled' by the little chappie waving his flag as in the picture. What happens when he goes to the loo? No idea. Fortunately, for the most part, the track has good sightlines so you have plenty of time to see that broken down DMU up ahead

The plan is pretty much a full refurb of the track to bring it back up a heady 15 tonne axle load (we can't go more without rebuilding bridges - and then we're talking serious money) and probably go to continuous welded rail as the recent derailment was caused by someone deciding that the fishplates could easily be converted into rice by removing them. We're hoping that by doing this and operating 24 hours, we'll deter some of the stuff that goes on after they currently stop running.

In addition, I'm planning a CBTC (communications based train control, for the non-railway reader) system in order to keep trains apart and to minimise trackside equipment, which would only go walkabout if installed. This will also control the road crossings of which there are over 50 (official ones that is - there's countless 'casual' ones to deal with, probably with fencing or high curbs) on the stretch we're looking at. The line from Sucat to Alabang will also be double tracked. It'll stay single from Alabang down to our terminal at Calamba, but there's only our freight trains on that section.

Crossings are currently controlled by a little man in a hut, seen here



And sometimes the barriers even work! At the moment, the train just sits in the station until the barriers can be lowered but I'm planning on running non-stop, so they better watch out!

So really, just expensive, but not insurmountable.

No the real fun part is this bit



From the container port to PNR Tutuban. All on street, running up through places like this

Unfortunately, I can't get my video to load but on this, from 1:23 to around 4:40 is Recto Avenue (the blue line above). We then turn left and head, literally, through a mall, to Tutuban.

For the record, we'll be 30 wagons, 2 locos, 440m long and 1,800 tonnes in total, 15kph on street and 40kph main line. I love this project

Jun 17, 2015 22:08:00 GMT Em said:

Wow, fascinating stuff!

I too love a funicular railway, my favourite being the one linking Lynton and Lynmouth in north Devon; here the weight of the 'down' car is boosted a tank below the floor that is filled with water from a stream at the top. Once safely down, it discharges its water into the sea and is pulled up again by the now-full-with-water car at the top... Wish I'd seen this one when I was in Georgetown many years ago though...

The squatter areas remind me of the run into Jakarta; I've never seen people living in such poverty or in such proximity to potential death...

Aye, interesting little things are funiculars. Got to say I learnt a lot about the properties of steel cables on that job. Whether it'll ever be of any further use to me remains to be seen...

The Georgetown one is particularly spectacular to ride on if you ever get the chance again.

Knowing both, I'd say the squatter areas here are worse than Jakarta. The are certainly a damn sight bigger! There used to be a lot more along the track but recently PNR have had a drive to shift them. Normally works out at around 600 quid per family to move 'em on.

[grizz]

Well George, where do I start?

I somehow think I missed the first posting in this thread a few years ago.

However, just read it all, word for word and I am both impressed and in awe.

You have a massive task there, as you say, not insurmountable, most tasks are like that, but still daunting.

I completely get the whole non maintenance and no fear thing.

I see South Africa which was so powerful, and loaded with potential, going that route a lot faster than people realise.

Thank you for taking the time to write up and document for us.

[dungbug]

Jun 18, 2015 6:29:03 GMT grizz said:

Well George, where do I start?

I somehow think I missed the first posting in this thread a few years ago.

However, just read it all, word for word and I am both impressed and in awe.

You have a massive task there, as you say, not insurmountable, most tasks are like that, but still daunting.

I completely get the whole non maintenance and no fear thing.

I see South Africa which was so powerful, and loaded with potential, going that route a lot faster than people realise.

Thank you for taking the time to write up and document for us.

/\ What Rian said, very insightful. I think it's quite extraordinary that these old systems are still in use in some form or fashion the world over, I had a short ride on a 1920's steam loco in Cuba years ago which was very special. Since then I've had an appreciation rail systems that I didn't have before.........You don't need an extra employee out there do you? Looks like a great place to be :-)

[mylittletony]

as above, fascinating! I was hoping for some pics of the mall section, but you've yet to build it, correct?

Sounds like a cracking project with plenty of problems to solve.

One thing I will say for SE Asia is despite the lack of safety measures, on the most part things tend to work quite well - you certainly are responsible for your own well being more than here, in my view no bad thing (e.g. if you get run down by a train because you decided to step in front of it, it's your own fault)

[mortcars]

love it, used to work on the rails after i left school, seems the interest never really leaves you, wherever we go on holiday i always look for some kind of train ride, currently arranging one in burma:) always makes me think i should get re-ticketed and look for another comms job

you've got your work cut out with this one, looks like an enjoyable and interesting place to work though, its amazing even now all this old rolling stock still being used in asia and without any kind of comms...but as said above the lack of H&S seems not to mean its a complete failure, in fact they seem to keep going and going

keep us posted and look forward to the mall shots

[luckyseven]

Jun 18, 2015 0:28:45 GMT georgeb said:

In addition, I'm planning a CBTC (communications based train control, for the non-railway reader) system in order to keep trains apart and to minimise trackside equipment, which would only go walkabout if installed. This will also control the road crossings of which there are over 50 (official ones that is - there's countless 'casual' ones to deal with, probably with fencing or high curbs) on the stretch we're looking at.

