I’ve seen the old photographs and I’ve heard the stories. But I’ve never seen them with my own eyes. I’m talking about the old railways of Cebu.
Did Cebu really have railways and trains in the past? The answer is definitely ‘yes.’ But human as I am, I wanted some proof! Hehehe.
Luckily, Arnold and Markki were kind enough to answer my questions and show me some proof that yes, Cebu had railways and trains in the past.
Ruins of an old train station in Carcar City, Cebu.
A small bridge/viaduct somewhere in San Fernando, Cebu. The rail is no longer here. But the trains used to zoom past this area.
Arnold in action.
Markki and his nice camera.
The bridge/viaduct.
Closer look.
We then went to Carcar City to check out the old town market.
The old town market. Really nice.
I wonder what this structure was for.
Then, we dropped by the ruins of the old train station. But first, here’s an old photograph of the train station.
Wow. So surreal.
One of the many doorways of the station.
View from the side. We weren’t able to get in.
We also checked out this other spot.
That’s one of the piers of an old bridge which used to hold the railway.
Yes. That’s the same pier in the second picture. Awesome!
Close up!
My Cebu Photo Blog
cute naman ni markki! hehehee..
hahahaha. cute gyud na siya sir. lol
Lingawa oi. Gusto ko makaadto diha.
kuyog nya ta sir.
Bitaw. Murag ganahan dyud ko ana ba. 😀
hi, i am calling from casablanca, morocco. as a railway fan i found your pictures showing traces of an old railway system in cebu most fascinating
thank you
I’m really hoping that our local politicians well come into their senses and work together for the establishment of a comprehensive railway system in Cebu province. This is a very doable project which I feel every Cebuanos should challenge our local politicians to bring this project into reality . We could just imagine what if Cebu’s railway system survived the war and continued to operate until this time. Maybe the Cebuanos in those times got enamored with cars easily, thereby killing our trains.
I wonder what really caused the demise of our railway system. Was it the ravage of WW2, the priorities of the postwar govt, the wanton thievery and sale of rails for iron scrap or the proliferation of ‘home along the riles’ settlers?
I’ve seen that pier before with the steel bridge on it and I’ve seen too the old station at Dumlog, Talisay…tsk..tsk..
according to the museum tour guide in Museo Sugbu, one of the main causes of the demise of the cebu railway was the lack of interest of locals. they preferred to ride the smaller types of transport (caretela type). only a few people rode the trains. eventually, they were sold to bais in negros.
I didn’t know anything about those railway before. This is what I love about your blog it’s not just travel,phtoblog it also educate people from the old history of CEBU. thanks Ley keep it coming!!!!
mura man od ug lessons sa history ley . . . nindot kaayo tan awon ang current pic and the old pic especially katong bridge . . . Thanks….
Yes, it would be so nice if those trains were still running. Can you imagine how easy it would be to travel the province then? Not only that but merchants would be able to transport their goods to the city and vice versa. I hope that somehow funding is found to once again allow Cebuanos to hop aboard a train and see the beauty of the province.
Also, looking at the old photograph of the station reminded me of a long ago romantic time that now exists only in old fotos and old memories. I can imagine the stories of the people who were lined up to board the train and why they were traveling on that day. Perhaps off to the city for the day for some shopping or maybe go to the sine. Maybe even to meet someone special to them. So many stories.
Walking into the now deserted ruins of that station, wow I bet you could close your eyes and get the feeling of what it meant. If only walls could talk eh?
I love to have the train going again for a scenic tour, would it be nice.
things, like you just posted, is one of the reasons i am a regular of your blog. you are doing a great job ley! thank you! 🙂
Very nostalgic! I agree with Inday Myrna.
ley, thanks a million! for this wonderful story… i have not known about this, i love old historocal past, antiques, old bldgs, etc. how i wish we have such programs and benifactors like here in the US that restores and help with the preservation of old bldgs….. nice jud kaayo, ley
Hala, I saw pud pictures of Cebu before, through the Old Cebu fan page in Facebook. Na intriga gyud ko kung where exactly makita ang remains sa rails. Waaaaaaaa. Would you care to tell where it is? I wanna go there, too! Hehehehe. 🙂
By the way, I have been very fond of your site. I actually browse through it for info sa next destination namu. Hehehehe. I’ve also made a new blog and posted your link in it as well. And, and, I wish magkameet pud mi ni Satchmo puhon. Hehehehe. :))
grabe.. mka panindig balahibo,, i told my family.. that there was a train station before in car.. dijud mutuo
hehehehe… i regards lang ko ni markki.. hehehe
been there… sa actual kay normal ra man…pero nindot man d i sa pictures specially with the historic caption… it tells you some story about old carcar..
hey guys! this site is just so fantastic. i got lots of info. im 100% cebuano and specifically from carcar. i never knew about this railway until i found this site. imagina, 22 years ko sa cebu, ala jud ko kabalo!
anyway, i appreciate this site jud. congrats! you did a great job! pwede ko ninyo i-tour ing uli nako. im in korea na karon gud. im so interested to visit the places you’ve been.
more power!
Murag naulahi ko…i’m also from Carcar…i have a little knowledge about railways, the ancestral house,the bantayan.. the old market and the centuries old trees but in the train station and Pier..I was totally amazed of the picture…still existing but I don’t know that it was the old pier..found between the boundary of Carcar and San Fernando..still stand strong..
lumad ko nga taga carcar ug gnahan kaau ko sa imng mga litrato labi na sa karaan nga riles. Sayang lng kay karn wala gibalik ang kanang pamaagi sa pagbiyahe nga karn mas kinahanlan na unta.. kng nakaya sauna nga dili pa ka maayo ang teknolohiya, walay rason nga karn dili mabuhat..
The rail line was owned by the Philippine Railroad Company that also owned Panay’s line (Manila’s was a different company).
Check out (and add photos to and edit)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panay_Railways
thanks for this, bai! 🙂
Hello there. I appreciate the pictures that you posted here in this site. It is amazing that those structures are still standing up to this day.
On another note, I noticed that the same photos you posted here were used in the following website:
http://hangingrice.com/2012/07/tracing-cebus-railway
I’m not sure if the said website had your permission, but because there seems to be a lack of credit for the paragraphs, I decided to inform this to you.
hello detectivemask! thank you so much. means a lot. btw, the photos were used with permission as I also wrote the article. i co-own hangingrice, too. hehe 🙂