Kristoffer Pasion#TodayinHistory in 1892, the Ferrocarril de Manila a Dagupan was inaugurated. This was the first railroad line in #PH, with 195.392 km train tracks linking Manila to #Dagupan #Pangasinan. Railroad construction began in 1888. THREAD.
In 1864, foreign businessmen in #PH esp. 🇬🇧 businessman Nicholas Loney, called upon the Spanish colonial gov in PH to improve roads & create railroads to ease business. It was a shared opinion that PH had been much neglected, even as flow of information slowly gained momentum.
A prototype was created, the steam-powered street #tranvias, w/c began its operations in #Manila in 1885 under the management of the tramway company of Don Jacobo Zobel Zangroniz.
In 1875, a royal decree was issued on railroads approving its construction in #PH. The Spanish colonial gov slowly began planning for the railroad project to attract foreign investors who were already looking towards Mexico & other colonial outposts for business. A royal decree in 1887 granted to businessman Edward Ketts the consignment of what was to be #PH's first railroad, under the Manila Railroad Co, Ltd. (MRRCo). It was engineer Carlos de Bertodano who oversaw the construction in 1888.
After the completion of the construction, the Ferrocarril de Manila a Dagupan was inaugurated #onthisday in 1892. The effect of this transportation history milestone was seen in the faster & efficient delivery of rice and sugar from the other provinces to Manila. From American to Commonwealth periods, North & South Main Lines were constructed to link Manila to La Union & Bicol by train. #WWII destroyed almost all of the railways. Soon jeepneys & buses overtook trains as popular public transport.
The Philippine National Railways currently maintains the current railway system across Luzon. The implementation of the restoration of this transport system has yet to be completed. Transport experts say trains help ease road congestions caused by traffic.
Photos:
- Railway in Bayambang, Pangasinan, 1907, from Eduardo de Leon
- Nicholas Loney, from @UPVOfficial
- Tranvia along Rosario St. Manila, from @UMich
- Postcard of the terminus train station in Dagupan, 1900s, src unknown
- Train coaches, c. 19th c, from Cornell Univ Library
- Manila Railroad Company ad on its railway lines (1926), from Paolo Alcazaren
- Manila Railroad Company ad on its railway lines (1926), from Paolo Alcazaren