Currently trying to remember the bell/buzzer code for "Obstruction Danger" No chance of track circuit automatic signalling any time soon then, lol. Those crossings scare me more than anything else. Since we still kill more people at crossings than anywhere else even in the UK, I can see them being a perennial source of carnage

Do they have trams in the cities? I guess that would at least pre-condition the public not to be too surprised about loco-hauled traffic pottering through their mall!

[georgeb]

Jun 18, 2015 6:29:03 GMT grizz said:

Well George, where do I start?

I somehow think I missed the first posting in this thread a few years ago.

However, just read it all, word for word and I am both impressed and in awe.

You have a massive task there, as you say, not insurmountable, most tasks are like that, but still daunting.

I completely get the whole non maintenance and no fear thing.

I see South Africa which was so powerful, and loaded with potential, going that route a lot faster than people realise.

Thank you for taking the time to write up and document for us.

Thanks Rian.

Like everything, money can do it, but this particular job just has so many other fascinating aspects, it's hard not to love it! I think for me, one of the main bits of satisfaction will be the sheer amount of old, knackered, un-serviced and in some cases, lethal trucks we'll take out of Manila that'll make a huge difference to the environment around the port area. Yes, the truck lobby will squeal, but if they actually did anything about the condition of their members vehicles rather than whine that nobody loves them, I'd maybe have some sympathy. As it is, tough. 

I'm sorry about SA though. Not that many years ago, I was doing a job that involved a new port and major rail upgrades to move huge amounts of manganese and coal. Things really seemed to be on a roll. Shame if it all went to waste.

What could be interesting is that we expect a change of government next May and a few months ago I was approached by the opposition asking if I'd be interested in becoming an official advisor on all things rail. Now that could be even more fun, if they're serious. If they are, we could make a huge difference. 

Jun 18, 2015 7:04:27 GMT dungbug said:

/\ What Rian said, very insightful. I think it's quite extraordinary that these old systems are still in use in some form or fashion the world over, I had a short ride on a 1920's steam loco in Cuba years ago which was very special. Since then I've had an appreciation rail systems that I didn't have before.........You don't need an extra employee out there do you? Looks like a great place to be :-)

This one works, but only after a fashion. They are supposed to operate a train every half hour but because they haven't maintained their rolling stock, they struggle. But yes, they run a service of sorts. They appointed a new General Manager who, for the first time to my knowledge is a railway-man, but the poor bloke is like Sisyphus!  

Malaysia has spent billions upgrading their railways recently, but the state operator (KTMB) is still staffed with the same incestuous incompetents as before, so expect to see that slowly decline again.

Remember, if it's new, it doesn't need maintaining

As to an extra employee, who knows what the future holds?

Jun 18, 2015 7:33:33 GMT mylittletony said:

as above, fascinating! I was hoping for some pics of the mall section, but you've yet to build it, correct?

Sounds like a cracking project with plenty of problems to solve.

One thing I will say for SE Asia is despite the lack of safety measures, on the most part things tend to work quite well - you certainly are responsible for your own well being more than here, in my view no bad thing (e.g. if you get run down by a train because you decided to step in front of it, it's your own fault)

I only have these two. There used to be a line came out of the back of Tutuban station that we intend to re-use, unfortunately, they since built a mall over it. Crazy part is that this is PNR land, their HQ is literally across the road, yet they just sat and watched it happen! Anyway, reinstatement should be a laugh.





STOP PRESS:- Metrobank deposits fall heavily this quarter. Probate numbers mysteriously spiral!

The lack of safety measures is endemic. The main reason is that railways are self policing, so there's no overseeing body interested in HSQE, etc., like Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate in the UK. Just as well really as if there were, the accidents may actually be attributable to something other than bad luck and nasty ghosts!

To give an example, the other week a light rail train ran away, ramming a stationary train in front (second time in 9 months). The reason? Well, the signalling system had failed bringing the train to a stand, as it's designed to do. The driver then decided that isolating all the brakes was a good idea right up until the second he tried to stop it hitting the stationary one. The result? They sacked the driver. No-one bothered to look at why a driver would ever be taught how to isolate and override all the safety systems. The failure lies with the operator's training, not the drivers. But hey, let's get rid of some poor sap, rather than disturb the very lucrative status quo.

However, that all said, one of the most satisfying aspects of living here in Asia is, for me, that very personal responsibility. Home, school, sick, family, it's all got to be self-financed. No safety net and yes, you are totally responsible for your own actions. We have a deal; the government leave me alone, and I won't ask for anything from them (unless it's to pop a little railway in somewhere now and again). Works well and there's a nice sense of personal achievement too.

Jun 18, 2015 7:56:17 GMT mortcars said:

love it, used to work on the rails after i left school, seems the interest never really leaves you, wherever we go on holiday i always look for some kind of train ride, currently arranging one in burma:) always makes me think i should get re-ticketed and look for another comms job

you've got your work cut out with this one, looks like an enjoyable and interesting place to work though, its amazing even now all this old rolling stock still being used in asia and without any kind of comms...but as said above the lack of H&S seems not to mean its a complete failure, in fact they seem to keep going and going

keep us posted and look forward to the mall shots

Get yer ticket sorted and get out here. Rail has gone mad in the region over the last 5/6 years. Comms here consists of shouting!

Be interested on a Burma report. Another couple of good ones in the region are the Jungle Line that runs up the east coast of Malaysia and the trip from Bangkok up to Chiang Mai. A cab ride in Jamaica's a giggle as well. The driver will be stoned. I don't think he can sign on until he is. 

The work here is certainly interesting and a load of fun, despite frustrations dealing with government bodies. I'm lucky on this job that my client is one of the big 3 companies in Philippines and has enormous clout. Makes life a lot easier. Definitely a case of my bulldozer's bigger than your bulldozer. 

Had to laugh a few years ago when we moved from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. We elected to take the train up as there's no baggage restrictions and first class seats were around 20 quid. Anyways up, Madam, who'd never been on a train before sits down and asked me, "Where seat belt?" I explained that we'd be going so slowly that if it did fall off, it would take a while to realise we were on the sleepers, not the track. The ride would feel around the same. It took seven hours to cover around 250km

[georgeb]

Jun 18, 2015 10:18:10 GMT luckyseven said:

Currently trying to remember the bell/buzzer code for "Obstruction Danger" No chance of track circuit automatic signalling any time soon then, lol. Those crossings scare me more than anything else. Since we still kill more people at crossings than anywhere else even in the UK, I can see them being a perennial source of carnage

Do they have trams in the cities? I guess that would at least pre-condition the public not to be too surprised about loco-hauled traffic pottering through their mall!

Couldn't have track circuits, axle counters or any real trackside infrastructure, it would be converted into rice within seconds. We'll maybe go with a GPS based system, but I'm in talks with several suppliers to see what they can offer us. The only motorised points will be outside our southern terminal where we can keep an eye on them, the rest will stay manual.

Yeah, the crossings are, as we would say, a 'challenge' especially given road manners here. The only driving rule is to arrive at your destination in front of the car ahead, freight trains be damned. Think we'll need to go to full barriers rather than the half they have now. Preferably made from RSJ to discourage the jeepneys.

Hmm, trams. now there's an interesting concept. I cut my teeth originally on street running trams, so I have an affinity with them, but here it would be carnage. Saying that, I used to hate road accidents for the sheer amount of paperwork they generated. Here, we could push the offending vehicle out the way and just say a bus did it! But no, there's been no trams since some people blew them all up during WW2. Strangely, my client on this job is a direct descendant of that original "street car" operator.

The mall will have a new attraction!

[dungbug]

Jun 18, 2015 11:00:26 GMT georgeb said:

This one works, but only after a fashion. They are supposed to operate a train every half hour but because they haven't maintained their rolling stock, they struggle. But yes, they run a service of sorts. They appointed a new General Manager who, for the first time to my knowledge is a railway-man, but the poor bloke is like Sisyphus!  

[/p]

Malaysia has spent billions upgrading their railways recently, but the state operator (KTMB) is still staffed with the same incestuous incompetents as before, so expect to see that slowly decline again.

Remember, if it's new, it doesn't need maintaining

As to an extra employee, who knows what the future holds?

[/quote]

As a single man I would jump at the chance, now with a family/daughter in school it complicates things that may otherwise happen :-) I do like the idea of working abroad, outside of the EU. It's a classic case of 'should have done it years ago', nevermind.....Looking forward to your future posts on this though, very fascinating project to be involved with.

[Xenocide]

George! Another fantastic thread.

I had no idea you were Putin's twin?

[colnerov]

Hi, there was a time our railways used to work on whistles and flags.

I know what you mean about 'new stuff not need service'. My sister and her boyfriend before they settled down into marriage took a year out and went round Europe and down through Africa after paying her respects at our uncles grave in Egypt. Anyway, they were talking to some Brits doing aid work who'd installed a windmill above a well to drive a pump at the bottom to save the villages throwing a bucket down and hauling it up again and to stop animals (and themselves sometimes) falling in and polluting the water. On completion they told the local officials all the villagers had to do was go up and grease the windmill once a month. The said local officials replied "it's your project, you train them". So they did, the only problems were that the villagers have no sense of time or urgency, so they just carried on as normal because the installation was all working. When it eventually stopped they went back to chucking a bucket down the well.

Colin

[grizz]

Thanks for the replies to all your responses George.

I suspect that if any of the other guys reading and taking time to respond to your thread are like me, we would happily sit through any other side items/subjects you may want to post in here.

Maybe change the title to "George's Observations - Manilla Train Ride" and then edit it when you post different subjects.

I think we are often very limited in what we learn as TV etc is aimed at the broad base of the population.

You,can add in a bunch of Jeepneys, scooters etc next report........

[colnerov]

Hi it's not like Thailand, they can't pile it high and sell it cheap.



Colin